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| SOUND SCIENCE: The diagram (top) illustrates
that the 5.1 channels are totally discrete. This means that each channel is independent of the
others, providing better separation and clarity. In a typical analog system (bottom), you can derive
center, surround and subwoofer effects only from the existing two channels of audio. The audio is never truly separated and won’t sound nearly as enveloping or immersive. |
5.1-Channel Digital Audio
HDTV is more than just great images. The audio is equally as impressive as the video that accompanies it. The same Dolby Digital soundtrack heard on DVD and in the best movie theaters can now accompany all of your favorite TV shows. This includes left, center, right, left surround and right surround channels, as well as a low-frequency effects channel (the ".1"), for a totally enveloping audio experience. Dialogue stays anchored to the screen while other sound effects travel around the room. Ambient sounds from the two rear speakers immerse you in the middle of an action scene or sporting event, while the subwoofer fills in ultralow frequencies, making the sound rich and full-bodied. As it was with the introduction of stereo TV broadcasts, the full 5.1 soundtrack may not be used for all shows, or may not be passed along by your local station, but when it is and you have an audio system to accommodate it, you’ll hear the difference.
I can write about wider, clearer, more- detailed, colorful and dynamic images with enveloping soundtracks until I’m blue in the fingertips and it won’t do HDTV justice. You have to experience it for yourself. Would high-def have turned Gilligan into Seinfeld? Of course not—every episode would still culminate in the title character predictably foiling the group’s escape from the island. But we would definitely have enjoyed a more three-dimensional, lifelike quality in the flora, fauna and Ginger’s swimsuits. Now consider shows like Alias, ER, The West Wing and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, to name just a few. In HDTV, these shows take on a near-cinematic quality, which means you no longer have to wait until the weekend DVD rental to enjoy a movie at home. The bottom line is, if you like TV, you’ll love HDTV.
