When it comes to sound, Surround Sound setups are essential an immersive experience. Sound does quite literally surround us in everyday life, so mimicking this in movies and music adds a sense of reality to the experience. In today's mobile age though, many people watch their movies and listen to their music through headphones. No worries though, because Surround Sound has made its way to the headphone scene.
Is It Really Surround Sound?
Yes, and no. No in the sense that one wearing headphones will never actually be surrounded by sound; the proximity of the headphones prevents that. Yes, in the sense that surround sound in headphones mimics the sensation of surround sound. Normal headphone output gives the notion that sound is coming from within the listener's head, which is far from natural. Surround sound headphones move the sound to the front and sides of the head.
Taking Advantage of Surround Sound with Headphones
First the good: As long as the medium of entertainment supports Surround Sound, any set of headphones will work, even in ear headphones (although it won't sound as good as competing over-the-ear headphones). Now the bad news: Actually finding media that supports Surround Sound, much less a device that outputs it is a bit of a challenge. The most common form of this is found in Dolby Headphone, so if you are looking for surround sound, make sure the device you are using supports this, or something close to it.
Using the Right Pair of Headphones
Any set of headphones can be used, but that doesn't mean every headset garners the same results. For the best results, use headphones that completely enclose the ear, cancel outside noise, have built-in subwoofer drivers, and a decent decibel range. These aspects combined will make for a great personal listening experience.
Always remember to practice safety when playing music in close proximity to the ears.
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