Your home theater is almost hooked up and ready to go. Now it’s time to test that sweet new surround sound equipment – movie night at your place!
Check out our recommendations, tips, and tricks for powering your surround sound system.
Thinking of a 7.1 surround sound system
Check out why 7.1 Surround Sound might be better. We also reviewed the Logitech Z-5500 Digital 5.1 Surround Sound system. Need more? Check out the Surround Sound Home Theater article from About.com – great insights in helping you build your dream surround sound system.
What about going wireless
Wireless has certainly been a trend over the last few years, but is it right for you. Ragan Mena, who owns and operates Audio Zeal, a small custom audio/video design company in Austin, Texas share his thoughts. Recently Ragan wrote an article on why speaker wires may still be needed despite our hopes of ridding the eyesore. For more on wireless speakers, check out the 2010 surround sound wireless speaker review.
Check out the top surround sound movies – impress your friends
Choose one or two of these top films, selected for awesome surround sound effects, to test out those sublime new speakers and impress your friends.
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, and Carrie-Anne Moss
All three parts of the slick Matrix trilogy get high marks for excellent surround sound. The highway escape scene in the second film – in particular – involving Trinity, Morpheaus, and the Keymaker routinely thrills audiences with its combination of stunning sound and eye-popping visual effects.
Viewer testimonial: “The sound effects jump up and down, right and left, back and forth, and so on . . . The rear speakers are very active and loud.”
“The music by Don Davis and some of the remixes come together from all sides in the soundfield to create a circular and terrific surround atmosphere.”
Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, and Connie Nielsen
Can’t stand the sight of blood? Grossed out by graphic displays of gory, glorified violence? This movie is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re in to it, check out the combat scenes, where medieval metal weapons of war clash and rip through the flesh of incredibly outmatched gladiators. A combat scene involving chained tigers being released into the arena is one this movie’s best surround sound moments.
Viewer testimonial: “This is another movie that has every element to make up a perfect home theater movie to own. The video is crisp and detailed, the audio makes plenty of use for the surrounds and your sub will pump.”
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, and Viggo Mortensen
Another movie from a much-loved trilogy makes the list of top picks for surround sound. One of the greatest things about this film is its continual, detailed attention to surround sound. Be it a spooky moon-lit forest or a raging battle, you’ll enjoy listening to (and watching) this film in your home theater.
Other excellent choices to consider for rocking your home theater’s surround sound: Black Hawk Down, Castaway, The Perfect Storm, and Saving Private Ryan.
If you are searching for movies suitable for a younger audience, consider: Jurassic Park, Batman Returns, and King Kong (2006).
What about you? Do you have favorite movie titles that someone with a surround sound theater wouldn’t want to miss? Let us know!
More Questions?
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TekMax Technologies is a Dallas home theater, design, integration and installation company. We are an Authorized Control4 Gold Dealer and offer complete solutions that include home theaters, whole house audio/video, surveillance, lighting, automation, digital living, remodels and room conversions.
