Is the extra 0.1 better?
Summary
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The main difference between the 5.1 and 5.2 configurations is the additional subwoofer.
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Adding a second subwoofer improves bass distribution throughout the room for more balanced sound.
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Consider room size, cost, and installation complexity before opting for a 5.2 system over a 5.1 in certain scenarios.
If you’re looking to upgrade your home theater setup, you’ve probably come across the terms 5.1 and 5.2 (or 7.1 and 7.2) being thrown around. So what is the difference between these two systems, and more importantly, does it really matter?
What is the difference between 5.1 and 5.2?
The main difference between a 5.1 and 5.2 home theater setup is that the 5.2 has an additional subwoofer. In surround sound configurations, the first number indicates the number of conventional full-range speakers and the second indicates the number of subwoofers.
A 5.1 setup consists of five speakers and a subwoofer, while a 5.2 system includes the same five speakers but adds a second subwoofer. If you see three numbers, for example 5.1.2, the third number indicates the number of ceiling (or ceiling-facing) speakers for more realistic 3D sound. This is the main selling point of Dolby Atmos.
Note that the goal of a 5.2 surround sound system is not to add left and right directional channels to your bass. Low frequency waves are quite long (for example, a 20 Hz wave is 60 feet long) and therefore omnidirectional, so in a properly configured system you cannot discern which side of the room the bass is coming from.
With the definitions out of the way, let’s talk about the practical differences between 5.1 and 5.2 systems. The role of the subwoofer is to reproduce low frequencies (bass), so by adding an additional subwoofer you get a fuller, more balanced bass sound. It doesn’t necessarily get louder and bassier, although it might if you turn up the bass on the receiver or the subwoofer’s dedicated volume/gain knob.
The main goal of a dual subwoofer setup is to improve bass sound quality by providing a more even and balanced frequency response throughout the room. The benefits are particularly visible in large rooms with multiple seating areas.
With just one subwoofer, the bass isn’t always distributed evenly in some rooms and scenarios, resulting in overly loud bass in some parts of the room and dead zones in others. Imagine a large nightclub dance floor with seating around the perimeter. If the club owner was stingy and only purchased one subwoofer, the bass might become extremely loud in the center of the dance floor but virtually non-existent along the walls. The solution is to add an additional subwoofer.
It’s also worth noting that the effectiveness of dual subwoofers depends on where you place them. Generally speaking, subwoofers are best placed in corners, ideally on opposite sides of the room. This way, the subs can better “excite” (activate) all modes in the room, allowing the bass to fill the entire room. The end result is a punchy, tight, defined bass, as opposed to an obnoxious thud associated with poor bass distribution.
Considerations before purchasing a 5.2 surround system
Although a two-subwoofer system sounds better in almost any room and scenario, unlocking its full potential requires extensive manual setup. First of all, you need to make sure you have the right equipment. 5.2 home theater setups are significantly rarer than 5.1, 7.1, and even 7.2 setups, so you’ll probably need to create your own combination of receiver, speakers, and two identical subwoofers.
A dedicated 5.2-channel receiver, like the Sony STRDH590, is the ideal solution, and that’s what you should get if you’re starting from scratch. If you already have a 5.1 receiver and know what you’re doing, you can use a simple Y splitter cable instead. If you opt for a Y-splitter, be careful not to overload the subwoofers or your amplifier, as you are effectively connecting the subwoofers in parallel and halving their impedance.
Once you have all the materials, you will need to spend a lot of time finding the ideal location for your specific room. Next, you need to calibrate them to make sure both subs blend in seamlessly with the rest of the setup.
- Type
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CAR
- Dimensions
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10″ long
- Connectivity
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RCA male, RCA female (2x)
Add a second subwoofer to any audio setup with this Y splitter cable. It’s a simple and inexpensive way to turn a 5.1 setup into 5.2, but you should note that this splitter will cut the impedance going to each of your subs in half.
When is version 5.1 sufficient?
There’s a good reason why 5.2 isn’t as popular as 5.1 or 7.1. While the idea of adding a second subwoofer to your existing system may seem appealing, it’s not always as simple as it seems. Additionally, for smaller rooms, a second subwoofer might not provide a good return on investment. The benefits are not very noticeable if everyone is seated in the same place and your current subwoofer adequately covers the area.
Those with smaller rooms are generally better off with a 5.1.2 or even 5.1.4 setup, as in-ceiling speakers provide a more immersive experience than an additional subwoofer. However, if you have a large room and are considering a 7.1 system, the cost of an additional subwoofer is much easier to justify, as the sonic benefits will be much more noticeable.
