What do they mean by 5.1 audio? [10 points!!!]?

Question

I'm gonna get a CD/DVD and it says that it will be in 5.1 audio. What does that mean? Will it sound better?

Answer 1

CD's will play stereo (2 channel), DVD's will play 5.1 channel surround sound.  As mentioned above 5.1 means a center speaker (above or below the TV screen, two mains (stereo and multichannel) and are placed on both sides of the TV. Two rear channels placed on both sides of the sitting position and the .1 is subwoofer, for deep low bass for use in music and movie explosions.

Having surround sound immerses you in the movie your watching, to give you sound all around you like in a real world listening environment.

They also make DVD-A and SACD which is surround sound music, giving you the illusion your right in the middle of the band with music being played all around you, but your player must indicate SACD to play SACD discs.  DVD-A plays in almost all DVD players to give you surround sound music.

They even have 6.1 sound ( a sixth speaker is placed directly behind the listener and 7.1 sound (stereo speakers are placed behind the listener to give you an even more immersive experience.

Answer 2

Logan is right, the 5.1 means 5 satellites and 1 subwoofer.

The center channel (on a DVD soundtrack roughly 80% of the sound goes through this channel!), your mains (Front Left and Front right) and your surrounds (Rear Left and Rear Right).

You can add speakers to this and have a 7.1 system (all of the above speakers +2 side surrounds in addition to the rear surrounds) and you can change numbers after the "."

For instance, a 2.0 system is a stereo or two channel.  2.1 is stereo (front left and front right) plus a subwoofer.

5.2 is your mains, center, surrounds and 2 subwoofers.

It will sound better in that you will feel like you are in the middle of the action.  When a gunshot goes off in the distance behind the character in the movie, you will hear it behind you coming from one of the rear speakers.  It will be much more like the experience you get in theaters - if you have a 5.1 setup.  If you only have 2 speakers or your TV - it won't make any difference.

Answer 3

5.1 surround sound means that there are 5 speakers;

1 center two sides (left and right)

And two rear (left and right)

The .1 represents the subwoofer

It will sound better than 4 (quadratic)  or 4.1 or 2.1...If you have them positioned correctly and/or they are calibrated well.