General Home Theater FAQ/Tips

rating_star_blankI'm having trouble with my Bose Lifestyles Home Theater

rating_star_blankWhat are the differences between typical stereo speakers and home theater speakers?

rating_star_blankWhat is the importance of rear speakers?

rating_star_blankWhat is a center channel?

rating_star_blankWhat is a subwoofer?

rating_star_blankIs a subwoofer really necessary?

rating_star_blankIf I already have 2 stereo speakers, do I have to still buy a whole home theater system?

rating_star_blankIs it important to get a set of home theater speakers from the same manufacturer?

rating_star_blankWhat are the differences between Dolby Surround,Pro Logic, Digital, and DTS?

rating_star_blankShould all 5 speakers be driven with the same amplifier power?

rating_star_blankWhat are dipolar and bipolar speakers?

rating_star_blankAre horn drivers better for home theater?

rating_star_blankHow far away should the listening area be from the rear speakers?

rating_star_blankShould I play music using only the front speakers?

Bose Lifestyles Home Theater - Frequently asked questions

 

1
The serial number for your Lifestyle® DVD system is on the bottom of the media center (Note: The Acoustimass® module has its own unique serial number). You can also find the Lifestyle® DVD system serial number using the media center front panel (behind the door to the right of the CD tray). First, turn the media center off. Next, hold down the Enter button. You should see "House Code" on the media center display. While holding the Enter button down, press and release the Store button eight times to display the media center serial number.
2
The Bose® VS-2 video enhancer simplifies the connection and integration of your Lifestyle® DVD system with multiple video sources, including those with HDMI. With the VS-2 video enhancer correctly installed, a single button press on the Lifestyle® system remote selects video and audio sources at the same time. The VS-2 video enhancer:
  • Incorporates HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) technology to help maximize your home theater experience
  • Provides HDMI, component, S-video and composite video connections for your TV, cable/satellite box, VCR or other audio/video sources
  • Converts lower quality video input formats (composite or S-video) up to higher quality video output formats (component and HDMI)
  • Compatible with HDTV and progressive scan TV formats
Learn more about the VS-2 video enhancer. To purchase the VS-2 video enhancer, visit a Bose store. Or call 1-800-999-2673.
3
Video upscaling matches the pixel count of the signal from a digital video source to the number of pixels an HDTV screen can display (its "native resolution"), typically 720p, 1080i or 1080p. When your Lifestyle® system is connected to a VS-2 video enhancer, the incoming video signal is automatically upscaled to the highest quality resolution your TV can accept. To learn more, see Understanding video upscaling and The ABCs of HDTV.
4
HDMI is the abbreviation for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, an all-digital connection that carries high-definition video and digital audio using a single cable. With a digital television and a Bose® VS-2 video enhancer connected to your Lifestyle® system, HDMI connections enable you to enjoy high quality video from your video equipment.
5
DVI is the abbreviation for Digital Video Interface, an all-digital connection that carries high-definition video (but not audio) using a single cable. DVI enables a high quality digital video connection between video equipment.
6
HDCP is an abbreviation for High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection. It is encryption technology that requires a digital "handshake" between HDMI or DVI video sources and video display devices (such as a TV) to ensure that content is not unlawfully copied.

An HDCP repeater is an HDCP device that can receive and decrypt HDCP content through its HDCP-protected inputs and re-encrypt and send the same HDCP content through its HDCP-protected outputs.

HDMI sources must confirm that connected devices or repeaters (such as the Bose® VS-2 video enhancer, or a standard A/V receiver) and display devices (TVs) are not recording the digital audio and video signal. If a video source or repeater cannot confirm that the display device is HDCP-compliant, it is not allowed to send HDMI signal. TVs and repeaters that do not complete the HDCP "handshake" cannot play video via HDMI.
7
Yes, but you'll need an HDMI-to DVI-adapter, or a cable with an HDMI connector on one end and a DVI connector on the other. Although the DVI connection does not carry audio, it will work fine with your Lifestyle® system and/or VS-2 video enhancer, because the audio connection is made through the Lifestyle® system media center. These adapters are available from Bose, free of charge.
8
Normally, when you switch to an audio source from a video source, your TV screen goes blank. To change this so the video source remains on your TV screen, go to the System menu and change the Persistent Video option setting to Enabled. Enabling Persistent Video allows you to continue viewing the video portion of a program while listening to the audio from another source, such as FM or AM radio. For example, you can watch a ball game on your TV while listening to the broadcast audio of the same ball game from a local radio station.
9
The uMusic® intelligent playback system is a breakthrough Bose technology that makes it easy to digitally store and enjoy your CDs. It organizes and categorizes your music collection and learns to automatically play music suited to a mood or a person. uMusic "Presets" keep track of nine different sets of musical preferences, dynamically playing what you want to hear. For more information, see Using the uMusic system.
10
Your Lifestyle® system is capable of storing nine different presets, so the system can learn a variety of distinct musical preferences based on individuals, situations or moods. For example, a family could have presets dedicated to "Mom's music," "grilling music," "dining music," "workout music," etc. See Using the uMusic system.
11
Playlists can be created and customized by the listener, but there are some limitations. Building them takes considerable time and effort. And, even a highly customized playlist mixing different artists and genres still consists of a fixed collection of songs whose appeal may wear off over time. Creating new playlists, or adding/deleting songs in existing ones, takes even more time. Consequently, playlists demand regular maintenance on the part of the listener to keep the material somewhat fresh. Still, a certain degree of predictability simply cannot be avoided, even if the listener chooses a random playing mode.

The uMusic intelligent playback system transcends playlists in many ways. Initially, it draws from a much larger universe of songs—quite possibly the listener's entire music collection. It demands no manual organization of songs by the user other than the initial download of CD material. Its pool of material is fluid, created from a knowledge of the listener's overall musical tastes rather than from a fixed playlist. Its song selections are full of pleasant surprises. The result is a much deeper listening experience, based on the shifting moods and tastes of the listener—almost like listening to a radio station programmed to suit that listener’s unique tastes.
12
To digitally store music, simply insert a CD in your media center, close the tray and press the Store button located on the media center control panel. Note: The system is designed to store the tracks of regular CDs only. It will not store MP3 tracks or the contents of DVDs. Storing a CD takes approximately 5 minutes.
13
Your Lifestyle® system is capable of storing nine different presets, so the system can learn a variety of distinct musical preferences based on individuals, situations or moods. For example, a family could have presets dedicated to "Mom's music," "grilling music," "dining music," "workout music," etc. See Using the uMusic system and Quickly train uMusic system Presets.
14
The uMusic intelligent playback system learns from every song it plays. If you listen to a song all the way through, the uMusic system assumes you like the song. If you skip a song, the uMusic system assumes you're not in the mood for the song at that time. If you feel strongly about a song—pro or con—you can give the music a "+" or "–" rating using the remote. The system uses this information to play music that is similar to music you have accepted and avoid music that is similar to what you have rejected. See Using the uMusic system and Quickly train uMusic system Presets.
15
No. MP3s on a CD-R cannot be stored, but they can be played by the system. In addition, any CD-R burned in standard audio CD format can be stored into the uMusic system. In order to make associations among songs, the uMusic system needs the music metadata contained on the original CD tracks, or exact copies of these tracks.
16
No. You can connect a computer, iPod or pocket PC to the Lifestyle® system and use it to play music, but you cannot download or transfer MP3s into the uMusic system.
17
The uMusic system relies on an internal music database to retrieve information—artist, title, genre, etc.—about the CDs in your collection. This information is continuously updated as new CDs are produced. To receive these software updates from Bose, please be sure to register your system. You can also request the latest music information update disc if you have not received one.
18
No. You only need to install the most recent update.
19
The Gracenote database (originally called CDDB) is incorporated into your Lifestyle® uMusic system. It contains CD artist, title, track and other music-related information that is not included on the actual CD.

When you digitally store a music CD, the uMusic® intelligent playback system associates the music content of the CD with the Gracenote information. This allows artist, title, track and genre to be displayed on the media center, and the uMusic system uses these references to identify and classify your music.

Be sure to register your system to periodically receive Music Information Update CDs in the mail, allowing your system to keep its Gracenote database up-to-date. You can also request the latest music information update disc if you have not received one.
20
Try cleaning the CD or DVD, as follows:
  • Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to remove stains or fingerprints from the disc surface
  • Wipe in straight movements from the center of the disc to the outside
  • Do not use any chemical cleaning products. They can damage the disc
21
To create a playlist using the Library:
  1. Press the Library button. The Library screen appears
  2. Use the navigation buttons to browse through your music collection
  3. Select the track or album you want to add to the playlist
  4. Press and hold the Playlist button until "Track >> Playlist" or "Album >> Playlist" appears on the media center display. The Library screen on the TV will also indicate that a track or album has been added to the playlist
  5. Repeat this process until all desired songs or albums have been added to the playlist
To add a song to your playlist while listening to stored music, press and hold the Playlist button until the display on the media center says "ADDED TO PLAYLIST."

To play your playlist, tap the Playlist button on your remote while listening to the Stored source. To delete a song from your playlist while listening to it, press and hold the Playlist button until the media center display says "REMOVED."
22
Yes. You can move between songs, move within songs, fast forward or go back to an earlier point in a song using the Seek buttons on your remote control.
  • To skip a song: Press the Seek >> button briefly
  • To go to the previous song: Press the Seek << button briefly twice
  • To fast forward: Press and hold the >> Seek button.
  • To go back to an earlier point in the song: Press and hold the << Seek button
23
You can find out how much music is stored in your media center through the Music Library screen on your TV.

Turn on the TV and press the Library button on your remote. The Music Library screen will appear with "All Artists" selected. Near the bottom of the screen, you can see how many CDs and tracks are stored, along with total hours and minutes of music (hours:minutes).
24
The uMusic system relies on an internal music database to retrieve information—artist, title, genre, etc.—about the CDs in your collection. This information is continuously updated as new CDs are produced. If your uMusic system does not recognize one of your discs, your system may require updated information. Be sure to register your system to receive quarterly Music Information Update discs from Bose. You can also request the latest Music Information Update disc if you have not received one. Once you receive the update disc and load it into your Lifestyle® 38 or 48 system, the system should recognize newer CDs.
25
Yes. If you find that there are tracks you never want to listen to in any preset, you can delete the track.

To delete a track follow these steps:
  1. First, find the number of the stored CD that contains the track you want to delete
    1. Turn on your TV
    2. Press the Library button on your Lifestyle® system remote
    3. In the Music Library screen that appears, browse to the CD that contains the track you want to delete
    4. Press Enter to play the CD
    5. Watch the media center display. When it shows the track number at the left, the CD number will appear at the right, for example: CD:29
    6. Write the CD number down
  2. Press the System button on your Lifestyle® system remote
  3. Select Stored CDs
  4. Select CD# option and press Enter
  5. Choose the CD number you captured above and press Enter.
  6. Select Track and press Enter.
  7. Choose the track you want to delete. Press Enter
  8. Select Track Action and press Enter
  9. Select Delete Track and press Enter
  10. Select Yes and press Enter
  11. Press Exit to leave the System screen.
26
A stream is similar to a TV channel—different channels have different content. With Bose® link, both streams deliver content from audio sources enabled by the Lifestyle® system. For example, one stream might be music from the internal CD player, while the second stream could be generated by the FM tuner, or even a connected device, like a TV.
27
Yes. Thirty-foot cable extensions are available for Bose® Lifestyle® systems and Acoustimass® modules.
28
Yes. You can connect a computer, iPod, pocket PC or other MP3 player to the Lifestyle® system and use it to play music. See Connecting a computer or Connecting a portable audio device.
29
Yes. You can an MP3 CD player to the Lifestyle® system and use it to play music. See Connecting a compact disc (CD) player.
30
Yes. If you connect an HD radio tuner (available at most consumer electronic stores) to the Lifestyle® system media center, you can listen to these audio sources. See Connecting a satellite radio receiver.
31
The SL2 wireless surround link can be used to connect your rear speakers wirelessly. With the SL2 wireless surround link, you do not need to run wires to the back of your room. See Connecting Lifestyle® system speakers without wires.
32
The positive (+) speaker wire lead should have a red sleeve. If the red sleeve is missing from the speaker wire, use these guidelines to identify the positive wire:
  1. Look at the casing around both wire leads. The negative (-) wire will be ribbed, ridged or striped. The positive (+) wire will be smooth
  2. If you have another wire that has the red casing intact, use that for comparison
  3. For Lifestyle® 48 systems look at the Jewel Cube® speaker connector. Make sure the connector is oriented so that the "L," "C" or "R" marking is facing up, and the wire is going down to the ground. The wire that is in the right side of the cable is the positive wire. This is the most efficient way to reliably determine the positive and negative wires in Jewel Cube speaker cables.
33
The Bose® link AL8 homewide wireless audio link allows you to listen to audio from your Lifestyle® DVD system in additional rooms, without running room-to-room wires. Consisting of a transmitter and receiver package, it delivers two independent audio streams from your Lifestyle® system to Bose link-enabled products in another room.

Make one connection from the AL8 transmitter to your Lifestyle® system media center, and then connect the receiver to a second-room speaker system. You'll also receive audio from any components connected to your Lifestyle® system.

The transmitter and receiver work through most walls and floors, and operate up to 80 feet away. Individual AR1 receivers (purchased separately) can be placed in seven additional rooms for wireless audio transmission from a single AL8 transmitter.
34
Yes. One easy-to-use radio frequency remote controls all functions of the Lifestyle® system and provides access to the most frequently used commands for the TV, VCR, and cable box or satellite receiver. In addition, the system can control many important functions of a connected personal video recorder or CD jukebox. See Using your remote to control connected audio/video devices.
35
Each Lifestyle® system remote uses a house code that corresponds to the house code set in the media center, enabling the two to communicate. If another Lifestyle® system nearby creates a conflict with your system, you can easily set a new house code for your media center and its remote control(s). See Changing house code settings.
36
Erratic CD/DVD performance may be caused by scratches, smudges or dirt on the disc. Be sure the bottom surfaces of the discs are clean and free of scratches. Do not use any chemical cleaning products. They can damage the disc. Try cleaning the CD or DVD, as follows:
  • Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to remove stains or fingerprints from the disc surface
  • Wipe in straight movements from the center of the disc to the outside
Resetting your system may also help to solve this problem.

For details and other suggestions, see When a DVD refuses to play.
37
Try cleaning the CD or DVD, as follows:
  • Use a soft, dry, lint-free cloth to remove stains or fingerprints from the disc surface
  • Wipe in straight movements from the center of the disc to the outside
  • Do not use any chemical cleaning products. They can damage the disc
38
Your system is engineered to play a broad range of disc types. For details, see Compatible DVD and CD disc formats.
39
Dual disc is an audio/video format that contains DVD content on one side and CD content on the other, or that contains high definition DVD content on one side and standard definition DVD content on the other. Although CD/DVD dual discs play in some CD/DVD players, they do not meet CD player industry standards. Many devices will not play the CD side. A warning on the case explains this incompatibility.
40
A way to store and transmit music, MP3 is a file format that compresses audio data into relatively small files. For example, using MP3 compression on your PC, you can turn a 50MB sound file into a 5MB file. The level of compression can vary, but note that too much compression will adversely affect audio quality. Using your PC, you can copy MP3 files directly onto a CD-R (recordable) or CD-RW (re-writable). Storing your CDs as MP3 files on a CD-R or CD-RW is an efficient way to archive an extensive audio library.
41
Yes. Lifestyle® home entertainment systems have DTS and Dolby Digital decoding, so they are ready for 5.1-encoded programs from DVD, DSS or DTV. And because it is a Lifestyle® system, no re-calibration is required to enjoy 5.1-channel sound. It takes only the push of one button to enjoy the digital 5.1 experience.
42
Bose DVD home entertainment systems purchased in the United States from authorized dealers will only play DVDs intended for sale in the United States and Canada.

DVDs are distributed worldwide in eight discrete regions, and a DVD player purchased in one region will not play a DVD purchased in another.

The eight DVD regions are defined as follows:
  1. United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Bermuda, the Virgin Islands and some islands in the Pacific
  2. Japan, Western Europe (including Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and the Balkans), South Africa, Turkey and the Middle East (including Iran and Egypt)
  3. Southeast Asia (including Indonesia, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macao)
  4. Australia, New Zealand, South America, most of Central America, Papua New Guinea and most of the South Pacific
  5. Most of Africa, Russia (and former Russian states), Mongolia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and North Korea
  6. China
  7. Reserved
  8. Special international venues (airplanes, cruise ships, etc.)
43
We recommend you purchase a system that has the same region code as your home location.
44
When you have the ADAPTiQ® system turned on, you are limited to adjusting bass and treble between +6 and -6. This is because the ADAPTiQ audio calibration process specifically tailors the sound of your Lifestyle® system to the acoustics in your room. Manually adjusting the bass and treble will alter the optimized settings that the ADAPTiQ system has determined for your room. However, if you do wish to increase the range of bass and treble adjustment, see Controlling tone, bass and treble.
45
Yes. You can turn off the ADAPTiQ audio calibration system, but once you do, you cannot simply turn it back on again; you must re-install the system. To turn the system off, use the remote: go to the on-screen display (OSD) and choose AUDIO SETUP. Within the menu, highlight ADAPTiQ and toggle to OFF. To re-install the system, see ADAPTiQ system setup and deactivation.
46
If your Lifestyle® system displays the message "Error Code 10 call Bose," you may need to reset the Acoustimass module and media center.

If you are using a VS-2 video enhancer with your system, see Resetting system with VS-2 video enhancer and Resetting media center with VS-2 video enhancer.

If you are not using a VS-2 video enhancer with your system, see Resetting media center and Resetting system.
47
"Error Code 10" usually means that the Acoustimass® module is not communicating with your system. Check all connections at the module and at the media center control panel. Be sure the cube speakers are properly connected at the module, and the Acoustimass module cable is firmly connected at both its media center end and at the module.
48
Yes. You can connect a high-definition radio to any available audio inputs on your Lifestyle® system (such as AUX). For details, see Connecting a high-definition (HD) radio.
49

 

What are the differences between typical stereo speakers and home theater speakers?

Speakers perform best when the listener's head is directly in front of the speaker and at the same height as the drivers. The sound response where the driver is pointing directly at the listener is called the on-axis response. When you move off-axis (to either side or a different height), the speaker will not sound as loud.
Normally, stereo speakers have a better off-axis response than home theater speakers. The sound that the listener hears is a mixture of the left and right channels, combined with the reflections of the both channels off the walls, floor, and ceiling. Stereo speakers sound best when the listening area is centered and in front of the two speakers, but they also sound good from either side of the room. For a well recorded soundtrack, both the left and right signals might contain the same music, but they will not be at the same volume levels. Different instruments will be at different levels in the different speakers. If you are directly in front of one of the speakers, you should still be able to hear some parts of the music coming from the other speaker.
The front speakers in a home theater system are designed to have just the opposite effect. They have a very short vertical off-axis response that limits the dispersion of the sound in the room. This is done to prevent the reflection of the sound off the floor and the ceiling. The reason for this is simple. In a home theater system, there are 2 rear speakers to provide the sound from the back. The reflection from the front speakers will only interfere with the job of rear speakers. When mixing the sound for a movie, the editors want you to feel like you are in the movie. If the actors are in a large room, then the echoes should appear to be deeper and take longer to arrive back at the listener. This is impossible if you can hear the reflection of your front speakers off the back wall of your living room. Ideally, the only reflection you should hear is the false reflection provided by your rear speakers.

What about the rear speakers?

The rear speakers in a home theater system have a greater diffusion than you would get with stereo speakers. Sometimes, rear speakers have drivers firing in multiple directions. This causes a lot of reflection against the walls and makes the rear echoes sound like they are coming from a wide area.

What about the center channel?

The center channel is the most important speaker in a home theater system. It produces all of the voices that come from actors on the screen. Without a center channel, the voices would be coming from the corners of your room.
Many home theater speaker systems use two center channels instead of one. It is debatable on whether more than one center channel is necessary. It probably depends most on the size of your television.

What about the subwoofer?

Years ago, the word subwoofer meant a speaker that produced sounds deeper than a regular woofer. A subwoofer driver would have to be at least 12" wide to produce these frequencies. Now, the term has come to mean the largest driver in a system, regardless of whether the system has a woofer or not. In some small speaker systems, especially computer multimedia systems, a subwoofer can be 6" or smaller. A subwoofer of this type is completely useless in a good home theater system.
You can get extra bass from a subwoofer through good box design. On average, a ported subwoofer box can achieve an extra 3db, and a bandpass box can produce an extra 5db or more. Many people like this extra bass but there are disadvantages. Ported boxes will usually be slightly larger that a sealed box using the same driver, and a bandpass box can be twice as large. Also, it is difficult to determine when a bandpass sub is being pushed too hard. These subs can self-destruct before any distortion is audible. Finally, ported and bandpass boxes are only louder at certain frequencies. A sealed box may not be as loud but it will have a flatter response curve and a smoother rolloff on the bass end.
Usually, people place the subwoofer in the corner of their room. The placement of a sub isn't critical because the bass is so deep that the listener shouldn't be able to determine what direction it is coming from. This is why it is necessary to get a good deep bass subwoofer. Although the corner of the room works fine in most cases, a sub can be placed anywhere in the room. Let your ears be the judge.

Is a subwoofer really necessary?

Depending on how you look at it, subwoofers can radically increase or decrease the cost of a home theater system. A 5 channel system without a subwoofer can produce the same, or more, bass than a system with a subwoofer. Having 4 speakers each with a 15" woofer will produce a lot more bass than a single subwoofer. The problem is that these speakers would be very expensive and a very large multi-channel amplifier would be necessary to drive them. Having 4 smaller speakers with a smaller amp, and a powered sub would be a cheaper option. Of course, using 4 smaller speakers and no subwoofer is the cheapest option, but this system would not provide a lot of bass.

If I already have 2 stereo speakers, do I have to still buy a whole home theater system?

No. Frankly, home theater systems are expensive. If you have a good pair of front speakers then save your money or get a better set of center and rear speakers. You can always upgrade and replace the front speakers in the future. Also, you know you will have good sound when playing music.

Is it important to get a set of home theater speakers from the same manufacturer that are designed to work together?

Some people believe that you must have the same exact speakers for your front and rear channels, with a center channel using shielded versions of the same drivers minus the woofer. Although this is an ideal situation, it is expensive when the speakers are full range. When using smaller speakers for the fronts with a powered subwoofer, it might be a good idea to get 4 of the same speakers. If not, you will still want to get all of your speakers, with the exception of the subwoofer, from the same manufacturer. Make sure that are designed to work together as a home theater set. Usually, this means they use the same drivers for the mids and highs. This gives the speakers the same sensitivity and sound quality.

What are the differences between Dolby Surround, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital, and DTS?

Dolby Surround and Pro Logic use 4 and 5 speakers respectively. Surround Sound adds rear speakers to the main front pair, and Pro Logic adds an additional center channel. Although these systems use 4 or 5 speakers, the original input signal is still 2 channels: left and right. The 5 channels of sound are encoded into these 2 channels, stored on disc or tape, and then decoded by the home users Dolby decoder. This encoding is done to maintain backward compatibility with older 2 channel systems. A Dolby encoded source will still play correctly when using only 2 speakers without a decoder. The rear and center channels in a surround or pro logic system are not full range. The standard bandwidth for rear speakers is 70Hz to 8kHz, although some soundtracks will contain information as low as 50Hz.
Dolby Digital 5.1, also know as AC-3 because it is Dolby's 3rd audio code, uses 5 separate channels for encoding the 5 speakers, plus 1 separate channel for a subwoofer. The .1 subwoofer channel is for LFE (Low-Frequency-Effects), and is basically a deep bass channel. The 5 main channels will all have a full range signal. Most Dolby Digital processors will have a function that allows the bass from the 5 main channels to be redirected to the subwoofer if desired. This allows for having bass in a system even when using small surround speakers.
Dolby Digital 5.1 encoding is used primarily in DVDs. There are other mediums that use a 2 channel Dolby Digital format, such as CDs, TV satellite, digital cable, video games, and older laser discs. Although it is Dolby Digital, it is not the 5.1 encoding. The 2 digital signals are decoded into a 4 channel surround sound signal. This is used by companies that use a digital signal to save bandwidth or increase quality, but have not yet upgraded to the full Dolby Digital 5.1 system. Dolby Digital does not necessarily mean 5.1 encoding.
DTS (Digital Theatre Systems) is similar to Dolby Digital except that the signal quality is higher. To save space on a DVD, both Dolby Digital and DTS signals are compressed. The compression on Dolby Digital signals is higher than that of DTS, so a DTS signal retains more of the original signal and therefore is of higher quality. While Dolby Digital is standard on almost every DVD, many still do not use DTS.
Both Dolby Digital and DTS continue to add channels to their format. You can now get 6.1 (adds a rear center), 7.1 (uses 2 side channels), and 8.1 (

Should all 5 speakers be driven with the same amplifier power?

When Dolby Surround and Pro Logic came out, the typical home theater receiver had less power for the center and rear channels than it did for the fronts. Since the rear speakers were not full range speakers, this wasn't much of a problem. With Dolby Digital, all 5 speakers have their own full range channel. Many recordings are now designed for systems that have the same power for all 5 speakers. It is suggested that you get an amplifier with equal power to all channels.
The subwoofer in a Dolby Digital system usually has its own amplifier built into the sub. Since a single 15" or 18" sub can require 400 watts of power, it makes sense for a sub to have its own amp. Although powered subs come with many features like built in crossovers and polarity switches, a regular sub with a dedicated amplifier can work just as well.

What are dipolar and bipolar speakers?

The terms bipolar and dipolar both refer to speakers with drivers that are fired in two different directions. With dipolar speakers, the two sets of drivers are on the sides of the speaker aimed in opposite directions and are in reverse phase causing a cancellation of sound waves in front of the speaker. This is usually done in rear speakers that are mounted on the wall, where the front of the speaker is aimed at the listening area. This causes all of the sound to bounce off the walls before it is heard. This makes it almost impossible to determine where the speaker is, causing a true surround sound effect.
With bipolar speakers, the drivers are fired in opposite directions, but are in phase causing an increase in bass output. In this case, the drivers are in the front and back of the speaker. Sometimes bipolar speakers have side firing woofers, technically making it a tripolar speaker because it has drivers on three sides. These types of speakers are still referred to as bipolar. There are also speakers that can be used as bipolar or dipolar. In these speakers a switch is used to change from one mode to the other.
Another type of surround sound bipolar speaker is where the side drivers fire at an angle of 90 degrees or less from off the main drivers. This allows the speakers to be mounted in the corner of the room. The side drivers do not need to be identical to the front speakers in this case.

Are horn drivers better for home theater?

I have actually seen speakers that had horns and dome tweeters, with a switch to alternate between the two for home theater and music. Horns originally became popular because of their high sensitivity. A horn driver can play much louder that a dome speaker using the same amplifier power. Since amplifiers have gotten cheaper horns have become less necessary. The big problem with horns are that the are too efficient. There are no horn woofers, and you don't want your treble 5 times louder than your bass. This problem could be avoided by using different amplifiers for the treble and bass drivers. The other benefit to horns is that their output can be easily directed. Remember that the front speakers in a home theater system are more directed than typical stereo speakers.
When deciding on whether to purchase a system with horns, let your ears be the judge. There are a lot of high-end systems that still use horns. Also, remember that movie soundtracks are designed for movie theaters, which usually use horn drivers.

How far away should the listening area be from the rear speakers?

Ideally, the listening area should be in the center of the room at equal distances from all speakers. If this is not possible, then there are ways to improve the situation. If the listening area is near the back wall, then put the surround speakers high on the side walls facing each other. If dipole speakers are used, then the can be mounted further forward in the listening area and lower on the wall, as long as the front of the speaker is aimed toward the listening area.

Should I play music using only the front speakers?

This is up to the individual's tastes. Most likely, there will be some music that sounds better in a surround mode, and other music that sounds outright horrible. When experimenting with playing music on a Dolby Digital system, try it with and without the center channel.

 

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