Home Theater is a sound system that makes movies sound three dimensional (3-D).
Videos and some TV transmissions are already encoded with Dolby Surround Sound, a five point mix of soundtrack audio signals. The five channels are: Center, Main Left, Main Right, surround left (rear) and surround right (rear). Normally, voices are sent to the center channel, soundtrack is sent to mains left and right, and subtle ambient sounds are sent to the rear surround speakers. When each speaker is playing only what the decoder sends it, the illusion of being in the scene is amazing! For added movie theater-like emphasis, a subwoofer plays the very low tones that rumble the room. The better Home Theater systems have powered subwoofers, because they draw alot of power away from the other 5 speakers.
You plug the audio signal from your VCR, cable company, dish decoder or Laserdisc into the Surround Sound Decoder, then you run speaker wire to the speakers and place them in the viewing space. The subwoofer could be anywhere in the room. Home Theater is a very exciting aural experience, and the prices of these complete systems are finally down to an acceptable level.