Front Speakers

• The front speakers in a home theater system play the majority of the audio on the movie's soundtrack, including dialogue, music and sound effects. The front left and right speakers play the front left and right channels, respectively; 5.1 home theater systems also include a center speaker that plays the movie's center audio channel. Position the left and right speakers at an equal distance from the television; place the center speaker either above or below the center point of the television's screen.
  
  

Rear Speakers

• The rear speakers in a home theater system play the ambient sounds on rear channels of the movie's soundtrack, thereby creating a sense of immersion in the movie. A scene set in the forest, for example, might include bird sounds or rain on the rear channels. The soundtrack can also use the rear speakers to make a sound effect appear to come from a source behind the viewer; for example, the sound of a car crash in a chase sequence might play on the rear channels. Position the rear speakers behind the viewing area, facing the viewer at an angle.
  
  

Subwoofer

• The subwoofer is the ".1" in a 5.1 home theater system. A subwoofer speaker only plays very low-frequency audio. The sub-bass channel on the movie's soundtrack plays the bass frequencies of explosions, machinery and the bass part of the musical soundtrack. The subwoofer's ideal placement varies depending on the shape of the room and the furniture in it; start by placing the subwoofer in the corner of the room, then experiment to find the best location.
  
  

Additional Speakers

• More complex home theater surround sound systems include additional speakers to create a deeper sense of immersion. A 7.1 home theater system adds either two side speakers or two additional rear speakers. A 10.2 surround sound system consists of a semi-circular ring of speakers partially surrounding the viewer; it also has two subwoofers -- a right and a left -- and adds two overhead speakers above the screen.