Every audio device from headphones to radios and even inbuild speakers in your TV can be categorised as using mono, stereo or spatial / surround sound. When shopping around for new devices you'll also likely see these terms attached, especially when looking for the audio cables to hook it all up.
We always want customers to make the most informed decision possible at Daffodil, so here's a quick overview of these common jargon terms for audio devices:
What is Mono Audio?
Mono audio is audio played in a single channel.
"Channel" here just means all the audio is stored together. The guitar, vocals, bass drops, drums, choir, 1st violins, 2nd violins and the rest of it are all stored together. This means single-channel or "Mono" audio sounds exactly the same from headphones, speakers, earbuds, you name it,
Every audio output (That's your speakers, earphones etc) play all the audio, because they all receive the same single channel that has every instrument.
Why is Mono Audio Used?
Hearing that, it might seem obvious that mono audio is the simplest type of audio. Stereo and surround sound are much more in-depth both to record and to listen to.
Mono persists in no small part because of subjective taste, but also because of its simplicity and objective nature.
Some key credits to Mono audio are:
Consistent experience across multiple speakers. When playing audio through a house or over multiple speakers at an event like a wedding reception or party, you want everyone in the room to have a good experience. A mono audio mix ensures the same audio levels hit everyone the same, in every room.
Avoiding unbalanced stereo. This is more a con of Stereo but also plays as a pro of Mono. Even when just listening alone, no party and just through headphones, mono can still sometimes provide a better experience by avoiding jarring stereo extremes (Such as vocals suddenly only coming out of one ear).
Universally Supported. Mono mixed audio is incredibly accessible. Every stereo system can play it by disabling some speakers, or just blasting the mono mix out of all of them. Systems are "backwards compatible" with mono, so it's going to be accessible to you no matter what device you use or cable you use to connect it. From the humble AUX to an HDMI channel or even going through ethernet.
What is Stereo Audio?
With Mono being understood as a single channel holding all the music, stereo is simply 2 channels holding the music.
Each audio output (That's your speakers, earphones etc) play either the left or right audio, because they receive one channel out of the two that has specific instruments.
Why is Stereo Audio Used?
Stereo is used in a variety of ways, but most common are stereo mixes which allow audio to sound directional and pervasive in a way mono can't.
Depth and Width of Sound. By balancing the vocals out of each stereo channel equally, they sound clear and "up front", while a rhythm guitar can be played off to a side at a lower volume to create a more diverse soundscape.
Directionality and Reverb. Outside of music, stereo audio even allows basic directional audio. You only have "left" and "right" channels, but that's enough (when combined with volume changes) to simulate a basic "virtual surround sound". Recording from multiple directions also allows you to hear a drumbeat fade or crescendo build much more vividly, as your ears pick up on the changes coming from the original source and the secondary one.
In films, games and other media stereo audio directionality is vital to achieving results like action scenes, where a bullet might whiz past your left ear in relation to the shot in the film.
You can test your headphones or speakers for stereo audio right now if you're on a Windows PC or laptop. Search for "Control Panel" in your search bar at the bottom of the screen, then go to "Sound" In the window that appears, right-click your speakers or headphones and then left-click "Test". This will play a tune that uses all available speakers and helps you tell what direction audio can come from.
What is Surround and Spatial Sound?
Finally, now that we understand mono as a single channel and stereo as 2, surround sound and full spatial sound are the next logical step.
Each audio output (That's your speakers, earphones etc) plays 1 of up to 9 channels, because they receive one channel out of the whole lot, each with specific directions and purposes.
Why is Surround Sound Used?
Substantially detailed and realistic background noise like traffic while still having clear, directional audio for character dialogue and actions on top of that.
3D Spatial Audio. By using up to 9 different channel outputs (Although usually only either 5 or 7) surround sound is able most authentically emulate direction. This is where the term spatial sound comes from, as events can be identified not just in a 2D soundscape but in 3D space.
Complications of Surround Sound
Surround sound systems are more finnicky to set up, as each component needs to be carefully positioned and assigned a channel correctly. If you sit down to watch TV with a surround sound system and it's configured wrong, you could have a bizarre experience where sounds are coming from the wrong direction, throwing off your immersion and sometimes causing real confusion.
This can happen with stereo too, but at least there's only a couple of speakers to switch (Or a headset to turn around!) so it's a much easier fix than an entire surround sound system configured incorrectly.
Look Before You Leap
It can be important to know what you're looking at when it comes to investing in new audio tech, so be on the lookout for speakers and headphones that can deliver the audio experience you want.
Remember, mono audio is a baseline that works on most everything, but if you have the space and want to set up a surround sound system then you need to be aware of these differences, as pumping mono audio through it will be deafening!
When it comes to using multiple speakers for stereo, you can step up a basic wireless stereo network with adapters, which can save you money by converting your already existing speakers into wireless left or right channel speakers.
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