The receiver will play a "pink noise" static burst through each speaker individually.
The ultimate purpose of the 5.1 test is to facilitate the suspension of disbelief. Cinema is an art form predicated on invisibility; the seams must not show. In the realm of audio, this means that the soundscape must be transparent. If a viewer notices the sound system, the immersion is broken. If a helicopter flies from the right side of the screen but the sound pans awkwardly to the left rear, the brain registers the error, and the magic dissolves. 5.1 surround test
| Channel Label | Speaker Position | Typical Use | |---------------|------------------|----------------| | L (Left) | Front Left | Main dialogue/music left | | C (Center) | Under/above screen | Dialogue, center image | | R (Right) | Front Right | Main dialogue/music right | | LS (Left Surround) | Left side or rear-left | Ambient FX, pans | | RS (Right Surround) | Right side or rear-right | Ambient FX, pans | | LFE (Subwoofer) | Anywhere front | Low frequencies (20–120 Hz) | The receiver will play a "pink noise" static
Uses the Center channel—the "home of dialogue"—to ensure voices are crisp and centered relative to the screen. How to Run a 5.1 Surround Test In the realm of audio, this means that
: If your rear speakers are playing the same sounds as your front speakers, your receiver might be in "Multi-channel Stereo" or "Pro Logic" mode. Switch to "Direct" or "Auto" to hear the discrete 5.1 channels.