One small mistake can cause the entire system to not work properly and can also affect the sound quality of your surround sound.
Often muffled surround sound can be a direct result of faulty wiring, while this may sound like something that will be difficult to fix, it is in fact easy and sometimes the problem might be something even smaller than faulty wiring.
Here we explain a number of reasons why your surround sound may be muffled and have to fix this. Read on to find out more!
How To Fix Muffled Surround Sound
Causes Of Muffled Surround Sound
Below are the four most common reasons why a surround sound may not be performing properly and the sound is muffled.
Bad Wiring
Muffled surround sound is caused by bad wiring. When you install your new speakers make sure you check the wires for damage.
The easiest way to do this is to take an old set of speakers and see how the wires look.
If the wires are frayed or damaged then you should replace them with new ones.
If you are unsure about which wires go where there are usually color codes associated with each wire.
These colors are meant to help identify the wires as well as their function. In order to determine the correct wires, you must first know where they are located.
This means you need to measure the distance from the back wall to the nearest speaker.
Once you have measured this distance, you can then match the colors of the wires to the corresponding distances.
Speakers Spaced Incorrectly
Another reason why your surround sound may not be working correctly could be because your speakers are too close to one another.
It’s important to note that the closer your speakers are to one another the louder they will become.
However, if your speakers are too close together, you won’t hear any surround sound.
Therefore, you need to ensure that your speakers are spaced apart so that they don’t interfere with one another.
Wrong Amp
Another common reason why your surround sound isn’t working is that you haven’t installed the right type of amplifier.
For example, if you are using a receiver instead of a preamp, you won’t get surround sound.
There are two types of amplifiers: receivers and preamps. Receivers amplify only stereo signals.
Preamps amplify both stereo and surround sound. So if you want to experience surround sound, you will need a preamp.
Not Connected Properly
A final reason why your surround sound doesn’t work is that you haven’t connected all of your speakers correctly.
Make sure you connect the left and right channels of your speakers to the front left and right speakers respectively.
Also, make sure you connect the center channel to the center speaker. Finally, make sure you connect your subwoofer to the subwoofer connection.
How To Fix
So now that you understand what causes muffled surround sound, let’s move on to fixing it.
First off, you’ll need some tools. You’ll need a pair of pliers, a screwdriver, a wire cutter, and a soldering iron.
Once you have those items, you will need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Disconnect The Speakers From The Amp
First thing first, you need to disconnect the speakers from the amplifier. To do this, simply unplug the power cord from the amp.
Next, remove the speaker cables from the speaker terminals. Finally, pull the connectors off of the speaker terminals.
Check that there is no damage to any of the cables as this could be the first thing that may need to be replaced. If the cables are ok, move on to the next step.
Step 2: Check The Speakers Wiring Or Replace With New Ones
Once you have disconnected the speakers from the amp, you can proceed to replace the speaker terminals.
Remove the screws holding your speakers in place. Then, carefully pull the speakers away from the walls.
Be careful not to damage anything when removing the speakers.
After you’ve removed the old speakers, you can begin installing your new ones or checking the wiring in the back of your current speakers to ensure they are all connected properly.
If you are not replacing your speakers, put the old speakers back up and reconnect to check if fixing the cables has successfully solved your issue.
If not it may be worthwhile replacing these speakers with new speakers and if you are doing this continue on to the next step.
Step 3: Reposition Speakers
Now that you’re ready to install the new speakers, you’ll need to measure the distance between the speakers. To do this, you’ll need to use a tape measure.
Measure the distance from the back of the closest speaker to the wall.
Then, measure the same distance from the other side of the speaker. Write down these measurements.
Next, take your screwdriver and tighten the screws that hold the speakers to the wall.
Then repeat the process for the second set of speakers. Repeat this step until you’ve tightened every screw.
Step 4: Test Your Surround Sound
Now that you’ve finished tightening your speakers, you’ll need a way to test whether your surround sound works properly.
Start by plugging your headphones into your TV or computer that is connected to the surround sound system.
Press play on a song or a movie and turn up the volume on your system and listen for any sound through your headphones.
If you hear surround sound, congratulations! Your surround sound system is working perfectly.
If you still aren’t hearing surround sound after following the steps above, there might be something wrong with your speakers and you may need to replace them.
If this solution does not work then it may also be worthwhile considering calling an audio technician to help you.
Other Troubleshooting Suggestions
If you are still experiencing problems with your surround sound system, there are several other things you can try.
First, make sure that you have plugged the right plugs into the right sockets. Second, make sure that you are plugging the power cable into the proper socket.
Third, make sure that the power supply for your amplifier is working properly.
Fourth, make sure that the connections between the speakers and the amplifier are secure. Fifth, make sure that the speakers are connected correctly.
Sixth, make sure that you aren’t using any other equipment that could be interfering with your surround sound system.
Finally, make sure that you haven’t damaged your surround sound system by playing too much music or watching movies.
If none of these solutions work, you may want to consider replacing your surround sound system.
It might be worth spending the money on a high-quality surround sound system instead of trying to fix one that doesn’t work well but if you do not want to replace your surround sound system then we recommend that you consider calling an expert.
Top Tip For Finding Good Speakers For Your Surround Sound
If you need to replace your speakers you will need to ensure that you get a great pair that can be added to your already established surround sound system setup.
When shopping for new speakers, keep these tips in mind to find speakers that will be able to provide great quality sound to your surround sound system.
Size
Make sure you buy speakers that fit your room. Some rooms are small while others are large. Be sure to measure your room before purchasing any speakers.
This is especially important if you plan on placing the speakers near windows or doors. Make sure you position the speakers so that they aren’t blocking any views outside.
Frequency Range
Consider the frequency range of the speakers. Most home theater packages include speakers that cover the entire audio spectrum.
If you only want to play certain types of music, you’ll need to purchase separate speakers. Speakers come in different sizes.
Smaller speakers tend to produce higher volume levels than larger ones. Therefore, you might want to get smaller speakers if you plan on watching movies outdoors.
Connection Type
There are many ways to connect your speakers together. You can use a single wire to connect multiple speakers together.
Or you can use a multichannel speaker wiring kit. Speaker cables vary depending on the type of connection you have between the speakers and your amplifier.
If you have a stereo cable, you’ll need to get a pair of speaker cables. If you have a coaxial cable, you’ll need two pairs.
The best way to connect your speakers depends on what kind of connections you have available. If you have a standard RCA jack, you should use a 3.5 mm plug.
If you have a component video input, you should use a Y-cable.
The above three considerations can help to prevent issues and muffled sounds from your surround sound system.
As long as the speakers are perfect for the room you plan to use them in and the frequency and connection type are right everything should be set up and work effortlessly.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this guide has been of help and that you have been able to rectify the muffled sound your surround sound had been emitting and that you can now enjoy your music and media with crystal clear sound.
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