Gaming Hacks

Place Your Speakers Properly

With the right home theater equipment chosen ( [Hack #38] ) and in hand, your next step to great console gaming sound and video is connecting everything. This can be quite complex, but following the following guidelines will lead you to success. Here’s how to connect your audio equipment for the best possible experience.

Check Your Wiring

When first setting up or reviewing a system, start by checking the wiring. Don’t be afraid to disconnect everything. While you’re verifying your connections, you have the chance to straighten and untangle your wires. Do it! This is a great time to label all of your system wires. Do it! You can buy small plastic labels, but masking tape works fine. You’ll feel better about your system if everything is neat, labeled, and connected correctly.

To avoid confusion and tangles, run your components one at a time. To confirm that you’ve connected the inputs and outputs in the right direction, consider where the signal flows.

Tip

If you’re connecting a Dolby Digital-compatible component to a DD 5.1 receiver, the receiver’s display will often indicate the presence of a 5.1 signal. This helps to determine a good connection.

If you’re connecting your console or DVD player to a surround receiver with a Toslink or coaxial digital cable, set the device to Dolby Digital mode in its audio menu. (They’re usually set to two-channel analog by default.) Some devices also have a PCM mode. Although this is a digital mode, it supports any two ...