From stereo to cinema: How to build a 5.1 surround sound system

A wired sound system gives you something wireless setups can’t: pure, uninterrupted sound straight from your receiver to your speakers. Nothing gets in the way—no compression, no signal loss, no interference—so you hear every detail and dynamic shift exactly as it was meant to be heard.

Once you’ve experienced that kind of clarity, it makes sense to want to take things to the next level. That’s where surround sound comes in—expanding your system adds dimension and immersion, transforming how you experience everything from movies to games.

Why upgrade to 5.1?

A 2.1 system delivers stereo precision and impact—left, right, and deep bass. A 5.1 system surrounds you, adding depth and spatial cues so sound feels lifelike from every angle. Dialogue stays anchored to the screen and ambience envelops you, creating a natural, convincing sense of place that stereo can’t match.

What you’ll need

You don’t need to start from scratch—your 2.1 setup is already the foundation of something incredible. To expand into full surround, add:

• A center channel speaker for clear, focused dialogue
• Two surround speakers to extend sound around you

If your AVR supports 5.1, you’re set. That means it powers five speakers and has an output that connects directly to your powered subwoofer. Connect the new speakers, run your receiver’s auto-calibration, and enjoy surround.

If your receiver only supports stereo or 2.1, upgrading to an AVR with more channels of power, like the Denon AVR-S760H, opens the door to 5.1 and beyond. With 7.2 channels, 8K video support, and Dolby Atmos decoding, the AVR-S760H handles 5.1 surround now and leaves room to add height speakers later for an immersive 5.1.2 or 5.2.2 setup.

An all-in-one surround setup

Starting from scratch? Polk’s Signature Elite 5.2 Surround Sound Speaker Bundle includes every speaker you need to experience true home theater sound: ES50 towers for left and right, an ES35 center channel speaker for dialogue, two ES10 surrounds, and two ES8 subwoofers. This dual-sub system delivers even smoother, more balanced bass throughout the room—an upgrade that takes standard 5.1 performance even further.

Every Signature Elite speaker is timbre-matched, sharing the same voicing and tonal balance. That consistency keeps voices and instruments sounding uniform and natural as they move between speakers, so the entire system feels cohesive and true to the source. And if you decide to expand your system over time, timbre matching ensures each new speaker blends seamlessly with the rest, maintaining that same balanced, signature Polk sound.

Putting it all together

Setting your system up takes a little patience and attention to detail, but it’s worth it. Careful speaker placement makes all the difference—small adjustments can turn good sound into something extraordinary.

• Center channel: Ideally, your center channel sits just below your TV and aimed at ear level. If you need to place it above, tilt it down slightly so dialogue still sounds like it’s coming from the screen, not above it.
• Front L/R towers: Place them slightly angled toward your main listening spot so the sound from each speaker meets where you sit, creating a focused, balanced soundstage.
• Surrounds: Position them to the sides or just behind your couch, a little higher than ear level when seated. Point them toward your listening area to fill the space evenly.
• Subwoofer: Start near a front corner or along the front wall; if bass sounds boomy or thin, move it slightly. Feeling ambitious? Try our five tips for perfect sub placement. (With two subs, try placing them both along the front wall or place the second sub diagonally away from the front subwoofer, along the back of your listening area.)

Once your speakers are in place, pair them with your existing AVR—or step up to a larger AVR like the Denon AVR-S760H—to power and calibrate the system for your room. (Need wiring help? We’ll walk you through it.)

Your living room, transformed

Upgrading to 5.1 brings the theater home. Your living room becomes the best seat in the house—whether you’re watching the latest blockbuster, cheering on your team with friends, bingeing a new series, or getting lost in your favorite songs. Even everyday viewing from news to late-night talk shows feels richer and more engaging. It’s the kind of sound that makes staying in feel like an experience.

Ready to build your 5.1 system?

Explore Polk’s Signature Elite Series to create a surround setup that sounds great today and grows with you tomorrow.