What is "Arrival-time Alignment" and why is it important in home
theater? Arrival-time alignment (often incorrectly referred to
as time delay or time alignment) is the process of ensuring that
the direct sound from each speaker arrives at the listening
point at the exact same moment. This is achieved through speaker
placement and signal delay. Why is arrival-time alignment
important? Selective listening is inherent to human hearing,
allowing us to "block out" sounds that are not perceived as
important or relevant given the current situation. In home
theater, our brains must constantly distinguish between direct
and reverberant sound. If direct sounds from a speaker arrive at
a different time than those from another speaker, your brain
will confuse the later as a reverberant sound and discard them
as unimportant. Precise arrival-time alignment drastically
improves clarity and detail, making home theater a true
experience.