A typical home-theater set-up provides the surround-sound effect with its speakers and subwoofers. However, a considerable amount of space is needed for all the equipment, not to mention the clutter of cables. There is also the hassle of adjusting the placement and height of a number of speakers.

The virtual surround sound presents an acceptable alternative when the effects of a multi-speaker surround system is mimicked using fewer speakers and cables. The system uses a number of techniques to modify sound waves so that they seem to come from more speakers than those that are really there. The techniques are lifted from the study of psychoacoustics or the manner by which people perceive sound.