Dolby Surround
From Sega Retro
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Dolby Surround is an audio technology developed by Dolby Laboratories. Originally demonstrated in 1982, it is the consumer version of Dolby Stereo (which confusingly uses more than two speakers), typically used in theatrical films to give the illusion of "surround" sound.
Dolby Surround is a four-channel audio set-up, consisting of left and right speakers, a "centre" speaker typically placed behind a user, and a "surround" channel that is spread across the other three. While the technology has existed since at least 1976, when brought to the home the four signals would usually be combined into two to create stereo surround compatible with most television and Hi-Fi equipment of the day. With a Dolby Surround decoder, this information remains on its four intended channels to simulate the cinema experience.
Dolby Surround came into video games in the early 1990s, debuting on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System before being carried through to newer platforms. Today this variant of Dolby Surround is rarely used, as Dolby (and its rivals) have since produced more elaborate set-ups with significantly more sound channels (and speaker requirements).
In terms of Sega produce, Dolby Surround began to appear in Sega Saturn games during the mid-1990s, before being officially supported by the Sega Dreamcast in mid-2000. Few games make use of the technology.