So i wanted to get peoples opinion on either setting up a 7.1 or 5.1 speaker system. I will mostly be using it for my PS3 and blu ray movie watching. I have been waiting for HDMI 1.3 recievers to be released so i can get something with dolby trueHD and DTSHD and wanted a speaker system to make the best out of the new formatts.

I thought dolby trueHD was suspposed to be 7.1 but i noticed on the recent specs of the movie "300" blu ray disc that is says dolby trueHD 5.1. will most HD movies be done in 5.1 instead of 7.1? what about games? I already have a creative labs 7.1 speaker set up for my PC that i thought about using with my TV instead but im not sure how easy it will be to install ( or if the quality will be as good) if i hook it up to a nice A/V reciever.

So basically im not sure if i should use the creative labs 7.1 speakers i have or get a new 7.1 system or forget 7.1 and get 5.1. thanks in advance

So i wanted to get peoples opinion on either setting up a 7.1 or 5.1 speaker system. I will mostly be using it for my PS3 and blu ray movie watching. I have been waiting for HDMI 1.3 recievers to be released so i can get something with dolby trueHD and DTSHD and wanted a speaker system to make the best out of the new formatts.

You don't need HDMI 1.3 for TrueHD, the players decode it to PCM internally, and any HDMI 1.x can support PCM.

I thought dolby trueHD was suspposed to be 7.1 but i noticed on the recent specs of the movie "300" blu ray disc that is says dolby trueHD 5.1. will most HD movies be done in 5.1 instead of 7.1?

Just like DD supported 5.1, TrueHD (and DD+) support 7.1, but it depends on the movie how much of that capability is used. Probably 99.9% of movies are 5.1.

I already have a creative labs 7.1 speaker set up for my PC that i thought about using with my TV instead but im not sure how easy it will be to install ( or if the quality will be as good) if i hook it up to a nice A/V reciever.

So basically im not sure if i should use the creative labs 7.1 speakers i have or get a new 7.1 system or forget 7.1 and get 5.1. thanks in advance

Definitely go 7.1. Dolby Pro Logic IIx is great for expanding 5.1 into 7.1. As for the speakers, there's no way I'd consider hooking Creative Labs speakers up in an HT.

Next to the room, speakers play the largest role in the sound you hear from your system.

You don't need HDMI 1.3 for TrueHD, the players decode it to PCM internally, and any HDMI 1.x can support PCM.



Just like DD supported 5.1, TrueHD (and DD+) support 7.1, but it depends on the movie how much of that capability is used. Probably 99.9% of movies are 5.1.



Definitely go 7.1. Dolby Pro Logic IIx is great for expanding 5.1 into 7.1. As for the speakers, there's no way I'd consider hooking Creative Labs speakers up in an HT.

Next to the room, speakers play the largest role in the sound you hear from your system.


thanks here are the creative labs speakers i have already

http://us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=4&subcategory=113&product=9306

i looked in the manual and it seems liek they can aslo be used iwht an A\V reciever instead of just a PC. So do you still think they wont be that great? should i just go for a new speaker system?

I don't know, I'd take a set of Paradigm Cinemas and a receiver over any PC speakers I can think of any day.

What you go with largely depends on what you want, what you can be satisified with, and what you can afford.

Myself, and many others, sometimes forget that not everyone can do a big system, although there are small speakers that can put out pretty big sound when set up properly. I'm still farily impressed every time I hear the Athena Micras I set up for a friend and I know there are small setups better than that.

Definitely go 7.1 if you have the space to do it properly. Using 7.1 when you can't arrange the speakers properly has dubious benefits, IMO.

What you go with largely depends on what you want, what you can be satisified with, and what you can afford.

Myself, and many others, sometimes forget that not everyone can do a big system, although there are small speakers that can put out pretty big sound when set up properly. I'm still farily impressed every time I hear the Athena Micras I set up for a friend and I know there are small setups better than that.

Definitely go 7.1 if you have the space to do it properly. Using 7.1 when you can't arrange the speakers properly has dubious benefits, IMO.


my biggest prblem really is i live in an apartment complex with hardwood floors so im trying to figure out the best way to get a nice surround soudn set up and not blow my downstairs neighbors out of the building. im really nervouse about the subwoofer blasting a hole through their ceiling. have any suggestions?

That's going to come down to restraint on your part, not your equipment.

Poor equipment won't help you avoid "blowing" your neighbors away, in fact it's possible it will make it worse, since often with poor equipment/setups, you end up increasing the volume to account for deficiencies.

That's going to come down to restraint on your part, not your equipment.

Poor equipment won't help you avoid "blowing" your neighbors away, in fact it's possible it will make it worse, since often with poor equipment/setups, you end up increasing the volume to account for deficiencies.


yeah i see your point. i have always had problems with a good volume. like there are parts it the movie where its really hard to hear the dialog through the center speaker so i turn it up to be able to hear it, then when soudn effect like explosions or the music starts to play its insainly loud.

I thought dolby trueHD was suspposed to be 7.1TrueHD is lossless compression technology for audio, like zipping a computer file to save space. Nothing more complicated than that. It can be any number of channels from 1 to 7.1 (it can actually handle more but Blu-ray and HD DVD are limited to 8 audio channels). will most HD movies be done in 5.1 instead of 7.1?Yes, because there are no 7.1 soundtracks. Since most movies are 5.1, that's how they'll end up when transfered to HD. However, 2-channel and 5.1-channel material can still take advantage of a 7.1 set-up. So basically im not sure if i should use the creative labs 7.1 speakers i have or get a new 7.1 system or forget 7.1 and get 5.1.The key to a 7.1-speaker set-up is your seating location. You need to be away from the back wall so that the rear speakers actually sound like they are behind you and well separated from the side speakers. If your seating is at or near the back wall, then stick to a 5.1 set-up (no room behind you for the rear speakers).

With that in mind, I would use the speakers you already have. Set them up properly for 7.1 (see attached diagram), and enjoy the results. Down the road, when you start hearing speaker you like better (and can afford), consider replacing your Creative Labs speakers (even if it means little by little).

Good Luck,
Sanjay

If you take the TrueHD 5.1 & PLIIX it to 7.1 will you in effect lose the TrueHD part? ie will you lose alot of audio quality?

If you take the TrueHD 5.1 & PLIIX it to 7.1 will you in effect lose the TrueHD part?No. TrueHD is lossless audio compression. PLIIx is surround processing. Two completely different technologies. Applying PLIIx won't make you "lose the TrueHD part" (i.e., it's not like the soundtrack will suddenly go from lossless to lossy).

Sanjay

No. TrueHD is lossless audio compression. PLIIx is surround processing. Two completely different technologies. Applying PLIIx won't make you "lose the TrueHD part" (i.e., it's not like the soundtrack will suddenly go from lossless to lossy).

Sanjay
Thanks Sanjay