2.1 or 3.1 channels? And coordinating speakers...

2.1 or 3.1 channels? And coordinating speakers...


Is there any benefit to 3 channels over straight stereo?


I'm setting up a home theater and have a 5.1 channel receiver. In time, I'm sure I'll have a 5.1 setup. For now, I can only afford 2 or 3 speakers. So I'm curious about whether it makes sense to have 3 channels, or if the logical jump is right from 2.1 to 5.1. I'll probably be using DIY speakers (recession buster kit from madisound), so it's really a question of whether I just build a third.


I'm assuming receivers can be set up to manage the sound through however many speakers you have running, correct?


Also, I'm a bit mistyfied about how you add mismatched speakers to a system. What if I pick up some really lousy speakers for the side/rear channels (as in two speakers for $20 at a garage sale quality), can they be integrated into the system and improve it? Or will their low quality bring the whole system down?