Quote:
Originally Posted by snarks /t/1418759/7-1-which-speakers-are-used-most#post_22191011
i'm considering upgrading from 7.1 and I am curious which speakers are used the most in a system like this, sides or rears. I am aslo curious if wall or ceiling mounted are preferred
To answer your question directly, the majority of movies are 5.1 mixed natively. We are seeing more and more 7.1 mixed Blu-Ray tracks and some of them are quite dynamic, so if you are really into movies, 7.1 can certainly add to your enjoyment. You can also buy a receiver that will matrix 7.1 sound from a 5.1 track, but I have been less than impressed with these types of mixes vs a movie that was mixed with 7.1 in mind. A few caveats:
- I would focus my budget on the left, right, center, and subwoofer. Those are the most important speakers and where the vast majority of sound and dialogue will come from.
- Your room will dictate if 7.1 works. Some people just do not have the right room to fit 7 speakers.
- Ideally you want the tweeter ear level when standing for the rear channels. In-wall will work just fine as long as you have the right height and distance. In-ceiling would be less than ideal, than on-wall or in-wall but you can buy in-ceiling speakers like the Speakercraft AIM series that allow you to aim the woofers and tweeters to the desired angle.
It really just comes down to budget.