should I get 5.1 or 7.1 ?



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Originally Posted by revm1m /forum/post/0


should I get a A/V receiver with 5.1 dolby or 7.1

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You're going to have a hard time finding receivers that are limited to 5.1 channels, unless you search out the most basic entry-level models. Just because a receiver has 7.1 channels, doesn't mean you have to hook up that many speakers. You can connect as few as 2 or 3 speakers if you want. Modern receivers will scale the soundtrack to match the number of speakers in your set-up.

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most of tv shows & movies are broadcast dolby D 5.1 not 7.1

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The number of channels in the source material has nothing to do with the number of speakers used for playback. 7.1-channel pre-amp/processors have been around for over 20 years. That's a full 8 years before there was any 5.1 material available to consumers. Which means that 7.1-speaker set-ups were originally intended for 2-channel material, with the surround processing adapted later (much later) for 5.1-channel sources.

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if I get A/V with 7.1 would I hear from all of those speakers?

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Yes, but only if you want to; you always have the option to turn off the surround processing and listen with fewer than 7.1 speakers. With 5.1 material, the front 3 channels would be simply be sent to their respective front speakers, no processing required. In the surround field, the information in the 2 surround channels would be steered over your 4 surround speakers using surround processing such as Dolby Pro Logic IIx. Sounds that would have normally phantom imaged behind you will be extracted and sent to the rear speakers. Sounds that would have been heard mostly from your left or right side will be steered to the speakers at your sides. Nothing more complicated than that.


One caveat: if you're going to do a 7.1-speaker layout, make sure your seating area is away from the back wall. If it is at or near the back wall, then stick to a 5.1 set-up (no room behind you for the rear speakers).


Good Luck,

Sanjay



Quote:
Originally Posted by revm1m /forum/post/0


thank you very much Sanjay and evryone else. Yes my second row of seating would be about 4' to 5' from the back wall, so 7.1 would be perfect.

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You're welcome. Use the attached diagram as a starting point for your 7.1 layout.


I would place the side speakers directly to the sides of the sweet spot (main listening location). Placing them rearward of the listening area puts all 4 surrounds behind the listeners, making rear-vs-side directionality less distinct.


Also, try to keep the rear speakers well separated (at least 60 degrees apart). Spreading them out will make it easier to hear left-vs-right stereo separation behind you (where our human hearing is not so good).


Best,

Sanjay