Room treatment or new channels?

[Bloodstriker]

Well, thanks to everyone for the help on my "bass" thread.

Now while I'm in the process of trying to figure out which sub to go with, I'd like to pose another question:

I am currently running 5.1 channels. If you had to pick one thing to do next, would you do some accoustic fixes to the room or add the two back channels first?

On that note, if I do go with the back channels, what would be recommended for setup? I'm using towers for the surrounds, and I won't be able to fit more towers - meaning that I'll have to mount them on the ceiling. If that's the case, would I need to swap my surrounds to mountable speakers as well to maintain a proper listening field?

This audio stuff is ....very confusing as I just started to get into it a few months ago!

Thank you!!!

 

[MDS]

I'd go for the room treatments first as they would provide the biggest improvement. 7.1 is only available using a matrix decoder like PLIIx (although I'm sure someone will point out that new not widely available formats offer 7.1).

There is very little content in the side surrounds let alone the rear surrounds so 5.1 is sufficient for the vast majority of rooms. If you did decide to go with 7.1 either sooner or later it would not require you to give up towers for the surrounds.

 

[Davemcc]

I'd go for the room treatments first as they would provide the biggest improvement. 7.1 is only available using a matrix decoder like PLIIx (although I'm sure someone will point out that new not widely available formats offer 7.1).

There is very little content in the side surrounds let alone the rear surrounds so 5.1 is sufficient for the vast majority of rooms. If you did decide to go with 7.1 either sooner or later it would not require you to give up towers for the surrounds.

Ditto. It's simply amazing what a modest amount of room treatment can do, especially if you go with one of the larger subs.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have to agree with these guys...room treatments.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

Ditto...

A room upgrade will easily provide a more significant positive impact. 7.1 is cool to have and all, but not before your listening room is fixed. (the same can be said for both 2.0 or 5.1 )

 

[no. 5]

Room treatments.

Think of it this way; look through your movies, count how many are in DTS-ES or DD-EX, whatever the number is, that is how many movies will be improved by adding the surround back channels. Now count how may movies you have total, that is how many will be improved by adding room treatments.

 

[jaxvon]

Room treatments. No question. It's the equivalent of buying all NEW speakers. If you have money left over, consider some high quality EQ.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I going to disagree just to give a different perspective.
It's true that 7.1 is not very significant over 5.1.
Even with 5.1, the only real thing you're getting is that ambient effect.
However, being cool is also important. Deep inside you just don't want the Jones to brag about having 7.1 while you say things like, "Well, I don't NEED it." Sometimes it's not about NEED. It's about WANT.
So I'm going to side with 7.1, unless your room acoustic is SO EXTREMELY BAD that everything sounds like you're in a tunnel.

 

[abefroeman]

I going to disagree just to give a different perspective.
It's true that 7.1 is not very significant over 5.1.
Even with 5.1, the only real thing you're getting is that ambient effect.
However, being cool is also important. Deep inside you just don't want the Jones to brag about having 7.1 while you say things like, "Well, I don't NEED it." Sometimes it's not about NEED. It's about WANT.
So I'm going to side with 7.1, unless your room acoustic is SO EXTREMELY BAD that everything sounds like you're in a tunnel.

Don't listen to this.

 

[markw]

Maximizing the room/speaker interface is a good thing. This improves the overall sound.

Bu simply adding more speakers into an acoustically questionable room will not improve the sound. It will just add to the problems you're already experiencing.

 

[Bloodstriker]

Don't listen to this.

LOL. I'm a fan not beating around the bush and saying things straight out.

The ayes have it! Room treatments it is!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Don't listen to this.

Why is everyone assuming that Bloodstriker's room acoustic is so horrible that it needs modification?
What if his room's acoustic is already good?
Do we even have a detail of this room?

Does every room need fixing?
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?

 

[Bloodstriker]

I should take some pictures and show you guys what the room looks like. It's a very hard room with drywall and hardwood. I just don't know exactly how bad the room is.

 

[avaserfi]

Sounds like acoustics are the way to go with all the hard surfaces they will help make everything more clear by getting rid of the reflections.

I would suggest ignoring AcuDefTechGuy as well.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Sounds like acoustics are the way to go with all the hard surfaces they will help make everything more clear by getting rid of the reflections.

I would suggest ignoring AcuDefTechGuy as well.

Alright, Mr. wiseguy, what kind of room treatment do you recommend?
And how much is it going to cost him?

 

[avaserfi]

Lets wait for the pictures. Also, Bloodstrikers, how does the clap test sound in your room? Is there a lot of echo? Also, if you want to learn more about acoustics, this site is a great starting point: http://www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

Here is a bit of conjector: If on a limited budget I would do what I did and make absorbtion panels placing them in the early reflection points for the main speakers as well as on the back wall. Also, panels straddling the corners of the room could help bass response if help is needed. Cost of all the materials would be well under $150 depending on the number of panels made and materials used.

This course of action will allow for more clarity in dialog as well as music, along with a flatter frequency response.

While I am not any expert on the subject I have done a bit of reading and talked to some people who are far more knowledgeable than I, the cool factor is easily beaten by actual function.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Why is everyone always picking on avaserfi?

Note to self: pick on avaserfi

 

[avaserfi]

Why is everyone always picking on avaserfi?

Note to self: pick on avaserfi

Thats it, I'm not helping you with your streaming problem anymore!

Its probably because I am not quiet when I disagree with people that and when I don't agree with them its normally because they are wrong, as in this case .

 

[ParadigmDawg]

The funny thing is that I meant to say AcuDefTechGuy!

 

[avaserfi]

The funny thing is that I meant to say AcuDefTechGuy!

That makes a bit more sense to me, since you have picked on him before for only recommending Deftech speakers! I just took a stab at why I rub people the wrong way arrogant as it was .