5.1 vs 7.1

[BabelFish]

Here is my room layout. Am I even able to do a good 7.1 layout with the speakers or should I stick to the 5.1? Here is what I am planning on getting:

Fronts: Studio 60s
Center: CC-690
Surrounds: ADP-590
Rears: Studio 20s
Sub: SVS Ultra13

The ADPs would be located on the wall behind the recliner (between the doorway on the right and the door near the back of the room.. that door is for the furnace.. it is never opened). The other ADP would be located between the two windows on the left side of the room.

I was thinking of moving the furniture forward some when I get the speakers. there is 12' 2" from the coffee table to the front of the room. That would give more room in the back for the 20s.

The SVS would go in the back left side of the room (in the corner). Where the two sofas are.

Also, with this room layout.. Should I go 20s for the rears or the ADP-590?

Thoughts (Furniture arrangement, speaker arrangement, anything)? Thanks in advance!

 

[MDS]

I wouldn't bother with 7.1 unless you have a lot of room behind the listening position for the rear surrounds. The ADPs are dipole speakers and if placed to your sides they should be more than adequate for creating realistic surround.

 

[mazersteven]

If you are going to have room behind your seating position. I would do 7.1.

Your system is going to be awesome with the speakers you've listed.

 

[BabelFish]

I wouldn't bother with 7.1 unless you have a lot of room behind the listening position for the rear surrounds. The ADPs are dipole speakers and if placed to your sides they should be more than adequate for creating realistic surround.

is the surround speakers suppose to be on the sides or behind the listening position??

if I go 5.1 would I go with adp-590 for the rears or put the adp-590 on the sides...

also, would it matter that the sides are not right across from eachother? if you look at the layout you will notice that the right surround speaker is located further back than the left surround speaker...

 

[MDS]

If you follow the Dolby recommendations for speaker placement, the side surrounds (for 5.1) should be placed to the sides between 90 and 110 degrees of your listening position. The rear surrounds (channel 6 and 7 of 7.1) should be behind you.

Dipole speakers create a very enveloping surround field so being at slightly different distances from the listener won't be a problem.

My opinion is that for your room dipoles at the sides will be all you need. I'd buy them first and see how you like it. Only after living with it for a little while would I consider adding additional rear surrounds for 7.1. In my case I could put speakers behind me because the living room opens up to the kitchen, but I wouldn't be able to place them directly behind the listening position (they would both be right of center) and for that reason I'm not going to bother with 7.1 either.

 

[BabelFish]

where should I place the surround speakers..

there is a couch on the right so would that be a problem? should I put the speaker higher so people don't hit their head on the speaker?

 

[MDS]

You would place them on the walls to the sides of the big couch on the 15'5" wall. They should be two to three feet above ear level or thereabouts.

 

[Nuglets]

Your system is going to be awesome with the speakers you've listed.

No kidding...I'm jealous.

 

[BabelFish]

Thanks!! I don't have any of it yet this year though! ... so would I be ok if I wanted to go 7.1 or would it be bad if it went that route? if I did decide to do 7.1 should I go 20s or adp-590s for the rears?

 

[MDS]

Being that the rear speakers would be pretty close to you, I'd go with ADPs so they fire to your left and right instead of straight over your head as normal monopole speakers like the 20s would.

I still think 7.1 won't buy you much in terms of sound but will definitely increase your costs.

 

[Dolby CP-200]

BabelFish

You have to have an array of surrounds going around the whole listening area and slightly ahead of the listening area that’s surround if you somehow doubt what I say is true look at all the cinemas that around.

From looking at size of the room at least four surround loudspeakers to cover the back wall and four for each sidewall to really surround you!!! I'm not kidding with you surround is a science.

I really do hope you didn’t paid too much for the surrounds as most of these, donkey home cinema expects clam they know it all and would rip there own grandmother off blind!

Surround loudspeakers should be placed around the room the whole listening area in a (hoarse shoe configuration). And that gentlemen, is how it’s done!

You’ll going to have a real headache placing the surround loudspeakers up, good luck a lot of sweat will be dripping of you, I’ll bet you £1.00 four surround loudspeakers isn’t enough!

Good luck

 

[MDS]

A movie theater needs dozens of speakers all around because it is a giant room meant to serve hundreds of people. A HOME theater needs ONE set of surrounds for 5.1 or TWO for 7.1.

Dolby (THX3417) you are definitely unique but I can assure you that nobody else would place dozens of speakers and wires all over their walls and ceiling as you have done.

 

[Dolby CP-200]

MDS

Well I guess they’ll have to lose out on the effect no loss to me, I was frustrated for years with only a few because the gaps it leaves is enough to make you bang you’re head against the wall!

Best surround placement wins at the end of the day worse doesn’t go home with the prom queen.

 

[mazersteven]

Thanks!! I don't have any of it yet this year though! ... so would I be ok if I wanted to go 7.1 or would it be bad if it went that route? if I did decide to do 7.1 should I go 20s or adp-590s for the rears?

I would use the ADP's if your seating position is close to the wall and no room behind you. 20's if there is plenty of room behind you.

 

[BabelFish]

what is considered a lot of room?? when we eventually get a bigger room will the adps or the 20s be better in the back?

I mean, if I get the adp for the backs and then later get a different house, will the system sound horrible because I don't have 'whatever' in the rears???

I am just trying to find the setup that will work for now and for later too

 

[Nestor]

Based on your current room config, 5.1 is probably most suitable. Unless you are willing to bring your furniture out, say 6 or 7ft, you wouldn't be able to take full advantage of the 7.1 experience.

There is very little 7.1 encoded material out there at the moment, so many receivers "manufacture" the information.

If your plan is to move to a different house, but it will be a few years, getting the extra set of surrounds may not be a bad idea as they would be matched with your current ones. Hard to say what would be out there to match what you'd already have down the road.

Having an extra set of speakers in storage probably isn't the most cost-effective route, but it may be some peace of mind.

 

[Warpdrv]

I don't think you need a 7.1 system there buddy...
seriously I think you might have enough to deal with trying to hang some adp's on the walls around that window.(possibly build a bracket to hang them in the middle/top of the window)
In that room config.. I would lean toward the adp's as long as you can find a place for them, and I would also suggest you pull the furniture off that wall... at least a few feet.. if possible.

IMO - - You do not want ADP's for the rear wall (they serve a better purpose on the sides)
Rear surrounds could be really small like ORB audio's... and have served many very well.. If I was going to add in rear surrounds I would go with Orb's, small unobtrusive, and cool looking.. they really just add in filler sound (more immersion), and are basic copies of surround left and rights..

But with that small of a room, the ADP's will be bouncin off the rear wall behind you to give you that filler... that is what ADP's are meant to do...

Don't spend big $$ on a 7.1, start with the basics, and add more later, If you really think you need it. Trust me it will sound awesome !!!
You've done your homework, and have picked out some great stuff there..

 

[Jack Hammer]

I can tell you that 7.1 is great on some movies, but the list is relatively short. For most movies those two speakers will go relatively unnoticed. Start with 5.1, if you are not happy and feel you need more speakers (7.1), then try an experiment with some speakers you have laying around (just use whatever you have).

Temporarily mount them (on a stand or box or something) and run some speaker cable to them. Leave the wire on the floor for now, your just trying to see how everything sounds. If you like it you can do a nice install later. Level match them to your system and watch a few movies you are familiar with. See what you think and if it is worth the extra cost and space to you. If not, put it all away in a few minutes and be happy with your 5.1 setup. If you like it, get some speakers that are satisfactory to you and mount them nicely.

I'd recommend watching Pearl Harbor and the Return of the King to see how they can affect the sound of a movie (most movies won't sound nearly this good). Pick any thing else you like to see how much of difference, if any, can be heard (don't be surprised to find that with many movies the difference is negligible). Don't forget to toggle the speakers on and off and rewatch the scene to compare.

Jack

 

[mike c]

i've discovered that my crappy 7.1 setup is better than my crappy 5.1 setup. it felt like something was missing when I had 5.1 (had the chance to listen to 5.1 when I a/b'ed my beta 10 speakers with another pair of speakers)

 

[BabelFish]

Larger Fronts?

(I know that this is practically asking same question again.. but I have the budget for 7.1 so I am wondering where is the better place to put the money...)

Over the weekend my wife and I spent 5 hours auditioning speakers for our home theater and still like the Paradigms the best. (Klipsch, Snell, BA VR3, Canton, and Paradigm). We both would like to go with the 7.1 since the HD DVDs will mostly be 7.1 in the (near?) future.

My current spec (listed in Signature) is what we were looking at... (the dealer recommended that I go with Dipolar for the rears instead of the 20s... thoughts??? I still can't decide.. should I go with 4 CC-590 or 2 CC-590 and 2 Studio 20s???) if I go with the 7.1

(Main Question).. If I decided to not go with the 7.1 and went with the 5.1, I could upgrade the 60s to the 100s and keep the same budget.... What does everyone think? What would be better, 60s for fronts with 7.1 or 100s for fronts with 5.1??? Also, if I go with the 5.1, what should I go with for the rears?? 20s or the 590s??