6.1 question from a newbie

[zackde]

Good day!

Im a newbie so got lots of questions to ask, i got a onkyo sr502, it says 6.1, but i only have a 5.1 set of wharfedales. My question is, is 6.1 reciever or movie dependent? I mean do all movies will play 6.1? or only selected movies will play 6.1? Or as long as I have a 6.1 receiver & speakers it will play 6.1?

Thanx

 

[markw]

In most cases, your receiver allows you to select how many speakers you have and it will play the movies accordingly. You can play any 6.1 movie in a 5.1 mode and you'll not feel slighted in the least.

I do the same thing with a 6.1 capable Denon 2802 but, unfortunately, my room is barely 5.1 capable.

 

[JohnA]

Most all movies (DVD) are 5.1...some have 6.1 or even 7.1 You will be able to listen to all DVD just fine with 5.1 You can add a 6th speaker if you want to, it won't hurt.

 

[zackde]

markw,

>>my room is barely 5.1 capable

what do you mean by that?

 

[JohnA]

It is all about.....

markw,

>>my room is barely 5.1 capable

what do you mean by that?

the size of a room! Having too small of a room will not make a 5.1 system sound the greatest. When I was in my apartment I had my system set up in stereo only....but now that I'm in a house, I'm breaking out the surrounds.

 

[markw]

Size, my friend, size.

markw,

>>my room is barely 5.1 capable

what do you mean by that?

I had enough problems putting in a pair of surrounds to the sides of the listening area.

There's no way I could out that 6th speaker behind me when the main listening area is pretty much against the back wall.

 

[zackde]

is there any guidelines on how big a room should be before i can properly play my 5.1??

 

[markw]

It's not so much a matter of size as much as logistics. If you can position your speakers so you have as much "sweet spot" as possible, you're in good shape.

You should have the center in front of you, on top oor under the display unit, the mains flanking that, as close to equidistant as possible, and your main rear surrounds above, and preferably slightly behind, the listening position.

I have to scrimp on the surrounds by having them alongside my listening position. No way to put 'em behind at all.

That 6th speaker in a 6.1 setup should be centered somewhat well behind your listening position.