6.1 vs 7.1 speaker set up

[tuuney]

Question??????
My current system is set up as 5.1 as most people have. Thinking about upgrade to either 6.1 or 7.1 but uncertain about the advantages between these twos.

1 - should I use the matching center speaker type for both rear L&R or only one if using 6.1?

2- OR should I use the bookshelf speaker types?

Your advices are greatly appreciated.

 

[MacManNM]

Question??????
My current system is set up as 5.1 as most people have. Thinking about upgrade to either 6.1 or 7.1 but uncertain about the advantages between these twos.

1 - should I use the matching center speaker type for both rear L&R or only one if using 6.1?

2- OR should I use the bookshelf speaker types?

Your advices are greatly appreciated.

Idealy you would want to match everything. What speakers are you using? Are you going add to yours or replace eveythihng?

 

[tuuney]

Idealy you would want to match everything. What speakers are you using? Are you going add to yours or replace eveythihng?

My A/V is HK73000 and speakers are coming from Cambridge Soundworks
Two fronts are Newton T500 including the subs.
Center is MC400
Rears are S300.

THanks

 

[tuuney]

any comment or advice everyone???

 

[Jaycan]

I have a 7.1 setup with different sorrounds and rears than mains. I use to have a 5.1 setup with full range sorrounds but thought the effect wasn't expansive enough, they were a little too low placed. I switched to higher wall mounted sorrounds and rears in the 7.1. I still use a lot of 5.1 because there is hardly any material encoded with sorround back material. I haven't heard a significant difference in sorround effect when I manually engage the matrix mode for DTS/DD when watching video. The difference is at best, very subtle. PLIIx will engage all 8 speakers automatically if you have them installed and verified by the receiver, but I haven't used that function a lot. I know 7.1 is pushed hard everywhere, and that it is touted as making a large difference in the movie experience, but IMO, it is overhyped. And I doubt it makes a difference if you go 6.1 vs 7.1. Hope you find this blurb helpful.