7.1 vs 11.2 surround sound

[stevez11]

I have a rx-z11 set up in 7.1 right now. I was thinking of hooking it up 11.2
My question is would it be worth the extra money is speakers and sub to do this. I know nothing is recorded in 11.2 so it my be a waste of money. I would really like to how it would sound in 11.2 any thoughts.

 

[Highbar]

Well the second sub could really add to the bass if you think it's lacking or just allow the two of them to work easier than one. As for the eleven speakers, well I have no idea. If you have a big enough room maybe it would help, but in my opinion you would need a pretty big room for it to be anywhere near worth it.

 

[MidnightSensi]

We need to know more about your speakers, equipment, and especially room. Also what are you trying to gain? Volume? A more enveloping sound? It might just mean you need a pair of dipole rears.

 

[stevez11]

My room is 24x26 main seating area is about 14 feet from screen. I'm using energy rc speakers. Towers for front, surrounds for side and bookshelf speakers for back. I have great surround sound now. Just wondering if the addition of four more speakers and a sub would make a difference. It's more a case of the rx-z11 having a few empty binding post on the back begging to be hooked up.

 

[Jack Hammer]

I'm a big believer in multiple subs. As for the extra surround speakers they can be great and they can be not great/not worth it depending on your setup and room. If you have the room to use them and set them up properly so they aren't cancelling each other out or muddying up the sound and you've got the speakers/cash then go for it. When I first setup up my 7.1 vs 5.1 I had some issues with the speakers working against each other and me because of where I located them (if i turned my head 90* from the tv, they were amazing, when I faced the tv, i couldn't hear them). Once I moved them it improved quite a bit.

If you already have speakers you can use, try setting them them up temporarily with the wiring laying across the floor, to see if you like/get any worthwhile improvement from the sound. listen for a day or two that way then decide if you want to move forward.

Jack

 

[DD66000]

You'll get more benefit by adding another identical sub, and setting it up symmetricly to the other sub.
I have seen at least one other person setup speakers all around his room (small bookshelf), and he sez it works great. But considering some of his posts, I have my doubts about it really sounding good, or being cost effective.

 

[GlocksRock]

Wouldn't the 11.2 only work if you used the Cinema DSP modes, kinda like the same way that the presence channels only work when using the DSP modes?

 

[fmw]

Obviously not worth it to me since I'm still at 5.1. I see no reason to go any further personally. So the value of it is something you have to decide for yourself.

 

[ThA tRiXtA]

I was under the impression that the reason for the extra speakers was for if you had a multiple row theater, instead of "settling" for decent sound across multiple rows with one set, you could run multiple sets of surrounds each dedicated to their own row.

If that is infact the case then it would be logical to say you are wasting money on extra speakers and wire if you don't have a multi row theater.

I could be mistaken however.

 

[jostenmeat]

I have a rx-z11 set up in 7.1 right now. I was thinking of hooking it up 11.2
My question is would it be worth the extra money is speakers and sub to do this. I know nothing is recorded in 11.2 so it my be a waste of money. I would really like to how it would sound in 11.2 any thoughts.

Wow. The only reason I can see someone spending this much on this receiver is precisely for the 11.2 capability.

Only one way to find out. I imagine the improvements will boil down to two things:

-how well the Yamaha's DSP actually works
-speaker placements

There's even crazier stuff than this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/22.2

FilmMixer at AVS said this yesteday:

"For home mastering, the cost isn't exorbitant (<$10,000, and in most cases, much less), but it is usually driven by studios, and rarely by the film makers themselves...

I've only had one director ask for it theatrically, and we created a new sound format for him (Dolby Whole Sonic Overheard Surround...)... but that's a whole other story."

 

[no. 5]

I imagine the improvements will boil down to two things:

-how well the Yamaha's DSP actually works
-speaker placements

I agree, certainly eleven channels can produce an excellent felling of envelopment, and two subwoofers can produce very smooth bass, but it's like this: a car can travel 150MPH, but that doesn't mean your car can.

Like it was said, the results will depend on the DSP and the set up.

 

[stevez11]

I would like thank all you for your help. I will be adding a second matching sub for sure. Any thoughts on placement of this sub. Should I put them front L/R or front and back. I will decide on the four presence speakers after playing around with placement of some barrowed speakers from a friend. A test I look forward to conducting.

 

[Exit]

Wouldn't the 11.2 only work if you used the Cinema DSP modes, kinda like the same way that the presence channels only work when using the DSP modes?

I think this is probably how 11.2 works - as four additional presence channels which carry the echo, reverb, etc. to simulate a different acoustic venue such as hall, theater, etc. You would be best off to check your owners manual and see if there is an explanation of 11.2. Also I think Audioholics did a review of 11.2 in your receiver and that may explain the differences. I use Yamaha presence channels and I like some of the modes, but there are a lot of audioholics that don't like that simulated environment sound, so I would read up a little more before buying four more speakers.

 

[joshus77]

Not many people are willing to take the risk on the 11.2. Well I am. I am refinishing my basement and decided to go with in wall speakers. I feel this is a must if running 11 speakers cause having that many speakers hanging on the walls or sitting on stands will look awful. Instead of a 2x4 stud wall I went with a 2x6 stud and created speaker windows which are recessed and in a "V" shape, for the 4 side surround speakers. I will attach some pictures of the "V" when it is done, it is really quite cleaver I thought - the speaker is mounted on one side of the "V" to direct it at the primary seat and the other side angle eliminates the obstacle which would have limited or redirected the sound.

I am halfway thought this project and getting very excited for the end result. Here is what have for my theater. My reciever is the Denon 4311, Asus Win7 16g of ram, I have 6 inwall definitive technology UIW 55 for the side surrounds and the rear channels, (2) UIW75 dt for the L and R mains, bose 191 for the front high L and R, and a Mythos 3 dt for the center channel which will be partically recessed as my center. The video source is a BenQ projector on a 91" grey wolf screen 1.8 gain. Wish me luck!

I was reading the thread and wondering if while running the 2 subs if they should match. I have a 12" cerwin vega sub, and I just picked up a 15" VMX cerwin vega. The 15" is run on an ashly 800pe amp bridged at 2ohms in a sealed box. My goal with the subs is for a full sound/environment. I was planning on running the subs on opposite corners. One in front other in the rear 12" was going to be the rear. - advise is welcome.

 

[tonedeaf]

I'm a big believer in multiple subs. As for the extra surround speakers they can be great and they can be not great/not worth it depending on your setup and room. If you have the room to use them and set them up properly so they aren't cancelling each other out or muddying up the sound and you've got the speakers/cash then go for it. When I first setup up my 7.1 vs 5.1 I had some issues with the speakers working against each other and me because of where I located them (if i turned my head 90* from the tv, they were amazing, when I faced the tv, i couldn't hear them). Once I moved them it improved quite a bit.

If you already have speakers you can use, try setting them them up temporarily with the wiring laying across the floor, to see if you like/get any worthwhile improvement from the sound. listen for a day or two that way then decide if you want to move forward.

Jack

Well,someone else with the same observation.
Same goes for my back surrounds,I get a better result if I turn my head 90 degrees.
I don't know how to correct this.
It may be that audessey blends everything so seamlessly its difficult to tell where sound is coming from.
My backs and sides are mounted 3' up from ear level and are flush mounted to the wall.
My primary listening position is dead center of the room.
I have experimented by standing up and moving around the room 11'x20'.
I get better results if I'm back 3 feet from the main listening position standing up.
Not very relaxing trying to watch a 3 hour movie.