7.1 vs 5.1 speaker system

[Large]

I am in the process of creating a home theater room. I am contemplating a 7.1 vs 5.1 speaker system, however, have several questions. Before my questions, let me explain my room set-up. My room size is approx 16 by 13 and is in a form of a square. My first row of seats are approx 10 ft away from screen and the second row is against the back wall (16ft away from the screen). My questions are as follow:
1. Will a 7.1 speaker system in a room this size sound cluttered and produce a lack of clarity?
2. What is the ideal location of the speakers ( I have read several articles regarding potential options)
3. Since most DVDs are not designed for the 7.1 speaker system, how will a 7.1 system handle these DVDs and will all 7 speakers be utilized?

By the way, my equipment is a Denon 2805 receiver, with Paradigm Monitor 7s as fronts, center is Paradigm CC370, and rears are the Paradigm ADP370s. I am contemplating buying 2 more rears (ADP 370s) for the 7.1 system.

Greatly appreciate any advice from the experts!!!!

 

[Leprkon]

I would go ahead and put the speakers in now, even though you won't really be able to take the best advantage of them.

7.1 is currently smoke and mirrors, as better quality receivers like your 2805 will take a normal 5.1 or 6.1 discrete channel input and use some processing to create that seventh or sixth and seventh channel. The best DVD's you can buy now only have 6.1 encoding.

All that being said, it's a pain in the butt to go back three years from now when all the toys are better and you can actually use those extra channels.

You would get really good sound with a decent 5.1 set-up with a room that size. As long as you can get one set of surround speakers just in front or beside you and the second set behind you a couple of feet, you should be able to get good enough separation to use the additional channels.

 

[Large]

Thanks for the advice. Thats part of the problem with the second set of rear speakers. My second row of seating is flush against the back wall, thus will not have the 2 feet separation between the speakers and the second row of seats. Will this greatly interfere with the sound if there is no separation?

 

[Leprkon]

if you do something like this, and either point the rear speakers straight down, or put them on/in the back wall 5 or 6 feet high, it should be ok.

 

[Large]

Your good...and thanks for the picture and guidance!!!!!!!! Newbees like myself need it as we learn. I cant believe the amount of money I have put out thus far...but its been a blast doing the research and listening to all those speaker systems...simply amazing whats out there!!!!

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

You can also consider placing your side surrounds half way back and even with the first row of seats, and the rear centers or rear surrounds in the corners, either at ear level or higher aimed down toward the listeners.

The ideal location is at ear level, but system setup is just as important. You will need to adjust the distance if you raise the rear surrounds (6th and 7th channels) above ear level almost two fold due to the indirect listening position. Those speakers kick on at different intervals opposed to your side surrounds, so don't worry about interference or overlap. Denon does a nice job with DTS Neo 6 on DD 5.1 DVD's. DTS ES Discrete 6.1 is phenomenal with a 6.1 or 7.1 system. Just pop in Gladiator or LOTR.

Very nice system you have there. Let us know when it's all finished! We want photos

Here's a few links that have helped me in the past:

www.polkaudio.com/home/faqad/advice.php?article=placement

www.polkaudio.com/home/library/downloads/hthandbook.pdf

 

[Large]

Thanks for the additional set-up. I am now definitely leaning towards the 7.1 system. To complete the system, I purchased the Panasonic 700 front projector, Da-Lite 92 inch screen, Denon 2910 DVD Player, Direct TV High Definition Receiver, and Humax Tivo/DVD Recorder. I cant wait until its all done!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jbracing24]

I don't have nearly the room size but I have the rear surrounds on the back wall facing down toward the seating. I heartily recommend installing the extra speakers. The rears don't give a direct sound source with most programming, just adds to the enveloping of the sound stage. But just plug in a DVD like The Incredibles in EX and let that 2805 take over!!!

 

[Large]

Thanks..on the back walls what type of speakers are you utilizing (bi/di polar or direct). What would be the best type of speakers for the back wall? By type, I mean bi/di/single/etc.

 

[jbracing24]

Use direct units.