9.1 vs. 7.1

[gtpsuper24]

Dolby Pro Logic IIz sucks for height channels, almost no sound. DSX processing with heights creates a huge front soundstage. Fly by effects like Avengers hovercraft things and the planes in Pearl Harbor sound awesome. The whizzing by effects are multipled over standard fronts IMO.

I have standard 5.1 setup with large surrounds so I figured adding another set of surrounds wouldn't add much so went with the heights instead and it create a wall of sound.

I say if you have an extra set of bookshelfs then try out either the heights, wides or rears and see which you like best.

The thing to remember though is to make sure your additional speakers like height, wides, rears are just as capable as the other speakers or close to them. Like I wouldn't use small cube satelites like bose or little hometheater in a box speakers with a big Aperion Grand system for example.

 

[Grador]

I have no experience with any setup greater than 5.1, but I don't quite understand why everyone is drawing comparisons between going from 5.1->7.1 to 7.1->9.1 From outward appearances it seems that these serve completely different purposes. While going to 7.1 aims to fill in gaps in the surround stage that may or may not be present the front height and/or wide channels are effects channels made to be a stage modifier instead of gap filler. I just don't think lack of utility from surround back channels is good evidence for lack of utility for presence channels.

I would say to try it, but given how awful I think every DSPed effect sounds I don't hold much hope for extra front speakers.

 

[gtpsuper24]

Its room dependant mostly. My room I don't have much room behind to spread out the surrounds to make use of the extra rears in 7.1. But I think the extra surrounds will become important as blu rays are starting to see more and more DTS HD MA 7.1 soundtracks and some of them have very aggressive mixes even in the surronds.

Could you do without the heights? Yes. But if your like me and have an extra set of bookshelfs laying around, a receiver with DSX capability, and no room for rear surrounds than its worth it IMO. I can't really tell where the height speakers are by listening but they do add to the soundstage especially for big blockbuster movies with loud soundtracks, Avengers, Transformers, 2012, Lord of the Rings ect...

 

[paper64]

hey
i have a Pioneer LX75 , and running JAMO THX D6 7.1 speakers at the moment ( with rear back ) , i wanted to ask if i should go 9.1 and place my extra speakers in the front hight or front wide please?
my room is 6M ( length ) X 3M ( wide ) and the hight is around 2.7 meters
i only use that room for movies so please tell me what set up i would get the best result
thank you