Need opinion here - 7.1 -vs- 5.1

[mouettus]

For those who own a 7.1 setup (or not), how better is it in movies/music? (compared to 5.1)

 

[xboxweasel]

I prefer 5.1 for movies. Not much is available in 6.1/7.1. And surrounds are mainly for ambience only. It all depends on the source and your ears if it's really worth a 6.1/7.1 setup.

I use 7 speaker stereo when I listen to a CD/cable TV and I want to fill the room. Otherwise I listen to everything as it was recorded (2.0, 2.1, 5.1, 6.1, 7.1).

For my personal listening (to CDs) a 2.0 setup is pretty darm good. If I fire up all 7.1 speakers I get some strange echos. But, like I said, it fills the room, and I only use that when I have guest over. I makes conversation a lot easier if the sound come from everywhere (and turn down) versus only coming from 2 speakers and turned up so that it fills the room that way.

What's wrong with Japanese audio? Maybe you should have purchased a RX-V receiver instead of their HTR series.

 

[Jedi2016]

My setup is non-ideal for 7.1 anyway.. My couch is against the wall, so there's nowhere to put the other two speakers even if I had them. And, as Weasel said, there really isn't much out there that's actually encoded in 7.1, so you'd rarely have any opportunities to use it, until more sources come along.

And, for the record, the word "Jap" is generally considered derogatory, and most Japanese people find it insulting. I'd strongly recommend changing your sig.

 

[cam]

With not all that much material in 6.1/7.1, alot of people EX or ES 5.1 material through their receiver. I tried it and didn't care for it at all. But if it is encoded with the center rear signal, it does sound good if your room can acomodate it, but there is just not enough material encoded with the extra channel.

 

[xboxweasel]

I spent an extra $2000 to have 7.1. Originally I only purchased a new 5.1 setup. When I found out the new receiver did 7.1, I decided to upgrade then in order to ensure that I can got the same speaker make/model. Eventually I bought an amplifier to go along with those 2 new speakers. Glad I did that....Klipsch recently changed their entire line. I don't think that you can get the RS25s anymore.

I would have been SCREWED.

 

[Nomo]

If your room and speaker budget can accommodate it I think 7.1, at least 6.1 is a no brainer.

 

[sdy284]

If your room and speaker budget can accommodate it I think 7.1, at least 6.1 is a no brainer.

agreed. For me, 6.1 is the minimum. even for non dts es discrete material (the only one with a true discrete 6th channel) recievers do a great job of matrixing the sound through all the rear channels and its much more realistic IMO to have a speaker (or 2) directly behind you. I find the experience much more gratifying over a 5.1 setup

 

[Pyrrho]

... Maybe you should have purchased a RX-V receiver instead of their HTR series.

There is virtually no difference between the Yamaha RX-V series and the HTR series. See:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22842

You can verify what is claimed there by visiting Yamaha's web site (a link in provided in that thread).

 

[Pyrrho]

For those who own a 7.1 setup (or not), how better is it in movies/music? (compared to 5.1)

7.1 is a little better than 5.1, but how much depends on the source and the setup. If you have room and the money for the extra speakers, go with 7.1. But do NOT buy lessor speakers to get it, as you will be better off with 5.1 with good speakers.

 

[j_garcia]

I really liked 6.1 in my last place. In my current place, I don't have anywhere to put a rear center, so I'm back to 5.1 and I can't say I've really missed the rear center.