Should I upgrade to 7.1?

[steve_1979]

Hello all,

I have a Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 speaker system together with a Yamaha RX-V365 5.1 receiver.

I'm considering buying some Q Acoustics 1030i floorstanding speakers for improved the bass when listening to music in stereo. This would have the added benefit of allowing me to upgrade from a 5.1 to a 7.1 setup. Would this be a worthwhile upgrade?

Also, what is the best low cost 7.1 receiver that can receive audio via HDMI?

www.richersounds.com/product/floorstanders/q-acoustics/1030i/qaco-1030i-blk

www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/q-acoustics/1010i-5.1/qaco-1010i-5.1-pack

 

[markw]

Many that have gone both ways feel it's not that dramatic a change and have gone back to 5.1, but some others disagree.

first off, do you have sufficient space to properly place the rear surrounds? That's several feet behind the main listening area?

 

[lsiberian]

We'd need to know your room size and seating position along with speaker placements to really help. If you watch movies in a room fit for a closet it would be an obvious no, but if you got a huge room with high ceiling a big projection screen and seating 1/3rd of the way in then it's an obvious yes.

In some situation 7.1 is a big upgrade in other situations it's minor, in some it's terrible, but either way good fronts are the foundation of every system and they don't need to match the surrounds because the speakers hit the ears at different angles negating timbre matching issues according to Dr. Floyd Toole(Harman audio researcher).

 

[steve_1979]

The room is smallish at about 370cm x 310cm but is dedicated for this purpose so the screen, seat and speakers can be correctly placed for the optimum sound.

I'm not bothered about watching films because the speakers are connected to my PC and is only used for listening to music in stereo and for playing computer games (which make great use of both 5.1 and 7.1). The main reason for upgrading to floorstanders would be to get better bass when listening to music in stereo. Going from 5.1 to 7.1 would just be an extra bonus.

 

[lietuvis91]

I feel it all depends on speaker placement. I just did this in my room. I had 5.1, went to 7.1 and back to 5.1. Room is about 22ftx14.

For music listening, with all channels going it seemed to make a difference. 7.1 definitely filled the room better.

I haven't watched a movie yet in 5.1, but I get the feeling the difference will be less noticible.

Either way.... consider this!!!

If you get floor standing speakers to hook up to your current stup and run 7.1, YOU WILL NEED MORE POWER. I am kicking myself now for buying a receiver without pre-outs because with the bagage I have, this receiver is struggling. Only in 2 channel mode I can really even get an idea of what my m70s SHOULD sound like with anything close to the right amount of power. The difference is huge. The speakers go from "anemic" to "alive".

My point is, powerring the speakers properly WILL have an affect on the quality of your overall sound system, so if you go to 7.1 with floorstanding speakers, expect to upgrade your rig. 5 correctly powered speakers will sound better, then 7 underpowered ones.

 

[steve_1979]

Yes I'll be upgrading my cheap Yamaha 5.1 receiver to a better 7.1 receiver. Maybe a Sony STRDH800 or somthing similar.

 

[lietuvis91]

I am not familiar with the speakers you have, but for a 7.1 setup, with floor standing speakers, i would be looking into an amp as well. even if it's something used and cheap, it'll feed the speakers closer to what they need then the receiver can.

also, you say you want floorspeakers because you want more base. Again, without the right amount of power, they will not give you the clean sounds and base you want. Also, I found out that there;s simply no replacement for a sub. i bought my floor speakers thinking I would not need a sub... I was wrong... the sub made a big difference in the overall sound of the system.

I'm still new to this, so take my comments for what it;s worth to you, it's just what I have experienced thus far.

 

[lietuvis91]

for a small room and if you don't want to deal with an amp, 7 low power speakers that can be efficiently run by the receiver and a small powered sub would be killer... it's what i would do.

 

[krzywica]

I am interested in this as well as I have a very long/deep room and I think surround backs would help a little with the ambiance factor.

Many that have gone both ways feel it's not that dramatic a change......

I think Alex might be able to help with this....

 

[steve_1979]

The Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 speakers that I already have sound fantastic with good tight punchy bass. However sometimes I would like to turn the bass up just a little bit louder but if I turn the volume up too loud on the sub you can hear the bass sound coming from the direction of the sub rather than sounding like it's coming from the front speakers.

These are the 5.1 speakers I already have: http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/q-acoustics/1010i-5.1/qaco-1010i-5.1-pack

These are the floorstanding speakers that I might add to them: http://www.richersounds.com/product/floorstanders/q-acoustics/1030i/qaco-1030i-blk

This is the 7.1 receiver that I am considering getting: http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/sony/strdh800/sony-strdh800

 

[moves]

The room is smallish at about 370cm x 310cm but is dedicated for this purpose so the screen, seat and speakers can be correctly placed for the optimum sound.

I'm not bothered about watching films because the speakers are connected to my PC and is only used for listening to music in stereo and for playing computer games (which make great use of both 5.1 and 7.1). The main reason for upgrading to floorstanders would be to get better bass when listening to music in stereo. Going from 5.1 to 7.1 would just be an extra bonus.

In my opinion - I would not bother getting 7 speakers. If your speakers are capable of biwiring then I would use channels 6 and 7 to biwire the mains. (if they are capable)... if they are not capable.... then if you are really keenm then maybe try hooking up a 6 and 7 channel. To me, for your room size, it sounds like too many chefs in the kitchen if you get my drift.

Rule of thumb.... bigger room = more speakers to fill the space. That's why I say to biwire in your situation. This is what I am doing.

 

[sholling]

In my opinion - I would not bother getting 7 speakers. If your speakers are capable of biwiring then I would use channels 6 and 7 to biwire the mains. (if they are capable)... if they are not capable.... then if you are really keenm then maybe try hooking up a 6 and 7 channel. To me, for your room size, it sounds like too many chefs in the kitchen if you get my drift.

Rule of thumb.... bigger room = more speakers to fill the space. That's why I say to biwire in your situation. This is what I am doing.

Bi-wiring buys you little or nothing.

 

[sholling]

The Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 speakers that I already have sound fantastic with good tight punchy bass. However sometimes I would like to turn the bass up just a little bit louder but if I turn the volume up too loud on the sub you can hear the bass sound coming from the direction of the sub rather than sounding like it's coming from the front speakers.

These are the 5.1 speakers I already have: http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/q-acoustics/1010i-5.1/qaco-1010i-5.1-pack

These are the floorstanding speakers that I might add to them: http://www.richersounds.com/product/floorstanders/q-acoustics/1030i/qaco-1030i-blk

This is the 7.1 receiver that I am considering getting: http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/sony/strdh800/sony-strdh800

Speakers are an individual taste thing and if you like the sound then that's what matters, however I'd find a better receiver (Onkyo, Yamaha, Denon). As far as localizing the bass goes check to see where you have your crossover set. Ideally you (depending on your speakers capabilities) it should be set at or below 80hz. Unfortunately the site that you linked doesn't give enough detail.

 

[steve_1979]

They are not bi-wireable. I've spent quite a bit of time fiddeling with the crossover, graphic equilizer and moving the sub around to get the best results. I have the subcross over set at 70Hz and the mid-bass (70-100Hz) that comes out of the satalites turned up quite high.

For 99% of the time this setup sounds great, it's just occasionly that I like to listen to music with LOTS of bass. Still, for the £300 I spent on these speakers I'm very very happy with how fantastic they sound - including the bass 99% of the time.

 

[lsiberian]

For a small room I don't see a need for external amping. If your amp were truly overpowering you'd be hearing distortion.

What's the budget? Avoid Sony receivers. They make great TVs and great game consoles, but their receivers leave much to be desired. www.accessories4less.com is the place to get great deals on Onkyo or Marantz receivers. Get one with pre-amp outs and you'll have a good enough receiver to drive your system. They tend to put those on the receivers that are the best values.

As far as fronts go you have many options but if you just want better bass you could always upgrade the sub(SVS or Epik).

 

[PENG]

The Q Acoustics 1010i 5.1 speakers that I already have sound fantastic with good tight punchy bass. However sometimes I would like to turn the bass up just a little bit louder but if I turn the volume up too loud on the sub you can hear the bass sound coming from the direction of the sub rather than sounding like it's coming from the front speakers.

These are the 5.1 speakers I already have: http://www.richersounds.com/product/speaker-packages/q-acoustics/1010i-5.1/qaco-1010i-5.1-pack

These are the floorstanding speakers that I might add to them: http://www.richersounds.com/product/floorstanders/q-acoustics/1030i/qaco-1030i-blk

This is the 7.1 receiver that I am considering getting: http://www.richersounds.com/product/av-receivers/sony/strdh800/sony-strdh800

It seems to me a lot of posters around here generally would not recommend Sony AVRs, but even some of Sony's low cost AVRs receive generally good magazine reviews from time to time, such as the following two.

http://hcc.techradar.com/reviews/new_reviews/sony+str+dg820+av+receiver+24+11+08

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/receivers/sony-str-dh800-663527/review?artc_pg=2

For your application, if you can get great price the cheap looking dh800 should do the job.

 

[dapack69]

Yes I'll be upgrading my cheap Yamaha 5.1 receiver to a better 7.1 receiver. Maybe a Sony STRDH800 or somthing similar.

Stay the **** away from Sony.

 

[lsiberian]

In my opinion - I would not bother getting 7 speakers. If your speakers are capable of biwiring then I would use channels 6 and 7 to biwire the mains. (if they are capable)... if they are not capable.... then if you are really keenm then maybe try hooking up a 6 and 7 channel. To me, for your room size, it sounds like too many chefs in the kitchen if you get my drift.

Rule of thumb.... bigger room = more speakers to fill the space. That's why I say to biwire in your situation. This is what I am doing.

This is pure gimmick and provides no benefit. Bi-wiring is only useful if you are too poor to buy wire and have 18 awg or higher. Then you could double up the wires and see a benefit, but if you got 16awg or lower then you are fine.

 

[moves]

This is pure gimmick and provides no benefit. Bi-wiring is only useful if you are too poor to buy wire and have 18 awg or higher. Then you could double up the wires and see a benefit, but if you got 16awg or lower then you are fine.

wouldnt you have 140 watts going to each of the 2 speakers in the cabinet (in my case) through biwiring rather than 140 watts spread out through the entire speaker cabinet?

 

[yepimonfire]

i actually think 6.1 sounds better then 7.1, when using two rear surrounds they seem to blend in too much with the surrounds and i cant tell the difference, with music i can tell a difference though because the field of sound is much more expanded.