Surround Sound Setup THX vs Dolby 7.1/7.2

BtrSound

I am setting up a home theater and want to know what people think about the difference between the recommended THX setup the Dolby Set up. Per the links below, Dolby recommends the rear speakers to the sides and with THX it recommends them directly behind the listening area, which reminds me of a 6.1 setup.

I will likely do the Dolby, but wanted to hear from people who have tried one or the other, or perhaps both. Obviously I would prefer to not put an additional set of holes in my walls and run an extra set of wires.

THX Setup:
http://www.thx.com/consumer/home-entertainment/home-theater/surround-sound-speaker-set-up/

Dolby Setup:
http://www.dolby.com/consumer/setup/speaker-setup-guide/index.html

wutadumsn23

I currently run a 5.1, but have had a 7.1 in the past. Honestly, I prefer my 5.1, but that is because I have a smallish area for my HT and the other two speakers really didn't improve much. I have always been a believer in a well setup 5.1 will outperform a cramped up 7.1 anyday. Having said that, if you do have room for the 7.1/7.2 if there is anyway you can test it out using stands or something to support the speakers and choose which one sounds best to you. The Dolby setup would be hard to achieve without stands or brackets that allow you to angle the speakers correctly, whereas the THX would be much easier to achieve. When I ran a 7.1 I used the THX version (although I didn't know it, lol) and it worked fine for me. The Dolby setup seems that it would leave a large hole in the back soundstage if not setup properly, but that is just my $.02. Still think tinkering with the two and seeing which one sounds best to you is going to be your best bet. Good luck.

-Jeff

pdxfj

One thing you'll notice is that THX recommends the use of di-pole/bi-pole speakers as your surrounds and direct radiating as your back speakers.

I have been running di-poles as my surrounds for a couple of years now and just recently hung the back surrounds since I wanted to see what Shrek Forever After sounded like with it's 7.1 soundtrack. The difference was quite noticeable but subtle.

My living room is roughly 13x19 with the seating position about 10' from the tv. The surrounds are in di-pole mode set just behind the listening position, and the back surrounds are roughly 9 feet back from the listening position spaced about 6' apart because of the opening to the dining room. Speakers are hung just using the keyhole mounts.

I was quite happy with my surrounds, and with the addition of the back speakers it really opened things up. The rear sound stage is very open now and even having using the Dolby and THX modes to matrix a 5 channel soundtrack into a 7 channel system sounds quite good.

You know you've done well when you can get your somewhat deaf 67 year old father to duck because he thinks he's being shot at during the opening landing on Omaha beach in Saving Private Ryan. :biggrin:

BtrSound

Thank you. I am using floor standing speakers so i can put them wherever I want really. I am putting banana plug outlets into my walls and do not want to do two sets. i figured since Dolby is used in most of the movies so that is the way to go, but THX is supposed to be the standard isn't it?

nguyendot

THX is not a sound field or encoding type, it is just a standard.
Dolby Digital and DTS are encoding types. THX is a standard that can be applied to them, and with THX receivers the THX mode changes everything to reference. You'll notice discs are THX certified, but there is no THX encoding, it will be either DTS or DD.

BtrSound

nguyendot,

How do you have your speakers set up. I figured that since most blu rays are done in dolby digital that that their recommendation should be at least taken into consideration. I doubt there will be a huge difference between the two, but I really just want to maximize my system.