7.1 surround with dolby digital

ScottyDugs
ScottyDugs Posts: 91
edited April 2013 in Speakers
When you upgrade from 5.1 to 7.1, do the rear surrounds play the exact same as the side surrounds? or do they get separate signals?
My SETUP

AVR: Denon 1913
Main L/R: Polk LS90's
Center: Polk CS350LS
Side Surrounds: Polk LS/FX's
Rear Surrounds: Polk RT/FX's
Subwoofer: Polk PSW300

100% Cinematic Adventures, 0% Music
Post edited by ScottyDugs on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    edited March 2013
    All channels have separate out puts on your avr. Your auto cal program will try to adjust the volumns so as nothing is localized. The sides play a more important role than the rears do.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    edited March 2013
    Sorry, in 5.1 recordings the avr separates the signals, but 7.1 the studio assigns them. They are separate signals.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ScottyDugs
    ScottyDugs Posts: 91
    edited March 2013
    Ok thanks.
    My SETUP

    AVR: Denon 1913
    Main L/R: Polk LS90's
    Center: Polk CS350LS
    Side Surrounds: Polk LS/FX's
    Rear Surrounds: Polk RT/FX's
    Subwoofer: Polk PSW300

    100% Cinematic Adventures, 0% Music
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • unclemat
    unclemat Posts: 10
    edited March 2013
    They are separate signals, but relatively few blu rays have discrete 7.1 recordings. In practice your receiver will synthetize the back channels.

    Getting front heights (if you receiver supports them) is a better bang for the back IMO.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kuntasensei
    kuntasensei Posts: 3,263
    edited March 2013
    unclemat wrote: »
    They are separate signals, but relatively few blu rays have discrete 7.1 recordings. In practice your receiver will synthetize the back channels.

    Getting front heights (if you receiver supports them) is a better bang for the back IMO.
    Keep in mind that 7.1 is now a theatrical format, and damn near every recent big-name movie has a 7.1 track on Blu-ray. For instance... The Hobbit, Lincoln, Les Miserables, Life Of Pi, Rise Of The Guardians, Dredd, The Bourne Legacy, Finding Nemo (remixed for 7.1 for its 3-D run and the Blu-ray by Gary Rydstrom), The Hunger Games, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Expendables 2, Brave, Prometheus, The Avengers, The Cabin In The Woods, Snow White And The Huntsman, John Carter, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol... all in native 7.1.

    You'd be missing out on a lot by going synthesized/extracted height channels (as much as I love them in my 9.1 setup) over discrete rear surround channels now that it's a theatrical format. That "relatively few" thing isn't the case anymore.
    Equipment list:
    Onkyo TX-NR3010 9.2 AVR
    Emotiva XPA-3 amp
    Polk RTi70 mains, CSi40 center, RTi38 surrounds, RTi28 rears and heights
    SVS 20-39CS+ subwoofer powered by Crown XLS1500
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player
    DarbeeVision DVP5000 video processor
    Epson 8500UB 1080p projector
    Elite Screens Sable 120" CineWhite screen
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited March 2013
    Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. That was awesome.

    Two Channel Setup:

    Speakers: Wharfedale Opus 2-3
    Integrated Amp: Krell S-300i
    DAC: Arcam irDac
    Source: iMac
    Remote Control: iPad Mini

    3.2 Home Theater Setup:

    Fronts: Klipsch RP-160M
    Center: Klipsch RP-160M
    Subwoofer: SVS PB12NSD (X 2)
    AVR: Yamaha Aventage RX-A2030
    Blu Ray: Sony BDP-S790
    TV Source: DirecTV Genie
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ScottyDugs
    ScottyDugs Posts: 91
    edited March 2013
    Thanks...haha Vampire Hunter was surprisingly good i thought too
    My SETUP

    AVR: Denon 1913
    Main L/R: Polk LS90's
    Center: Polk CS350LS
    Side Surrounds: Polk LS/FX's
    Rear Surrounds: Polk RT/FX's
    Subwoofer: Polk PSW300

    100% Cinematic Adventures, 0% Music
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lost240
    Lost240 Posts: 176
    edited March 2013
    They get separate signals. I am about to upgrade to 7.1 myself.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SugarmillMan
    SugarmillMan Posts: 175
    edited March 2013
    Lost240 wrote: »
    They get separate signals. I am about to upgrade to 7.1 myself.

    I upgraded about 18 months ago and wished I hadn't done it. I don't think I hear anything more out of my 7.1 than I did with a properly set up and balanced 5.1 system. As referenced above, the side surrounds are more important than the rears.
    Fronts:B&W 804 Diamonds, Center: B&W HTM2 Diamond, Surrounds: PolkAudio LSi F/X (4)
    Subwoofer: HSU VTK3-MK3
    Electronics: Onkyo TX-NR 3010 receiver, Parasound Halo A31 amp, NAD T975 amp
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ScottyDugs
    ScottyDugs Posts: 91
    edited March 2013
    SugarmillMan wrote: »
    I upgraded about 18 months ago and wished I hadn't done it. I don't think I hear anything more out of my 7.1 than I did with a properly set up and balanced 5.1 system.

    Ha I refuse to believe this. you don't feel more surrounded??
    My SETUP

    AVR: Denon 1913
    Main L/R: Polk LS90's
    Center: Polk CS350LS
    Side Surrounds: Polk LS/FX's
    Rear Surrounds: Polk RT/FX's
    Subwoofer: Polk PSW300

    100% Cinematic Adventures, 0% Music
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SugarmillMan
    SugarmillMan Posts: 175
    edited March 2013
    ScottyDugs wrote: »
    Ha I refuse to believe this. you don't feel more surrounded??

    Nope. The sound is just not that much improved, if at all. And yes, I have a good room location and run Audyssey XT32 a few times to get it right.
    Fronts:B&W 804 Diamonds, Center: B&W HTM2 Diamond, Surrounds: PolkAudio LSi F/X (4)
    Subwoofer: HSU VTK3-MK3
    Electronics: Onkyo TX-NR 3010 receiver, Parasound Halo A31 amp, NAD T975 amp
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rpf65
    rpf65 Posts: 2,127
    edited March 2013
    SugarmillMan wrote: »
    I upgraded about 18 months ago and wished I hadn't done it. I don't think I hear anything more out of my 7.1 than I did with a properly set up and balanced 5.1 system. As referenced above, the side surrounds are more important than the rears.[/QUOTE
    If everything is set up and calibrated properly, the difference shouldn't be very noticeable when going from 5.1 to 7.1. When you add any channels beyond the 5.1 the same should hold true, 5 not much different than 7,add front heights, again not much different.
    Try taking the rears out of your system, that's when you'll notice the difference.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,469
    edited March 2013
    I run wides and set my AVR to Audessey DSX and double my front stage during musical scores and explosions. I get exaggerated wide sounds for anything shooting, driving, flying or just anything that's happening off to the side.
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • SugarmillMan
    SugarmillMan Posts: 175
    edited March 2013
    SugarmillMan wrote: »
    Nope. The sound is just not that much improved, if at all. And yes, I have a good room location and run Audyssey XT32 a few times to get it right.

    What I'm saying is that with the equipment I am running, I get excellent sound quality. However, I don't believe it's that much improved going from 5.1 to 7.1.
    Fronts:B&W 804 Diamonds, Center: B&W HTM2 Diamond, Surrounds: PolkAudio LSi F/X (4)
    Subwoofer: HSU VTK3-MK3
    Electronics: Onkyo TX-NR 3010 receiver, Parasound Halo A31 amp, NAD T975 amp
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kuntasensei
    kuntasensei Posts: 3,263
    edited March 2013
    SugarmillMan wrote: »
    What I'm saying is that with the equipment I am running, I get excellent sound quality. However, I don't believe it's that much improved going from 5.1 to 7.1.
    If you were getting good phantom imaging from the sides in 5.1 already, then I guess that's understandable. For me, the biggest difference was with video games... and it gave me a nice advantage in hearing precise placement of things behind me in first person shooters. Still, with all the killer 7.1 discrete tracks out now, I'm surprised that you don't hear the advantage of the rear surrounds.
    Equipment list:
    Onkyo TX-NR3010 9.2 AVR
    Emotiva XPA-3 amp
    Polk RTi70 mains, CSi40 center, RTi38 surrounds, RTi28 rears and heights
    SVS 20-39CS+ subwoofer powered by Crown XLS1500
    Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray player
    DarbeeVision DVP5000 video processor
    Epson 8500UB 1080p projector
    Elite Screens Sable 120" CineWhite screen
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jeremymarcinko
    jeremymarcinko Posts: 3,785
    edited March 2013
    I have to run mine 3db higher than audyssey had them set. Otherwise they don't contribute much ambiance only the loud transient portions were audible from main seating position.
    Oh, Listen here mister. We got no way of understandin' this world. But we got as much sense of this bird flyin in the sky. Now there is a lot that bird don't know, but it don't change the fact that the world is happening to him all the same. What I am tryin to say is, is that the course of your life, well its changing, and you don't even see it- Forest Bondurant
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • phillihp23
    phillihp23 Posts: 6
    edited April 2013
    Part of the sound equation is the size, shape of the room you are listening in. the smaller the room the less you will notice the difference when going above 5.1. The larger the room the more you will notice the difference when going above 5.1
    In my situation an approximate 16 x 14 room with vaulted ceilings each addition of speakers just kept enveloping me more into the movie.
    Panasonic PT AE7000U Projector, Denon 4520CI Receiver, Polk CSi A6 Center, Polk RTI A5 Fronts, Polk Tsi 400 Front Wides, Polk Fxi A6 Sides, Polk RTi A3 Rear, PS3, 100" Apex Cinewhite screen.

    Phil
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jumpindick
    jumpindick Posts: 428
    edited April 2013
    the avr should send separate signal to each channel. That said, it depends on the source as well. If the audio source does not have that kind of format, then most likely, it will not go though all the channels. Just like some feedback on this post, running the auto calibration would certainly help.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter