Benefits of 7.1 HT
Hi all
Currently my HT setup is 5.1 and I am happy. Its there a benefit by adding the two back surrounds the only problem I see is that my couch is against the back wall and my surrounds are on the sides walls aim in an angle towards the couch and a bit to the center of the room. If I add the two back they will be place above the couch on the sides pointing downward to the center of the room.
I can get this one:
RTi4 for $119.00 a pair
RTi6 for $179.00 a pair
On sale at Frys also many other ones on sale.
RTi8
RTi12 and centers
Cheers
Currently my HT setup is 5.1 and I am happy. Its there a benefit by adding the two back surrounds the only problem I see is that my couch is against the back wall and my surrounds are on the sides walls aim in an angle towards the couch and a bit to the center of the room. If I add the two back they will be place above the couch on the sides pointing downward to the center of the room.
I can get this one:
RTi4 for $119.00 a pair
RTi6 for $179.00 a pair
On sale at Frys also many other ones on sale.
RTi8
RTi12 and centers
Cheers
HTAVR-Pioneer SC99XPA-DR3 Differential Reference AmpPolk R-700Rear- RT150Side- RT150Center-CSi5Sub-Rythmik audio F25Player- Panasonic DP-UB9000Projector- Optoma CinemaX P2Screen- Silver Ticket Products STR Series 6 120"Audio Room 2ch rig.Cary AE-3, Onkyo M-504, Marantz SA8005, Azur 851NWharfedale - Linton, SVS SB12-NSDMinis Forum PC (streamer) and Panamax MX5105Headphone rig;Schiit JOTUNHEIM and different headphones.Samsung 42" flat screen TV.
Post edited by Irrenhaus on
Comments
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Most people are going to say that you should stick with 5.1. You're going to hear, "A well-placed 5.1 system is better than a poorly placed 7.1 system" ad nauseum.
However, most big-name Hollywood flicks are now done in 7.1 theatrically, so sticking to 5.1 doesn't get you an accurate representation of the theatrical mix in those cases. I'm in a similar boat to you, in that my couch was against the back wall. However, I pulled the couch a foot away from the wall and put surround backs up on B-tech mounts so that they're aimed down to my listening area. With a little careful tweaking of distance settings, I get a very solid rear soundstage, which proponents of 5.1 will tell you shouldn't be the case. Another less popular option would be placing the speakers on the floor behind the couch, aiming straight up. It may not look great, but it actually sounds pretty decent.
So is there a benefit? YES. The benefit is that you can't play a movie mixed for 7.1 on a 5.1 system and get the same sound you would have in the theater. Whether you can make it work in your room is the question... and I say roll the dice. Worked for me! (And worst case scenario, you get stuck with the speakers and try them as height channels or width channels instead.)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 -
7.1 is only better in these situations.
1. If you have a room to have a good distance from side to rear surrounds.
2. If the source has discrete 7.1 channels like new movies off of blu-ray disc otherwise receiver simulates 5.1 to 7.1 which may or may not be as good.
3. If you have weird room setup and like more presence in the back.
Otherwise, 5.1 would be enough.
I have a small room but use 7.1 because my side surrounds are setup little odd due to weird fireplace location.
Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze. -
kuntasensei wrote: »"A well-placed 5.1 system is better than a poorly placed 7.1 system"
Like he said. +1 -
kuntasensei wrote: »"A well-placed 5.1 system is better than a poorly placed 7.1 system"teekay0007 wrote: »Like he said. +1
That's true and everyone says that but not a good comparison.
A good comparison would be "A well-placed 7.1 vs a well placed 5.1" and I'm pretty confident 7.1 will be better as long as source has 7.1 channels.
Nowadays, people even use front fill or presence speakers in addition to 7.1. :eek:
Klipsch RB81, KG3.5, B&W DM602.5, Polk.
Subwoofers: Klipsch RW10, Triad ProSub Bronze. -
Don't be scared... I'm running a 9.2 setup and height channels are AWESOME. :cheesygrin:Nowadays, people even use front fill or presence speakers in addition to 7.1. :eek: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 -
You guys are all rookies... :razz: move on up to an 11.2 system & be prepared to be dazzled.
Now of course this is strictly room dependant but if you have the space go for it. Wait till Dolby releases their new "Atmos" system, I believe it'll be over 60 speakers in the theater. Dang!!! My front & presence speakers really add another whole dimension to movie soundtracks. "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up. -
If you have the room and if you watch most of your movies on bluray I would say go for it. If youre like me and rent all your movies from Apple TV (unless its a blockbuster like sherlock, BatMan or iron man) I would stick to 5.1B&W CM9Classé Sigma
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Good price on the speakers. I could be wrong,but it sounds that if you want to go from 5.1 to 7.1, you may want to look into di-pole/bi-pole speakers. Sure, you could probably make front firing speakers work, with some degree of success, but I would probably go the other direction. Just something to think about.
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I had a nice 7.1 system. Sold it all. Now rocking 2.0 and havent looked back.I got static in my head
The reflected sound of everything -
I've used a 7.1 from the beginning trying rears, heights and wides. My AVR does a tremendous job at matrixing the wide channel. Plus, I use an extra set of towers in the wide spot and my front stage is doubled in sound at all the right moments.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 -
Hey thanks to all for the comments and recommendations. I think for now I will stick with 5.1 is doing fine and it seems that I will be moving to a new place in the summer so I will wait till then. But I may still grab those RTi4 for 119.00 this week is a good deal..
HTAVR-Pioneer SC99XPA-DR3 Differential Reference AmpPolk R-700Rear- RT150Side- RT150Center-CSi5Sub-Rythmik audio F25Player- Panasonic DP-UB9000Projector- Optoma CinemaX P2Screen- Silver Ticket Products STR Series 6 120"Audio Room 2ch rig.Cary AE-3, Onkyo M-504, Marantz SA8005, Azur 851NWharfedale - Linton, SVS SB12-NSDMinis Forum PC (streamer) and Panamax MX5105Headphone rig;Schiit JOTUNHEIM and different headphones.Samsung 42" flat screen TV.
