7.1 - what do you really get?

dkg999

I'm looking at possibly moving my current Yamaha HTR-5660 6.1 receiver to another location and replacing it in my current HTR setup. In looking at the new 7.1 receivers, I'm confused! What does the 7.1 give you over the 6.1? If the right & left side surrounds are the same exact channel just split into two (this is from a local audio store associate!), is this really a big deal? If 7.1 derives separate right and left side surround channels, wouldn't it be an 8.1 receiver? And as far as enhancements, with all the overhead action in todays movies, why don't they develop a surround channel that would be mounted on the ceiling? It seems to me that would really enhance the experience!

I'm currently looking at the Yamha HTR-5760/5790 and RVX-2400 receivers. And yes I feel that Denon, HK, and Onkyo all make great receivers, I just happen to like the Yamaha sound!

brettw22

6.1 is:
(2) Mains L & R
(1) Center
(2) Side Surrounds L & R
(1) Rear Center
(1) Sub (the .1)

7.1 is:
Same as above but instead of just a rear center, you have a R and L channel rear in addition to the side L and R channels.

The side surrounds do NOT play the same signal just split. The whole fanfare about DD is that the channels are separate from each other. What he described sounds like what would have happened under a PL type format where the source didn't have the individual channel definition.....

VERY few movies actually utilize anything more than 5.1, with the EX mode adding the rear center. With rear channels, I could be wrong on this, but the signal may be split the way the guy indicated, but I haven't ever messed around with rear surrounds before.

scottvamp

Is thier much of a difference in 5.1 and 6.1?
We all know that (7) is not discrete. It simply adds another speaker of sound - it is very usefull is you have WIDE room compared to a narrow room inwhich a single center rear may do the job very well.
*Most movie theaters have 16.1 - get it, size.*
What size is your room?
Have fun - experiment alittle........

PolkThug

6th and 7th channel data are the same. Currently, I'm running two speakers distanced apart on my backwall off a single 6th channel (wired in series). However, running at 16ohms is sacrificing db's, so, yes, it would be nice to have a "powered 7th channel".

Regards,
PolkThug

AsSiMiLaTeD

I am perfectly content with a 5.1 setup, and probably will be for some time...

I did try a 6.1 setup for a bit when I had the extra CSi3...checked out Gladiator in ES. It was OK, and sure I heard stuff a bit differently than in 5.1, just not my cup of tea I guess...

kuntasensei

To answer the question of why 2 rear surrounds are better than 1:

Having a single center surround can cause perceived reversal, where a sound from directly behind you can actually sound like it is in front of you. Having two speakers behind you reduces the reversal effect. It also provides a wider soundstage in the rear. That being said, with good speaker placement you probably won't hear a huge difference between 6.1 and 7.1. Of course, if you get really good phantom-center imaging from your side surrounds, 5.1 can sound just as good as 6.1 or 7.1.

However, DPL-IIx can actually create 7.1 where the two rear surrounds are actually playing different signals, using the DPL-IIx steering logic to judge where in the rear soundstage the sound should be (using phase and amplitude between the left and right surrounds). I believe Logic 7 does something similar if your receiver/pre-pro has that.

scottvamp

DPL-IIx can actually create 7.1 where the two rear surrounds are actually playing different signals, using the DPL-IIx steering logic to judge where in the rear soundstage the sound should be (using phase and amplitude between the left and right surrounds). I believe Logic 7 does something similar if your receiver/pre-pro has that.

Actually just having my sytem setup to full time MATRIX, the 6 channel does it really well with a 7 channel reciever. The rear channel will actually feed off seperate signals playing along with the side surrounds giving the rears a serperate signal as sound rotate or side to side.
Everything else I use "all channel stereo". Very addictive!!!!

Good responce, kuntasensei.........

Early B.

I have a 7.1 channel setup only because I can.

Does it sound different than 5.1? Yes.
Is it better? Depends.
Will I go back to 5.1? Nope.
Is it worth the money? Depends.

Consider also room size. If you don't have room behind your listening area, a 7.1 setup will not be optimized at all, hence the term, "surround sound."

HBombToo

8 speakers to impress even the bose fans;) I guess:p

1/4twin

nebborjk

why don't they develop a surround channel that would be mounted on the ceiling? It seems to me that would really enhance the experience!

TAG McLaren Electronics experimented with something they called a "Height Channel" with their HT processors. I don't know if it ever caught on.

dkg999

Thanks for the clarification! I don't really have the optimum room setup, as my couch has to set against the same wall as my rear surrounds, and I don't really have a place for true side surrounds. I do have a pair of RTi38 and RTi28's that I could use whichever one fits best into a 7.1 setup, but I think I will wait. I don't really need additional power from my receiver, so I think I'll hold with the HTR-5660 and see what new digital formats come out this fall and what new receiver/digital pre-amp processors come out. I do like the Yamaha RVX-2400 though!

RuSsMaN

Originally posted by dkg999
7.1 - what do you really get?

2.0 too much.

Cheers,
Russ

GregBe

I think sticking with 5.1 is a wise choice. It sounds like you don't have the room behind your couch for it. For what its worth, I had 7.1 set up in a not ideal setup, and I am back to 5.1 and happier.

Greg

scottvamp

Going from 5.1 to 6/7.1 two years ago was one of the biggest improvements to my home theater. Having a dedicated room, proper calibration and the right reciever makes ALL the difference........
If you have niether or one of the other it may not work for ya.
A "ROOM" can make or break a Home Theater system period.

For example if your main viewing area is acouch up against the farthest wall and your surround speakers are uncalibrated and balancing on the back of the couch. 3 inches for the back of your head, thats not hometheater. That is a "comfortable" pair of crappy surround headphones.
And Stuff

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dkg999

Well, thanks to everyone on this forum I think I'm a little beyond the "crappy pair of headphones" stage! My HT setup is in the apt. I reside in while I am in the Chicago area working. The living room is about 18'x22', but not a lot of extra room. The couch is against the far wall from the TV, and I run a 6.1 system with FXi3's as the rear surrounds. They replaced the RTi38's as rear surrounds and sound real nice. I have them wall mounted about 18" above the top of the couch and about a foot or so outside of the ends of the couch. I had a friend with good equipment and professional experience help my balance the system. It does sound very good! I also bought the RS SPL meter so I can check the balance should I make any changes. I was thinking about taking the current Yamaha HTR-5660 receiver up to my cabin in WI and using it with the B&O S75's for front mains and B&O S45's for rear surrounds that I have setting up there. I think I'll wait and see what kind of deals there are in the fall on receivers or possibly something like the Outlaw pre/processor.

scottvamp

With the added info - a 7 channel upgrade is not going to do much for ya in your current room and setup.
My original advise is solid.

*********Is thier much of a difference in 5.1 and 6.1?
We all know that (7) is not discrete. It simply adds another speaker of sound - it is very usefull is you have WIDE room compared to a narrow room inwhich a single center rear may do the job very well.
*Most movie theaters have 16.1 - get it, size.*
What size is your room?
Have fun - experiment alittle........***********