5.1 vs 6.1 vs 7.1
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Bronze Member Username: MartiniPost Number: 40 Registered: May-04 | I have just gotten a Polk surround sound speaker system with their 303 subwoofer. So I have a 5.1 system and its amazing. I was wondering if anyone here thinks that 6.1 or 7.1 is worth upgrading and why. I heard that only a few movies (Lord of the Rings, Signs, and some others) have 6.1 sound and none have 7.1. So I just don't get why I should upgrade. |
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Silver Member Username: Project6Post Number: 996 Registered: Dec-03 | That's a personal choice. I was fine with a 5.1 set-up and then moved on to a 7.1 (it is more of a geewhiz, why not, thing). I thought it was more enveloping and immersive. The problem is that there's not a lot of music and movies out there that are encoded for 7.1. I still end up listening to 5.1 more than 7.1. I tell my buddies the same thing why I upgraded, (I don't think it's an upgrade, more like a lateral move) "because I could", and that's all that matters.  cheers |
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Bronze Member Username: Bbruins2Post Number: 17 Registered: Jun-04 | Berny,what movies are available in 7.1 as you say you watch 5.1 & 7.1?I would love to buy one. |
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Gold Member Username: Project6Post Number: 1027 Registered: Dec-03 | Sorry Mike, I jumped the gun on that one. It is not 7.1 but 6.1, my set-up is 7.1. But here is a listing of DTS movies that is available in 6.1 http://www.dtsonline.com/consumer/hometheatre/dvd-titles.php |
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Bronze Member Username: Bbruins2Post Number: 18 Registered: Jun-04 | I thought so, but was hoping there was 7.1 available.Thanks |
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Silver Member Username: KeggerMICHIGAN Post Number: 655 Registered: Dec-03 | actually their are quite a few movies in the extended format. and to me the rear surround is so much fuller with the extra rears. plus any movie that is in 5.1 can be played in 7.1 on the reciever. and what is really nice is how you setup the rear speakers with 7.1 versus 5.1. with 7.1 you take the surrounds and put them to the side of your listening position then your rears go in the back. it creates a much larger surround area back there.just a much wider and fuller scope. i play all my movies in 7.1! movies that are done in the extended format are generally recorded very well and you can realy tell when something is coming from behind you or on the side of you. |
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Bronze Member Username: Bbruins2Post Number: 19 Registered: Jun-04 | Kegger,what is the extended format?Mike |
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Silver Member Username: KeggerMICHIGAN Post Number: 658 Registered: Dec-03 | hear is a link! http://timefordvd.com/tutorial/SurroundSound.shtml |
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Silver Member Username: LandrovalPost Number: 336 Registered: Feb-04 | Extended formats are the 5.1 DD EX (matrix) and 5.1 DTS ES Matrix where the surround back channel is matrixed to the l and r surrounds, and the real 6.1 DTS ES Discrete where's a separate surround back channel. With the matrixed formats the surround back can be decoded out from the surround so you will get a similar 6.1 as with the discrete version. Normal 5.1 DD and DTS are the non-extendeds. Pro-Logic IIx is a DSP 'program' wich can make 6.1 or 7.1 sound out of 5.1 and stereo. It takes the sounds from the l and r surrounds and then calculates a nice way to play them from the 4 surrounds of the 7.1 system. Some say it works well and creates a better surround field, but some others say it sounds very robotic and artificial. |
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Bronze Member Username: MartiniPost Number: 48 Registered: May-04 | Yea I have read about PL IIx. The new Yamaha receivers have it and my RXV2400 has it too. I really wanna buy one more speaker to create a 6.1 sound so I'll have to side speakers and in the very rear to create a better scope of sound |
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Bronze Member Username: MartiniPost Number: 72 Registered: May-04 | so does anyone know if I get a 6th speaker in the back middle, will I hear a difference or no? |
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Silver Member Username: KeggerMICHIGAN Post Number: 778 Registered: Dec-03 | my oppinion yes! |
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Bronze Member Username: MartiniPost Number: 73 Registered: May-04 | not to be rude Kegger but.........prove it I would love to have some good tests to know exactly how I will be able to tell the difference. Remember, I'm a movie guy, not a music fan. Now I know that some movies do have 6.1 DTS support and I probably will notice those differences. The main reason I think I will hear is that I have a dipole set up in my living room. So a center back speaker will even things out. |
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Silver Member Username: KeggerMICHIGAN Post Number: 780 Registered: Dec-03 | marty. "not to be rude Kegger but.........prove it" i have no way to show you! so you either believe in the concept or you don't. but you have 3 speakers up front don't you? what if you did not have a center channel? without using a center channel you reley on your 2 speakers to create the sound coming from the center. and it is 1 less speaker giving you sound. i use an hk 525 reciever it's a 7.1 reciever with 2 rear centers so i get 4 speakers in the back verses 2. but it's the same princaple. the way it makes a difference is you take your surround speakers and move them to the side of your listening position.and then obviously your rear center goes in the rear center. now when you play movies you get sounds coming from the side as well as the back with your reciever deciding where and when. as of right now it's only used for movies not sacd or dvd-audio. and any 5.1 movie can be played in the extended format when you have a reciever that provides it and you add the extra speaker/speakers. if you can't take someones honost oppinion than you need to see for yourself! but generally you can look at most things from a logic perspective and figure it out. |
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Bronze Member Username: MartiniPost Number: 76 Registered: May-04 | THANKS! See, you did show me. Maybe later on I'll get a 6th Polk surround speaker to add to my Yamaha 2400. Since I can have 9 channels! |
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Silver Member Username: DmeisterPost Number: 119 Registered: Dec-03 | In my opinion, there is a much greater argument for having a center channel front speaker than for having a rear center channel speaker. 1. A center channel speaker helps "anchor" the central sound field and dialogue directly above or below the screen. 2. Much of a movie is dialogue, which is provided principally by the center channel speaker, while the rear channels are generally only used for ambience and the occasional fly-by effect. 3. Virtually all DVDs have a center channel track, while relatively few actually have a center rear channel surround track (DTS ES). Similarly, this argumemt also calls into question the relative importance of having the extra surround channels (and most consumers don't). While adding rear speakers may increase the "ambience," you can accomplish a similar effect by simply increasing the level settings of your rear a decibel or two. Of course, this assumes that you have decent rear surrounds that are properly placed. If you have a big listening room, really want to maximize the "movie theater" experience, or have a large budget though, it may be worth the upgrade to you. |
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Silver Member Username: KeggerMICHIGAN Post Number: 817 Registered: Dec-03 | oh no dought the front center speaker is "more" important! but with the setup done correctly their is quite a nice upgrade of sound in the rear. "with 7.1 you take the surrounds and put them to the side of your listening position then your rears go in the back. it creates a much larger surround area back there.just a much wider and fuller scope. " |
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Unregistered guest | I am planning to buy a Creative Audigy 2 ZS which supports 7.1 channels and I am planning to use the Creative Inspire 6600 or 6700 6.1 channel speaker systems. I was wondering whether it was a good choice. Basically I am looking for a decent 6.1 channel experiance at not so great a price. |
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Silver Member Username: LandrovalPost Number: 447 Registered: Feb-04 | Dont get the Inspires, they are bad in every way, sound, build. Get MegaWorks or GigaWorks instead, they're the best PC speakers available. |
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Unregistered guest | Problem is, I cant afford a GigaWorks thats for sure. Is there any other manufacturer who makes 6.1 channel speaker systems or do you think I should just go in and buy a better 5.1 channel system (say a Megaworks) for the same price? |
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Silver Member Username: LandrovalPost Number: 448 Registered: Feb-04 | Yes, get better 5.1. The extra channel wont compensate the weaker soundquality. A good option for Megaworks 550 is the Logitech Z-680 with built-in decoder-unit. Also the Z-5300 is ok. |
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Unregistered guest | I did have some more questions in mind. Do I need to buy a decoder? What exactly is the use of a decoder? Also suppose I want to buy a DVD for Gladiator, do I have to specify that I want one with DTS Support ? |
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New member Username: Bruin62Post Number: 2 Registered: Aug-04 | i tried hooking my avr 100 to my avr 520 for 7.1 but it made little differance. maybe im losing something having to use two amps? i would think the 100 should drive two speakers. |
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Gold Member Username: KeggerMICHIGAN Post Number: 1256 Registered: Dec-03 | akshay yes to both questions. john bonare using 2 amps should have nothing to do with it. did you set your levels on the surrounds from the reciever? and verified that the reciever is playing 7.1/6.1 also did you moce your existing surround speakers? or at least set it up like this? the way it makes a difference is you take your surround speakers and move them to the side of your listening position.and then obviously your rear center goes in the rear center. now when you play movies you get sounds coming from the side as well as the back with your reciever deciding where and when. but your reciever needs to be steup for the extended channels with proper levels. i'm saying this just you double check everthing because placement and level make all the difference in the world. |
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New member Username: Bruin62Post Number: 3 Registered: Aug-04 | i made sure everything is on i have a post in home theater set up maybe you could give it a look it might be the room size or how i have the side speakers. it's called new an need help. lol thanks |
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