7.1 channel on 5.1 system

[mr_dYb]

I have a Sony 5.1 system and every time I watch a movie, I wonder if it'll be better than select the 7.1 track instead of taking the 5.1. Or perhaps instead the sound will be less good.

[BIslander]

What discs offer you a choice of 7.1 or 5.1? Blu-rays with 7.1 tracks usually only have one English language option. If you play it on a 7.1 system, you get all eight channels. If you have a 5.1 system, your audio processor will output a properly downmixed 5.1 version.

[pagemaster]

Originally Posted by mr_dYb

I have a Sony 5.1 system and every time I watch a movie, I wonder if it'll be better than select the 7.1 track instead of taking the 5.1. Or perhaps instead the sound will be less good.

In my opinion, no 7.1 is really not all that much better than 5.1. I still had older used speakers from the late 90s that I just used as the extra two speakers. If I had to do it today and purchase two new speakers for the extra rears, I would not.

What a lot of people don't know is, that there was 7.1 way back in the mid 90s. It was only for theatrical theatres in SDDS, speakers were behind the screen instead of the extra rears.

Also, IMO, any movies that was released theatrically in 5.1 usually sounds worst in 7.1.

[BIslander]

7.1 takes sounds that would phantom image behind the listener and anchors them in actual speakers where they will be properly heard in all seats. I'm not sure how that can be bad in a room with enough room behind the seats.

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[gotmule]

Originally Posted by BIslander

7.1 takes sounds that would phantom image behind the listener and anchors them in actual speakers where they will be properly heard in all seats. I'm not sure how that can be bad in a room with enough room behind the seats.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

I couldn't agree more. Proper speaker placement and calibration is highly recommended to get the added benefit of additional speakers however. You just can't throw them back there and call it a day.

Even though a movie might be in 5.1, there is often information panning in the back of the room just like it does in the front of the room. The extra 2 channels help support this in a properly calibrated system.