whats after 7.1 and when is it coming?

[Chris60119]

Should I invest in 7.1 now or just wait another year?

[Johnny Vinyl]

I would say to definately buy a 7.1 receiver....you can always add the speakers later as your budget permits.

[Chris60119]

Originally Posted by John72953

I would say to definately buy a 7.1 receiver....you can always add the speakers later as your budget permits.

But then I would have to buy another receiver

[Johnny Vinyl]

What do you have now? Receiver? Speakers?

[Chris60119]

Originally Posted by John72953

What do you have now? Receiver? Speakers?

I have a sony 6.1 with satalite JBL speakers. There ok, but I want better sound.

[Johnny Vinyl]

If you're asking if there wil be 9.1 or 11.1 receivers coming into the mainstream market, then I'd say don't bother waiting. I think it'll be years before we see that happening.

[Chris60119]

Originally Posted by John72953

If you're asking if there wil be 9.1 or 11.1 receivers coming into the mainstream market, then I'd say don't bother waiting. I think it'll be years before we see that happening.

True, and when it does hit. It will be way above my budget for a few years.

[pacificvibes]

Honestly, just buy a 7.1 system right now. Because there will ALWAYS be something else. Thats they way everything is. At least you will have your system and then if and when something else comes out, save up and upgrade. But yeah there is nothing we can do about marketing strategy.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by frettless5

I have a sony 6.1 with satalite JBL speakers. There ok, but I want better sound.

A 6.1 system is perfectly fine and I wouldn't upgrade, unless that receiver is limited in HDMI inputs. Does it do all of the HD codecs?

I would invest my money first on a good set of Front Speakers and Centre Channel. Then upgrade the others. Once done, you'll have a kick-ass system.

[Chris60119]

Originally Posted by John72953

A 6.1 system is perfectly fine and I wouldn't upgrade, unless that receiver is limited in HDMI inputs. Does it do all of the HD codecs?

I would invest my money first on a good set of Front Speakers and Centre Channel. Then upgrade the others. Once done, you'll have a kick-ass system.

No it dosen't do HDMI at all. I have it hooked up with fiberoptics but just broke one of the imputs. I really want to go to HDMI so thats why I want the upgrade to 7.1.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by frettless5

No it dosen't do HDMI at all. I have it hooked up with fiberoptics but just broke one of the imputs. I really want to go to HDMI so thats why I want the upgrade to 7.1.

There are different ways on approaching this. And this is what I would do based on the comment you made about wanting better sound.

1. Upgrade your Front Speakers
2. Upgrade your Centre Channel Speaker
3. Then upgrade to a new receiver (you can get 7.1 with all of the HDMI inputs and Audio Codecs for around $500).

I don't think that getting a new receiver first would satisfy your desire for better sound, regardless of the HDMI and Codecs improvement.

However...you said you broke the optical connection.....perhaps in your case the receiver should come first then.

[Zoiks]

+1

If better sound is your main concern, better speakers is the way to go first.

[Chris60119]

Originally Posted by John72953

There are different ways on approaching this. And this is what I would do based on the comment you made about wanting better sound.

1. Upgrade your Front Speakers
2. Upgrade your Centre Channel Speaker
3. Then upgrade to a new receiver (you can get 7.1 with all of the HDMI inputs and Audio Codecs for around $500).

I don't think that getting a new receiver first would satisfy your desire for better sound, regardless of the HDMI and Codecs improvement.

However...you said you broke the optical connection.....perhaps in your case the receiver should come first then.

Yourpost makes a lot of sence. I will up grade the speakers first. At least everything in the front. I can still use the fiberoptic line. I just have to run it through video 2. No big deal.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by frettless5

Yourpost makes a lot of sence. I will up grade the speakers first. At least everything in the front. I can still use the fiberoptic line. I just have to run it through video 2. No big deal.

Glad I was able to help! Lemme know what kinda speakers you end buying....

BTW...lots of guys on here with really good suggestions about speakers. Just let them know what your budget is, whether you can use full floor standers or do they have to be sats....you know...common sense things. They'll give you some great ideas.

[bageleaterkkjji]

they barely make 7.1 movies as it is so why would you wait for whats after 7.1

[Chevypower]

i am sure audio engineers don't want to remix soundtracks with more channels, when the only benefit now is speaker brands selling more speakers

[thebat2]

Originally Posted by bageleaterkkjji

they barely make 7.1 movies as it is so why would you wait for whats after 7.1

So true!!!!

[Chris60119]

Originally Posted by John72953

Glad I was able to help! Lemme know what kinda speakers you end buying....

BTW...lots of guys on here with really good suggestions about speakers. Just let them know what your budget is, whether you can use full floor standers or do they have to be sats....you know...common sense things. They'll give you some great ideas.

I have the small JBL satalite speakers now. There good, but I want whats best for my system. In another post people are pointing out floor standing speakers. I'll go with that if thats what I need to do. Space isn't a problem.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by frettless5

I have the small JBL satalite speakers now. There good, but I want whats best for my system. In another post people are pointing out floor standing speakers. I'll go with that if thats what I need to do. Space isn't a problem.

If space isn't a problem then I would definately recommend floor-standing speakers. Also, once you decide on a brand/model (and do audition them live) make sure the matching Centre Channel is available for when you're ready to move to that step.

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by frettless5

Should I invest in 7.1 now or just wait another year?

Not everyone has the proper listening space for just even a 7.1 system. You don't want to set one up in a narrow room. The width of the room needs to be about 0.8 times the length or 0.8 L. A properly setup 7.1 system has all 7 speakers equidistant from your listening chair. The subwoofer can be placed at any spot where it doesn't trigger standing waves. Thus if the distance to your front array (L C R) is 10 ft, you need to have the rear L R surrounds 10 ft away and the L R side surrounds 10 feet away. That means you need a room probably 25 x 20 ( avoid a perfectly square room) for 10 ft speaker distances. Then you need the amplifier power (about 7 x 200 W RMS for the 25 x 20) to drive all 7 speakers to your preferred listening levels without distortion. I think a reasonably sized room which should work really well is about 20 X 16. In which case you can place all 7 speakers 8 ft from your listening chair(s). Next best would be 18 x 14. The bare minimum room would be 15 x 12 which I would not recommend however unless you have very small bookshelf speakers or tiny satellite cubes. If you can't position your rear surrounds a minimum of 6' to 8' from your listening chair, forget 7.1, and be happy with your 6.1 or 5.1 system.


As for 9.1, 11.1, 13.1 ... (2x-1).1 surround systems, what's the point in this? Not even the typical movie theater is 7.1 while many can be at best switched to a matrixed 6.1 EX/ES system if needed. So what's the point in holding off for (2x-1).1 > 7.1 surround sound to come out? Got a Harkins theater sized living room or home theater? If so, go for it man. Or else get real and don't wish for something that's going to be impractical, pointless, and at the same time a useless waste of money. For common home theater systems, the limit before impracticality takes over is 7.1 IMHO.

BTW, I saw a program on HDNET showing off large luxurious HT systems for the rich and famous. One of the HT systems featured was built to the specifications required for a very large 5.1 system. He spared no expense. It's not that he didn't have the money for 7.1 or even (2x-1).1 systems. It was simply all that was required to get the best possible sound.