Switching between 7.2 and 5.2.2

[GueroX4]

I'm a noob and sorry if this has been covered already. I recently upgraded to the Sony str-dn1080. I plan on getting some atmos speakers soon but want to keep the option to run 7.2 also. Both the atmos and back surrounds use the same terminals on the receiver. What options are there besides switching the speaker wires. Thought about getting a speaker selector but not sure how those work or if there's a better option. Thanks in advance

[Scarriere]

I don't know anything about Sony AVR's, but I'd think you change the layout in the menu section.
Having both Atmos and Rear Surround on the same terminal, it may be tricky doing this on the fly.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by GueroX4

I'm a noob and sorry if this has been covered already. I recently upgraded to the Sony str-dn1080. I plan on getting some atmos speakers soon but want to keep the option to run 7.2 also. Both the atmos and back surrounds use the same terminals on the receiver. What options are there besides switching the speaker wires. Thought about getting a speaker selector but not sure how those work or if there's a better option. Thanks in advance

If I'm not mistaken, you will have to exclude the 2 surround back channels in place of Dolby Atmos on a 5.1.2 A/V receiver or exclude Dolby Atmos for 7.1 surround. To be able to utilize both Dolby Atmos and the surround back channels, you will need a 9.2 receiver which is more expensive. On a 5.1.2 receiver, to change the speaker output, you will need to go to the speaker configuration setup screen on the receiver to enable and disable the Dolby Atmos or the surround back speakers.

[GueroX4]

Apologize for the confusion. I know about the settings, I was wondering if there was a more convenient way to switch the speakers connected to the speaker terminals instead of plugging and unplugging every time.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by GueroX4

Apologize for the confusion. I know about the settings, I was wondering if there was a more convenient way to switch the speakers connected to the speaker terminals instead of plugging and unplugging every time.

A speaker switcher (selector) may be your only option, without disconnecting the speaker cables every time whenever you want to switch from Dolby Atmos to 7.1 and vice-versa.

[gkolb]

You're speaker annotation seems confused.
If you have height speakers for Atmos, they need to be on/in the ceiling or be up firing.
If you have 5 front & rear speakers, a sub, and 4 ceiling then you have a 5.1.4 setup.
If you have 7 front side & rear, a sub and 2 ceiling then you have 7.1.2. If you add 2 more ceilings then it's 7.1.4. If you don't have a sub then the second number can be zero.

So tell us the location of all your speakers. I can't figure why you're switching your speaker assignments.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by gkolb

You're speaker annotation seems confused.
If you have height speakers for Atmos, they need to be on/in the ceiling or be up firing.
If you have 5 front & rear speakers, a sub, and 4 ceiling then you have a 5.1.4 setup.
If you have 7 front side & rear, a sub and 2 ceiling then you have 7.1.2. If you add 2 more ceilings then it's 7.1.4. If you don't have a sub then the second number can be zero.

So tell us the location of all your speakers. I can't figure why you're switching your speaker assignments.

It's because the rear surround and the front height are on the same speaker terminals. It's designed to have either 7.2 or 5.2.2 but not both (unless there's a way to configure zone 2 to either front height or rear surround in zone 1).

[RJ MacReady]

I've been wondering if this is possible as well. I recently set my system up as 5.2.2 by moving my rear surrounds to the front, setting them on top of my entertainment center at an angle and bouncing them off the ceiling. It sounds great, so I can't imagine how great it would sounds with some dedicated Atmos speakers.

BUT, at the same time I don't want to lose my 7.2 configuration, as I have a lot more discs with 7.1 than Atmos or DTS:X. Also 7.1 is preferable for gaming, at least until Xbox actually puts out some Atmos-compatible games.

I imagine there must be some sort of converter/switch box that i could run all four speakers into (two front Atmos, two rear surrounds) that would allow me to switch between the two on the fly. So can anyone make a recommendation for such a device?

Obviously, I'd have to reconfigure the speaker settings every time I change, but I would take that hassle over going out and buying a $1500+ 9.2 receiver seeing as how I just got my 7.2 Denon last year.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

It's because the rear surround and the front height are on the same speaker terminals. It's designed to have either 7.2 or 5.2.2 but not both (unless there's a way to configure zone 2 to either front height or rear surround in zone 1).

Right.

[slimdude]

Originally Posted by RJ MacReady

I've been wondering if this is possible as well. I recently set my system up as 5.2.2 by moving my rear surrounds to the front, setting them on top of my entertainment center at an angle and bouncing them off the ceiling. It sounds great, so I can't imagine how great it would sounds with some dedicated Atmos speakers.

Oh no! Why would want your surround speakers up front, where your main speakers are located? That's what the main speakers are for! Regardless how good they allegedly sound, the surround channels were audibly designed (by Dolby) to be placed specifically in the rear for proper surround effect and immersion. You've improperly changed Dolby Laboratories initial mulit-channel speaker setup, which is entirely incorrect. Me, nor anybody else would even dare nor think to put their surround speakers up front.

[RJ MacReady]

Originally Posted by slimdude

Oh no! Why would want your surround speakers up front, where your main speakers are located? That's what the main speakers are for! Regardless how good they allegedly sound, the surround channels were audibly designed (by Dolby) to be placed specifically in the rear for proper surround effect and immersion. You've improperly changed Dolby Laboratories initial mulit-channel speaker setup, which is entirely incorrect. Me, nor anybody else would even dare nor think to put their surround speakers up front.

No duh. You misunderstand me. I had a 7.2 system. I took the two rear surround speakers and repurposed them as makeshift Atmos speakers to try out a 5.2.2 Atmos setup. The speaker terminals on my receiver are the same for rear surround or front Dolby, you just specify which setup in the menus.

It's not like I just moved my rear surrounds to the front. Yes, that would be hella dumb.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by RJ MacReady

No duh. You misunderstand me. I had a 7.2 system. I took the two rear surround speakers and repurposed them as makeshift Atmos speakers to try out a 5.2.2 Atmos setup. The speaker terminals on my receiver are the same for rear surround or front Dolby, you just specify which setup in the menus.

It's not like I just moved my rear surrounds to the front. Yes, that would be hella dumb.

hey RJ, if it's possible, I recommend taking those .2 speakers and mount them up high as possible on the side wall, as close to the ceiling as possible, (say in between the location/distance of front speakers and surround speakers) aim them down at say 45 degrees (towards the MLP) and use them as TM (top middle) I think you would get a much better more enveloping response.

I do know there are limitations for some about how it might look and other stuff, but, I believe that would give you a better ATMOS/DTS:X audio enhancement. I'm running 5.1.2 in my bedroom and it's a beautiful thing.

of course, if you are enjoying and happy with them (the .2) where they are then that's cool too. by the way, what receiver are you using? enjoy that system buddy!

[RJ MacReady]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

hey RJ, if it's possible, I recommend taking those .2 speakers and mount them up high as possible on the side wall, as close to the ceiling as possible, (say in between the location/distance of front speakers and surround speakers) aim them down at say 45 degrees (towards the MLP) and use them as TM (top middle) I think you would get a much better more enveloping response.

I do know there are limitations for some about how it might look and other stuff, but, I believe that would give you a better ATMOS/DTS:X audio enhancement. I'm running 5.1.2 in my bedroom and it's a beautiful thing.

of course, if you are enjoying and happy with them (the .2) where they are then that's cool too. by the way, what receiver are you using? enjoy that system buddy!

I have a very tall entertainment center, there is only about two and a half feet clearance between the top of it and my 9-ft ceiling. My speakers (Polk T15s) are placed on top and leaned back up against the wall, with about a 45 degree angle pointing toward the ceiling.

I seem to get a good Atmos sound like that when I set my receiver config to Dolby front (what you use for the kind of upfiring Atmos speakers you place on top of your L/R towers). I could try it on Top Middle and see if it sounds any better.

My receiver is a Denon s720w, which for me was a big step up from the 5.1 Onkyo HTIB I had before. The rest of my speakers are Polk T series and I have two Polk PSW 108 subs.

I want to buy a pair of upfiring Atmos speakers, and then return my T15s back to the surround rear position. THat's why I'm wondering if it is possible to buy some sort of splitter to switch between the two configurations.

[solarrdadd]

RJ, try this item from monoprice.

[Show spoiler]speaker selector.jpg

speaker selector 2.jpg

with the inputs being the L & R outputs of the terminals you currently use for SB or TF (same terminals that are swapped via speaker setup) and then wire say selector #1 to your surround speakers and selector #2 to your Top Front (TF) speakers.

remember, set up your receiver to tell it you have Top Front speakers and surround back speakers and when you do (if you do) any calibration, you will need to switch the speakers (via the selector) as they come up in the calibration program.

once finished, you can simply use the selector switch to go between the speakers you need. unless your using any type of simulated mode (DSU or Neural X) you won't need to do anything. when an ATMOS/DTS:X signal is introduced, the system should automatically send sound to the speakers you have listed. when a normal DTS:HD:MA or Dolby TrueHD 5/7 channel signal is introduced, you may or may not have to go into the listening mode and select it so you get the sound you want. if not, that will be the default.

hope this makes sense and helps out. keep us posted buddy.

[RJ MacReady]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

RJ, try this item from monoprice.

[Show spoiler]Attachment 176437

Attachment 176438

with the inputs being the L & R outputs of the terminals you currently use for SB or TF (same terminals that are swapped via speaker setup) and then wire say selector #1 to your surround speakers and selector #2 to your Top Front (TF) speakers.

remember, set up your receiver to tell it you have Top Front speakers and surround back speakers and when you do (if you do) any calibration, you will need to switch the speakers (via the selector) as they come up in the calibration program.

once finished, you can simply use the selector switch to go between the speakers you need. unless your using any type of simulated mode (DSU or Neural X) you won't need to do anything. when an ATMOS/DTS:X signal is introduced, the system should automatically send sound to the speakers you have listed. when a normal DTS:HD:MA or Dolby TrueHD 5/7 channel signal is introduced, you may or may not have to go into the listening mode and select it so you get the sound you want. if not, that will be the default.

hope this makes sense and helps out. keep us posted buddy.

Yes, thank you. This is what I was envisioning but my internet searching was coming up short. Should've thought about Monoprice!

[RJ MacReady]

So I got the Monoprice speaker selector and set everything up. I can now switch between a 7.2 setup and an Atmos 5.2.2 setup.

There's a couple caveats: I can switch between the two at the push of a button, but I still have to manually switch on my receiver between "surround back" and "Dolby front" configs.

The other problem this creates is that only one of the configurations can utilize the Audyssey setup. Since most of my listening (including video games) is in 7.1 I opted to use it for that. For the 5.2.2 I basically copied the Audyssey settings for speaker distances and levels and then manually set up the two Atmos speakers. I also tweaked the EQ manually by ear. I may eventually go out and pick up a dB meter for a more accurate manual EQ.

So until I get a 9.1 or 11.1 receiver, I think this is pretty cool!