7.1 worth it?

[raw nerve]

I placed a order for a SVS SCS-01 SBS rears 5.0 and wanted to know if I should upgrade to a 7.1? My room is tiny 10x12x^9 with the sofa being pushed back to the wall. My installer told me that 7.1 would open up my sweet spot a bit more and that 7.1 is the furture? Any help would be great.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by raw nerve

I placed a order for a SVS SCS-01 SBS rears 5.0 and wanted to know if I should upgrade to a 7.1? My room is tiny 10x12x^9 with the sofa being pushed back to the wall. My installer told me that 7.1 would open up my sweet spot a bit more and that 7.1 is the furture? Any help would be great.

Yes it is worth it . A week ago I bought 2 tower speakers to use as my surr. giving me 7.1 ! The sound field now is completely different , Way better !!

[Gremal]

Just to play devil's advocate, very little 7.1 content exists. One could easily make the argument that it is not worth the $$ to have the extra two channels.

But I have a 7.1 system and I'm hopeful that more content is coming with seven discreet channels.

[phlydude]

agreed - I have 7.1 and very rarely are the 6th and 7th channels used

Hell, most movies don't even take full advantage of 5.1

I'd say wire for them and save the money for a while - and if you find a great deal on the extra speakers, do it

[BluHavik]

I had 7.1 and went to 5.1 with the front's bi-amp'd. If your AVR can matrix 5.1 to 7.1 by all means go 7.1.

[McGarnigal]

I'm getting a new 7.1 receiver, but everything i own is 5.1. I'm thinking of putting up enough speakers for 6.1, so my question is.... is it better to matrix 7.1 form a 6.1 setup, a 5.1 setup, or is it a draw?

[buckshot]

7.1 is awesome. the first time you hear an uncompressed 7.1 track it will surprise you with how great it is. bullets voices explosions all of it sounds great when its coming from all around you.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by buckshot

7.1 is awesome. the first time you hear an uncompressed 7.1 track it will surprise you with how great it is. bullets voices explosions all of it sounds great when its coming from all around you.

+1

[Yeha-Noha]

I thought it was well worth it. To me the difference is comparable to the difference you see between 2 D and 3 D movies.

I went 7.1 about a year ago when I had a 5.1 system and added an old pair of vintage Tannoy Sweet Sixes (6o9s) for rear surrounds. I had Energy Speakers: C-200s fronts, C-C100 center, and C-100s surround L/R. The Tannoys blended in remarkably well with the Energy speakers. It was like adding a new dimension to the sound. Then after about 10 months, I upgraded my fronts over the holiday season to the C-300s, and shifted the C-200s to side surrounds and the C-100s went to the rear. Then earlier this month there was a sale running on the C-R100 bipoles. I bought 4 of them for only $320.00, or two for the price of one. The new C-300s and 4 bipole surrounds blew away the old setup. It was like I had entirely different sound system.

Even though I have 7.1 surround, I don't like matrixing 5.1 or 6.1 to 7.1. My receiver's DSP doesn't always get the surround channels balanced right anyway. Many movies sounded better not matrixed. Sometimes the rears would be a little louder than the side surrounds or vice versa. I just got fed up with it set my Extd Sur Decoder to off. I still get 7.1 sound but only if the source is 7.1 or 6.1 if the source is 6.1. My point here is, even without matrixing, it's still worth it.

[Squozen]

I would say that having the couch against the back wall makes the 7.1 a little less exciting than it might otherwise be, as I have my room set up that way due to size restraints (14'x11'x10'), but if you can afford it go for it - it won't sound *worse*. And when you get a bigger room, you've already got the speakers.