Truth or False?

[raw nerve]

Can a 7.1 Open up your sweet spot in a small room with the sofa pushed back to the rear wall?

[Beta Man]

Rooms usually have other furniture, walls, and perhaps a ceiling.... those usually come into play too.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by raw nerve

Can a 7.1 Open up your sweet spot in a small room with the sofa pushed back to the rear wall?

A sofa against the wall is the worst position in the room. The long wavelengths of bass sound create standing waves. Next to the wall, the bass sound is booming. If you sit there for a few hours, you will become deaf and go completely crazy.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I personally think that in a small room...7.1 is a waste. Will it enhance what you hear? Perhaps! How much though? Besides, there aren't enough titles out there to truly take advantage of that output.

What I'd do is look at my system and try to islolate the weak point in my setup. I would upgrade that before investing in a 7.1 system.

John

[Opips2]

I can't believe it I ever hearing before on 7.1 channel give you biggest sweet spot !!



I love it 7.1 channel

[Steve]

With your sofa against the rear wall you can't properly position the surround back speakers of a 7.1 system in relation to the seating position. The general consensus is that a properly set up 5.1 system will sound better than an improperly set up 7.1 system.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Opips2

I can't believe it I ever hearing before on 7.1 channel give you biggest sweet spot !!



I love it 7.1 channel

More speakers creating more sound from different directions doesn't necessarily mean an increase in "Sweet Spot" size......

Here's a little example for all of those who matrix 5.1 to a 7.1 speaker configurations.....

If someone shoots a gun, from an off-scene location, and the shell casing falls, hits the floor, but it was SUPPOSED to sound like it came from the left.... but now it sounds like it's coming from the left, AND behind you, because your receiver decided to Matrix it that way, the intended effect is lost......

That was more a shot at matrixing I guess.... but for increased "sweet spot" I'd say 7.1 makes it more difficult to accurately determine where the sweet spot is, since there are more variables..... still achievable however, but I don't see why more surround coming from around/behind you could possible increase the sweet spot in terms of size......

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

More speakers creating more sound from different directions doesn't necessarily mean an increase in "Sweet Spot" size......

Here's a little example for all of those who matrix 5.1 to a 7.1 speaker configurations.....

If someone shoots a gun, from an off-scene location, and the shell casing falls, hits the floor, but it was SUPPOSED to sound like it came from the left.... but now it sounds like it's coming from the left, AND behind you, because your receiver decided to Matrix it that way, the intended effect is lost......

That was more a shot at matrixing I guess.... but for increased "sweet spot" I'd say 7.1 makes it more difficult to accurately determine where the sweet spot is, since there are more variables..... still achievable however, but I don't see why more surround coming from around/behind you could possible increase the sweet spot in terms of size......

I agree... it doesn't. OP, don't try and force a 7.1 system into a room that won't comfortably fit it.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by raw nerve

Can a 7.1 Open up your sweet spot in a small room with the sofa pushed back to the rear wall?

In a small room, yes. Unless you have the rear surrounds mounted above you and pointed down (not ideal), 7.1 with a sofa on the back wall will probably not be much better. Beta, you definitely took a shot at the matrix aspect of receivers, not 7.1 or it's sweet spot. I wouldn't say 7.1 adds to the sweet spot, it just adds more ambiance and helps with certain directional effects from time to time.

[gearyt]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

... it just adds more ambiance and helps with certain directional effects from time to time.

In both my installations I had to mount the rears high and point down
( see HT )
Is it ideal ?.... no
Is it better than without ? ... yes

[Big Daddy]

Hey guys. I was serious in my earlier post. A sofa against the wall is the worst position, even for a 5.1 setup.

Crank up your subwoofer and go sit against the wall. After a few minutes, the boom will drive you crazy. Alternatively, you can use an SPL meter. Turn on your subwoofer and turn off all your other speakers or run test tones through the subwoofer only. Walk around the room with the SPL meter. You will notice that the SPL meter will peak against the wall. It has nothing to do with 7.1 versus 5.1.

More than one subwwofer, properly placed in a room, will increase the sweet spot for bass sound. This has more to do with the long wavelegth of low frequency sounds and standing waves. Studies at the National Research Council of Canada and Harman Internationl have shown that 4 subwoofers is the the optimum number to give you even bass across the room and the largest sweet spot. Additional subwoofers will not add that much value.

[CosmoKid]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Hey guys. I was serious in my earlier post. A sofa against the wall is the worst position, even for a 5.1 setup.

Crank up your subwoofer and go sit against the wall. After a few minutes, the boom will drive you crazy. Alternatively, you can use an SPL meter. Turn on your subwoofer and turn off all your other speakers or run test tones through the subwoofer only. Walk around the room with the SPL meter. You will notice that the SPL meter will peak against the wall. It has nothing to do with 7.1 versus 5.1.

More than one subwwofer, properly placed in a room, will increase the sweet spot for bass sound. This has more to do with the long wavelegth of low frequency sounds and standing waves. Studies at the National Research Council of Canada and Harman Internationl have shown that that 4 subwoofers is the the optimum number to give you even bass across the room and the largest sweet spot. Additional subwoofers will not add that much value.

4 subs?!?! You must be single.

[Steve]

Where is the OP anyway? What's with all the guys who start threads and then disappear and never post again in their own thread?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by CosmoKid

4 subs?!?! You must be single.

I am married and have 3 grown children. My wife was with me when we went to the headquarters of Hsu Research in 1998 and bought two 12" HSU subwoofers. She chose the colors. Both of them have been upgraded with better drivers. I have another 15" DIY subwoofer in the HT room and a 12" DIY subwoofer in the two-channel room. I am currently building another one. My wife encourages me to build them. She is as crazy as I am.

[sheedoe]

Big Daddy: Do you plug in your amp to the power conditioner? I'm wondering whether I should plug it directly to the wall.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by sheedoe

Big Daddy: Do you plug in your amp to the power conditioner? I'm wondering whether I should plug it directly to the wall.

It depends on the amplifier. Some amplifiers already have built-in conditioners and the manufacturers recommend that you plug them directly into the wall. My 6 channel Cinepro amplifier is plugged into the wall. This is the recommendation of the manufacturer. My other amplifiers are plugged into power conditioners. I was told by an Emotiva owner that their amplifiers must also be plugged into the wall. Read the manual or call Emotiva.

[sheedoe]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

It depends on the amplifier. Some amplifiers already have built-in conditioners and the manufacturers recommend that you plug them directly into the wall. My 6 channel Cinepro amplifier is plugged into the wall. This is the recommendation of the manufacturer. My other amplifiers are plugged into power conditioners. I was told by an Emotiva owner that their amplifiers must also be plugged into the wall. Read the manual or call Emotiva.

Thanks.