7.1 movies need review on 7.1 system

[mrhonda2]

Reviewers on this site need the proper gear. I just don't see how a fair audio review can made made on a 7.1 disc being played back in 5.1. It's kind of like rating the movie while skipping every 2nd chapter. In fact almost 2 mini reviews could be done, one in 7.1 and one in 5.1.

[jw]

this probably belongs in the feedback forum. Where does it say what the reviewers watch the movies on?

[ClaytonMG]

Originally Posted by mrhonda2

Reviewers on this site need the proper gear. I just don't see how a fair audio review can made made on a 7.1 disc being played back in 5.1. It's kind of like rating the movie while skipping every 2nd chapter. In fact almost 2 mini reviews could be done, one in 7.1 and one in 5.1.

Actually, since the movies were originally intended for 5.1 sound, I don't see a problem with it. And for the extra effects that a 7.1 track adds, how much of that really even needs mentioning?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by mrhonda2

Reviewers on this site need the proper gear. I just don't see how a fair audio review can made made on a 7.1 disc being played back in 5.1. It's kind of like rating the movie while skipping every 2nd chapter. In fact almost 2 mini reviews could be done, one in 7.1 and one in 5.1.

I'd love to hear what be-all-end-all 7.1 set-up you have that causes the need for using the 7.1 presentation as a measure for whether you'll want to watch/rent/buy the movie

[Woody]

I want 7.1 as much as the next guy, but I disagree that it is required to accurately review a disc.

[blu-raay]

This would be great if martin posted this so blu-ray.com would pay for two more speakers to add to his setup.

[Beta Man]

7.1 or not..... there isn't even a review of "Grunts" so if they don't have time to review each title once, I don't think they should do separate reviews for every movie in every audio format......

[Gremal]

Do most readers have a 7.1 system?

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Do most readers have a 7.1 system?

If I had to wager a guess on the %, I'd say 5-10% perhaps??? So "No" I don't think so.

In a poll that happened a long time ago, I think it was closer to 15% - 20%, but you have to take into account these are active posters/members, and I'm sure this site gets a lot of traffic of people who just type in movies or scroll through the "new releases" and read up on them.... I know I did that a lot before joining

[nerdboyrockstar]

If I added those 2 speakers, I'd have to have them hanging from my ceiling fan. I have no place for them. I appreciate the 5.1 reviews.

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

If I had to wager a guess on the %, I'd say 5-10% perhaps??? So "No" I don't think so.

In a poll that happened a long time ago, I think it was closer to 15% - 20%, but you have to take into account these are active posters/members, and I'm sure this site gets a lot of traffic of people who just type in movies or scroll through the "new releases" and read up on them.... I know I did that a lot before joining

Here is that poll, or one like it.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=47925

I sure wouldn't mind a side note in the reviews about how active the two extra speakers are, and whether the difference between 5.1 and 7.1 tracks is noticable. But I'm not complaining, the reviews here are sound. Uh, no pun intended.

[kiskiboy97]

Originally Posted by blu-raay

This would be great if martin posted this so blu-ray.com would pay for two more speakers to add to his setup.

I do have a 7.1 setup.

Now if the site wants to buy me a high-end projector system to replace my 65" Mits, I'm all for that.

[ClaytonMG]

Originally Posted by kiskiboy97

I do have a 7.1 setup.

Now if the site wants to buy me a high-end projector system to replace my 65" Mits, I'm all for that.

And how many times during a 7.1 movie would you say you actually felt the need to mention any effects that might've happened in those 2 extra channels? I am going to guess that most times, if it's done correctly, you'd notice that there's sound there, but nothing to distract from the film itself.

[Gremal]

Reviewing a 7.1 mix is no different from reviewing a 5.1 mix. You make comments about the surround field and the soundstage. Address whether the mix is aggressive, or anchored up front with only minor/ambient sounds assigned to the rears. Make a couple comments about specific noises or dialogue and leave it at that. A well engineered 5.1 mix will throw certain sounds between speakers so that the viewer is not aware of any discreet channels but is immersed in the sound. That should be the goal of every audio engineer, whether they're mixing for 5.1 or 7.1.

[ClaytonMG]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Reviewing a 7.1 mix is no different from reviewing a 5.1 mix. You make comments about the surround field and the soundstage. Address whether the mix is aggressive, or anchored up front with only minor/ambient sounds assigned to the rears. Make a couple comments about specific noises or dialogue and leave it at that. A well engineered 5.1 mix will throw certain sounds between speakers so that the viewer is not aware of any discreet channels but is immersed in the sound. That should be the goal of every audio engineer, whether they're mixing for 5.1 or 7.1.

Thank you!!! So many people here seem to not understand that. They think the viewer should just have sound effects left and right thrown into the extra channels. The only point of 7.1 is to give slightly better imaging. But a good 5.1 mix should have the exact same effect. And movies aren't even mixed in 7.1 originally, they're done in 5.1 (with some being intended for 6.1 matrixed surround sound, or in the case of DTS-ES at home, 6.1 discrete surround sound.)

I really see it as people trying to justify their 7.1 system and ignoring what surround sound was invented for. I myself prefer 5.1 with THX Select2 enabled to fill the room and still use all the speakers.