Is it worth getting a 7.1 home theater system?

[fighthefutureofhd]

don't ask me. i haven't the foggiest idea. i got it for christmas.

[Driver_King]

You would not get HD audio from the 5100 as it does not accept PCM over HDMI. You should check out the link I showed you for the Polk RM6750/ Onkyo 606 package (also in my sig below). That does all HD audio codecs and gets you true 7.1 lossless surround (if you add two more RM6751 speakers).

[joegs300]

i bought a htib to start off.. if i were to start all over again i wouldve just built my system from the ground up... not to say that im not happy, because i am. you kind of just get handcuffed kind of depending on which htib u buy.

[fighthefutureofhd]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

You would not get HD audio from the 5100 as it does not accept PCM over HDMI. You should check out the link I showed you for the Polk RM6750/ Onkyo 606 package (also in my sig below). That does all HD audio codecs and gets you true 7.1 lossless surround (if you add two more RM6751 speakers).

but you could use something else other than hdmi and get hd audio? one would think so if hdmi is the only problem.

[crazyBLUE]

To the OP !!!!! YES !!!!!!!!! Now that I have one !

[mustang-gt-2002]

I had a 5.1 pioneer reciever that died. then went to a 6.1 YAMAHA reciever. now I have a 7.2 YAMAHA 663 reciever. I would have kept the 6.1 but it didn't have HDMI's. I even would have taken a 5.1 YAMAHA with HDMI's being that there is not that many 7.1 Blu-ray's for me. 5.1 would have been fine.

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by fighthefutureofhd

but you could use something else other than hdmi and get hd audio? one would think so if hdmi is the only problem.

Yes, you could use optical to get 2.0 uncompressed PCM and you can use analog outs on a compatible player and receiver to receive HD audio.

Originally Posted by mustang-gt-2002

I had a 5.1 pioneer reciever that died. then went to a 6.1 YAMAHA reciever. now I have a 7.2 YAMAHA 663 reciever. I would have kept the 6.1 but it didn't have HDMI's. I even would have taken a 5.1 YAMAHA with HDMI's being that there is not that many 7.1 Blu-ray's for me. 5.1 would have been fine.

I don't quite understand what you're saying. You would rather have a 5.1 receiver of the same quality or lesser quality over your 663 7.2 receiver? Many receivers and many speakers have the option of bi-amping the front speakers in place of the back surround so you get an even better 5.1 or 5.2 system (or 5.4 or whatever you want to call it) so I'm a little confused there.

[mustang-gt-2002]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

I don't quite understand what you're saying. You would rather have a 5.1 receiver of the same quality or lesser quality over your 663 7.2 receiver? Many receivers and many speakers have the option of bi-amping the front speakers in place of the back surround so you get an even better 5.1 or 5.2 system (or 5.4 or whatever you want to call it) so I'm a little confused there.

dont get me wrong. I LOVE MY YAMAHA 663 but

this is what I had.
http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/p...3&CTID=5000300

if it had HDMI's I would not have sold it. dont hear much of a differences between. dts-HD, dolby true-HD and
dts digital-ES, dolby digital EX and not enough 7.1 Blu-ray's out right now.

this one would have been fine with me. would have saved $200 over my 663.
http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/p...&CNTYP=PRODUCT

hope that clears things up

[kcchemist]

Originally Posted by NyeX

I recently upgraded from a Samsung (can't remember the model) 5.1 to a Sony STR-DG720 7.1 and the difference is incredible. I use a PS3 to watch both DVD and Blu-ray movies output through an HDMI cable. Although there are not as many 7.1 Blu-ray movies out as I would like, more will be coming. Besides, the receiver does a great job "faking" 7.1 from 5.1 source material. If you can find a good deal on a relatively high end receiver and let the PS3 do all the internal decoding, it is totally worth it.

I just bought an onkyo hts6100 and I don't have a single blu ray movie or ps3 game that uses 7.1. I just get 5.1 which makes my rear speakers go silent. Can you tell me how you get your ps3 to "fake it"? Or is there a way to just shut off the left and right surround so that the 5 speakers I use are front left and right, center, and rear left and right?

[zweet77]

Originally Posted by kcchemist

I just bought an onkyo hts6100 and I don't have a single blu ray movie or ps3 game that uses 7.1. I just get 5.1 which makes my rear speakers go silent. Can you tell me how you get your ps3 to "fake it"? Or is there a way to just shut off the left and right surround so that the 5 speakers I use are front left and right, center, and rear left and right?

You need one of the thx certified onks to matrix(fake)7.1 like the 706 and up.

[Captainhawk1]

Originally Posted by tntkain

The ps3 does do 7.1 sound. The problem is, there are not many movies in 7.1 yet .

This I don't get. Every BD i've gotten from Netflix over the past 6 months has been in 7.1 and I know as I've been intentionally going into the menus to make sure that it was in 5.1 for my system.

[Suntory_Times]

Originally Posted by Captainhawk1

This I don't get. Every BD i've gotten from Netflix over the past 6 months has been in 7.1 and I know as I've been intentionally going into the menus to make sure that it was in 5.1 for my system.

I've persnally come across only a handfull of 7.1 movies. However depending on the size of your room you may be better of going with a 5.1 system, however in a 'descent' sized home theater 7.1 is the way to go.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by Suntory_Times

I've persnally come across only a handfull of 7.1 movies. However depending on the size of your room you may be better of going with a 5.1 system, however in a 'descent' sized home theater 7.1 is the way to go.

I think the decision is based more on the quality of the system you can achieve, rather than the size of the room.........

I'd trade in every speaker in my home for the right pair of speakers.... but at the same time, I wouldn't trade my center channel for 20 speakers out of the back of a white van........

in most cases.... if you only want to spend $1,000 or so.... it'd probably be in your best interest to try to buy the L/R or L/R/C and get better speakers.... rather than sacrifice your front sound stage simply so you can add "more" speakers.

[rlf3911]

I've got 5.1, and it sounds great. I am looking into getting the last 2 speakers to complete the 7.1. Only thing holding me back is I need a new couch first to have a place the speakers at the right spots. I've got a few movies that are 7.1, and would like to hear the difference.

Edit: and I'm sure my 805 will do a good job matrixing to 7.1 with 5.1/6.1 movies.

[Riff Magnum]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I think the decision is based more on the quality of the system you can achieve, rather than the size of the room.........

I'd trade in every speaker in my home for the right pair of speakers.... but at the same time, I wouldn't trade my center channel for 20 speakers out of the back of a white van........

in most cases.... if you only want to spend $1,000 or so.... it'd probably be in your best interest to try to buy the L/R or L/R/C and get better speakers.... rather than sacrifice your front sound stage simply so you can add "more" speakers.

+1 here. If you're looking to spend $600 on a complete 7.1 system then you're not gonna be getting a whole lot of bang for that buck. $600 is barely gonna get you a good AVR and two front towers. And that's only if you're willing to wait for deals or buy used/refurbished products. If you live in an apartment then maybe a HTIB will be fine, but the ones i've heard sound like poo. I wouldn't trade my modest 2.1 setup for the best HTIB.

[mugupo]

Is definite worth to upgrade to 7.1 if you got the room and a receiver that support it. I had Onyko 9100thx which has thx mode that can pretty much convert all 5.1 to 7.1 is more sorround, a good receiver to get is probably 607 since it has the latest dolby that can convert all stereo to 7.1

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by joegs300

i bought a htib to start off.. if i were to start all over again i wouldve just built my system from the ground up... not to say that im not happy, because i am. you kind of just get handcuffed kind of depending on which htib u buy.

I believe that it is always better to build a system, even an inexpensive one to start off. However, there are some htib like the one Driver King recommends, which provide great value.