I finally went 7.1, wow!!!

[cantinflas]

I have had my receiver for about 11 months now. It is a 7.1, but i was only running 5.1 because i did not have 7 speakers. I finally got the extra 2 speakers for the 7.1. Wow this is true surround sound. I tested with shoot em up 7.1 track. I was blown away! There is no way 5.1 compares to 7.1. those rear speakers are a must. For those who can't make up their mind, do what I did and by the 7.1 receiver. If you only have 5 speakers for now thats fine you can buy the other two at a later date, but at least you will be ready.

[Deelow537]

I upgraded 2 months ago n I agree!!! Too bad there aren't more movies with 7.1! Gotta hear the gun play in the latest Rambo movie ... With the 50. Cal oh yeah....

[Aerodude73]

HELLBOY II --- Prepare to be blown away...

[cantinflas]

Originally Posted by Deelow537

I upgraded 2 months ago n I agree!!! Too bad there aren't more movies with 7.1! Gotta hear the gun play in the latest Rambo movie ... With the 50. Cal oh yeah....

Yeah, wish there were more movies. I currently have

Rambo 7.1
pans labyrinth 7.1
War 7.1
Transporter-3 7.1
Hellboy-2 7.1
Shoot em up 7.1
Dark city 7.1

Planning to buy

the condemned 7.1
the Phantom 7.1
Cutthroat island 7.1

[Fors*]

Until there are more blu's with 7.1, you could matrix the sound into all 7 channels with your receiver if you find that having 7 channels is a must.

[Deelow537]

Dooesnt sound as good as when it's actual 7.1! But I do that for action n horror movies

[progers13]

Hellboy II is a must. 3:10 To Yuma is also really good.

Like Fors said, you can matrix your rear surrounds on 5.1 content to make them 7.1 (using Dolby ProLogic IIx). Some people like this, some people don't. Really it's all a matter of personal preference. You could try it and see if you like it; if not, you can turn it back off and only use them on 7.1 content.

I agree that anyone buying a new receiver should buy one that is 7.1, even if they have no plans on using it. I have been recommending this for months now for the same reason. When I bought my current receiver, I had no plans to add the back 2 speakers, but after about a month I tried it out and had the same reaction you did.

[progers13]

Originally Posted by Deelow537

Dooesnt sound as good as when it's actual 7.1! But I do that for action n horror movies

Not true. I can't speak for all receivers, but I know ProLogic IIx on my system only kicks in for content less than 7.1. Native 7.1 plays the way it is supposed to without ProLogic IIx.

[srrndhound]

Originally Posted by progers13

Not true. I can't speak for all receivers, but I know ProLogic IIx on my system only kicks in for content less than 7.1. Native 7.1 plays the way it is supposed to without ProLogic IIx.

That's the same for all AVRs. You don't need PLIIx when the source is 7.1. It's only for when you don't.

[Aerodude73]

Originally Posted by cantinflas

Yeah, wish there were more movies. I currently have

Rambo 7.1
pans labyrinth 7.1
War 7.1
Transporter-3 7.1
Hellboy-2 7.1
Shoot em up 7.1
Dark city 7.1

Planning to buy

the condemned 7.1
the Phantom 7.1
Cutthroat island 7.1

I just bought this a few weeks ago ("Cutthroat Island), very good 7.1 Audio track. Movie's not great, but not 1/2 bad either.

[bhampton]

I should get some more speakers.

When I bought my speakers 5.1 was pretty much a given.

My AVR was replaced more recently though so it's 7.1 ready and waiting.

I don't think they make my model speakers anymore so I guess I have to try to get some used ones... or maybe just get something similar.

-Brian

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by bhampton

I should get some more speakers.

When I bought my speakers 5.1 was pretty much a given.

My AVR was replaced more recently though so it's 7.1 ready and waiting.

I don't think they make my model speakers anymore so I guess I have to try to get some used ones... or maybe just get something similar.

-Brian

bhampton...I just bought Monitor 7 v.3's, a CC-370, Titan v.2's and Atom v.2's off of Audiogon this past weekend. You should check it out, there is a lot of Paradigm speakers for sale there...you may find something you are looking for....? You wouldn't believe what I paid for all 7 speakers either...only $700!

[tilallr1]

Welcome to the club

P.S. You'll soon realize that matrixing your 5.1 tracks to 7.1 via Dolby ProLogic IIx can be just as enjoyable as a 7.1 core track. So that means ALL movies are 7.1.

[Hammie]

I think room design and speaker placement play a lot into whether a 5.1 or 7.1 would be better.

I would never try to cram a 7.1 setup in my room. I think having my couch against the back wall doesn't allow for a proper 7.1 experience. Those rear surrounds are called "rear" for a reason.

To the OP, your room looks great and is far better suited for a 7.1 than mine. I am not dissing on your setup, just saying that 7.1 is not for everyone.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Hammie

I think room design and speaker placement play a lot into whether a 5.1 or 7.1 would be better.

I would never try to cram a 7.1 setup in my room. I think having my couch against the back wall doesn't allow for a proper 7.1 experience. Those rear surrounds are called "rear" for a reason.

To the OP, your room looks great and is far better suited for a 7.1 than mine. I am not dissing on your setup, just saying that 7.1 is not for everyone.

I agree 100%. I tried having 2 rear channels, but I couldn't get them in the right placement, and it never sounded as well as I thought it should. So I went to a single rear channel (6 channels) and I believe my rear imaging improved and I have the type of surround sound I anticipated I would have had when using 7 speakers.

[tilallr1]

Originally Posted by Hammie

I think room design and speaker placement play a lot into whether a 5.1 or 7.1 would be better.

I would never try to cram a 7.1 setup in my room. I think having my couch against the back wall doesn't allow for a proper 7.1 experience. Those rear surrounds are called "rear" for a reason.

To the OP, your room looks great and is far better suited for a 7.1 than mine. I am not dissing on your setup, just saying that 7.1 is not for everyone.

Oh trust me ... I have tried 7.1 in 2 rooms where the couch was too close to the back wall or sides (like yours) and it sucked ... hard. Absolutely agree, if you don't have a room to properly accommodate 7.1, stick with 5.1. But honestly you are missing out if you stick with 5.1 and have a room capable of 7.1. Its where Blu-ray audio shines.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by Fors*

bhampton...I just bought Monitor 7 v.3's, a CC-370, Titan v.2's and Atom v.2's off of Audiogon this past weekend. You should check it out, there is a lot of Paradigm speakers for sale there...you may find something you are looking for....? You wouldn't believe what I paid for all 7 speakers either...only $700!

Co-incidentally... I was just looking at VideoGon. Guess I forgot about the AudioGon side since VideoGon has speakers and such... Maybe they are the same or something.

My room is small but I think I could still setup 7.1 with a little work... I don't think the room size has much to do with it,... as long as you're not in the back row.

-Brian

[tilallr1]

Originally Posted by bhampton

My room is small but I think I could still setup 7.1 with a little work... I don't think the room size has much to do with it,... as long as you're not in the back row.

-Brian

Size has very little to do with it, and your room isn't small and it was made for 7.1. Do it.

Yeah the 2nd row doesn't get much love in my setup either, but doesn't sound too bad either. But the main (King and Queen) seating is amazing. Which is all that really matters anyway.

[blu_world]

Originally Posted by cantinflas

Yeah, wish there were more movies. I currently have

Rambo 7.1
pans labyrinth 7.1
War 7.1
Transporter-3 7.1
Hellboy-2 7.1
Shoot em up 7.1
Dark city 7.1

Planning to buy

the condemned 7.1
the Phantom 7.1
Cutthroat island 7.1

don't forget to add Terminator 2: Judgment Day 6.1!!!!....it use's the two rear surrond's as a back track and SOUNDS amazing in the scenes that DEMAND'S full degree sound around you

[TKNice]

Originally Posted by tilallr1

Size has very little to do with it, and your room isn't small and it was made for 7.1. Do it.

Yeah the 2nd row doesn't get much love in my setup either, but doesn't sound too bad either. But the main (King and Queen) seating is amazing. Which is all that really matters anyway.

That's what she said.

Seriously, anyone who can separate the sides and rears by more than say 5ft should at least give 7.1 a try. I was very impressed with how well Dolby ProLogic IIx matrixes out the extra channel data. "Limited 7.1 content" really shouldn't be on the list of cons.

Also don't forget video games. If you're a player, most games are 7.1 and I can tell you first hand that Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer completely s with the extra channels.