7.1 vs. 5.1 - Meaningful difference?

This is another question that can only be answered based on opinion, to me the 7.1 set-up works much better with more space and involvment using di-pole speakers, if you room isnt big enough, if your set up isnt ideal or if you plain just dont see the benefit then go 5.1, true there are only 6.1 material so far but to me 7.1 is much better and more emotional......there is no right or wrong and no matter how hard anyone tries to argue this it is only opinion, the Zone 2 use of your speakers might be a great option for you....so follow your heart and your ears and enjoy!

I think it depends on the size of your room. I have a samllish room, so 5.1 fills things in nicely. If you have a large room and are able to put speakers 3+ ft. behind your listening room it may be worth your while.

DVDs that are "encoded" in Dobly Digital EX and DTS ES have separate information for 6.1 - 7.1 channels. "Gladiator" and "Star Wras - Revenge of the Sith" are 2 that I can think of off the top of my head.

Gchuva,

I'm quite surprised you don't hear a difference between 5.1 and 7.1. When I expanded from 5.1 to 7.1 (using Logic 7), I heard a very noticeable improvement is surround envelopment.

Thinking out loud: I assume you are using Logic 7, all speakers play the test tones correctly when setting speaker levels, and distance settings are adjusted.

Are your side speakers directly to the sides of your listening area; i.e., +- 90 deg, and not behind your listening area? Having both sides and rears behind the listening position defeats the purpose of 7.1.

Are the rear speakers spread apart (+- 160 deg) behind the listening position?

Thanks
Bruce

Ran across this recently...it's worth a read:

http://www.videoasylum.com/ht/messages/21783.html

Fishboat,

Interesting read. I agree that adding rear channel information; i.e., expanding beyond 5.1, adds spaciousness. That is what I meant by better suround envelopment. And I agree that you do not need to correlate number of source channels with number of speakers used in playback. Logic 7 and/or DPLIIx can generate 7.1 "discrete" output channels from various sources.

I had not heard their explanation before about phase problems with dipole side speakers being the reason for needing 2 rear speakers (7.1) versus a single rear speaker (6.1). I do agree that 6.1 is not a good choice, as a single rear speaker can lead to front to back image reversal as well as not providing the spread of sound intended in the rear, problems that can occur even if you use bipole or monopole sides.

In some rooms, 7.1 is not practical, such as the listening position being flush against the back wall (no room behind the listener for the pair of rear speakers). Room size is not an issue. Based on my own experience, unless your room layout just cannot physically support 7.1, I can't imagine why you would not go with 7.1.

Thanks
Bruce