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Building from scratch... why not go 6.1 or 7.1?

As I know most of people are still settling with 5.1 set up for reasons such as lack of softwares etc.

However, with all the recent processors being 7.1, isn't it kind of waste just settling with 5.1, not trying 6.1/7.1? unless you have real small room.

Only extra is getting 7 channel amp instead of 5 channel and adding a couple of rear speakers. I can always add the rear speakers later but getting 7 channel instead of 5 channel should be decided in the beginning.

I know that 7.1 is not realy 7 discrete signals but matrixed and there are not much software and stuff... but if you especially build a system from scratch and getting those 7.1 processors with EX ES etc, isn't it worth getting it in the beginning - 7channel amp and a couple of rear speakrs?

The processors I'm considering are Anthem AVM-20, Bryston sp7.1, Aragon Stage One.

My room is about 16X17 and I'm thinkig about 6.1 set up with 7 channel amp and rotating the extra channel once in a while.

Is this good thinking?
eandylee
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Your room should be fine size for extra channels...go for it if you have the cash IMO. My system sounds great with 7 speaker setup and I may go back to that setup soon.

Dave
slappy
903 posts
 
It all depends i guess.

I recently picked up a Denon AVR-3805, which has 7.1, and i only use 5.1

Then again, it is probably because when i renovated the livingroom i only included runs for 2 surround speakers. I coulda gone 7, but the surround backs woulda been right in the back of my dome. It is not a small room, but the rear wall is right behind the couch. makes 7.1 kinda distracting.

The good thing is that the AVR 3805 sports 3 zones, it can do 5.1 DTS in one room, power another set of all weather speakers from whatever source out in the backyard, and i can run a cheap pre-amp/amp setup for the garage.

Personally i really like the way 6.1 and 7.1 sounds, there are good enough 7 channel logic programs that will go a good job of turning any 5.1 source into a 6.1 or 7.1

In my case, i just dont have room for all those damn speakers in my livingroom
aroc
760 posts
 
Tempted to buy used for sound quality. maybe someone can buy a quality 5.1 pre/pro for the price of a mediocre 7.1 one? Or maybe not. Then get two more channels of speakers and amps along with a replacement 7.1 pre/pro when you have the $$$ to upgrade.
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