Side speakers?

Maybe its a case of semantics here but here is my understanding. In the post Dolby surround era the 5.1 means mains , center , and surrounds { commonly refered to as rears }. The .1 signal sends the lfe to a dedicated sub. Im not getting into THX specs .The most respected theory was postulated by the team at Widescreen headed by Gary Reber and challenged the THX camp and has in reality been adopted by about everyone now. All monopole { preferably all speakers identical or at least the same in timbral character } , equidistant from the sweetspot using equal amplification and speaker cable legnths. The info was discrete. The coming of 7.1 refered to side "surround " speakers placed directly to the sides of the listener . Again equidistant if possible , if not , the delay feature could compensate somewhat. This configuration was at the heart of the lexicon processors and they led the way with some exciting white papers backing their position that a side image was a necessity.They still make some of the top theatre processors on the market . This signal sent to the " sides " was not discrete but matrixed. Enter DD EX and DTS ES . Theory was that the back of the soundstage needed filling and processors as well as software were trickling in a discrete single back channel that was to be placed at the same tweeter level as the others , equidistant once again with equal amplification and ideally be again , of the exact same model as the others. Ideal world indeed . I can not comment on what specifically commercial movie theatres do .

I still think that the best 6-channel setup for audio is the 2+2+2 scheme from Europe. High and Low Fronts, and two in the rear. No LFE channel is needed. If you want a subwoofer (or two, or three) get an electronic crossover and drive the SW from the Front signals. Actually I think that the two Highs could be the same signal, or one signal matrixed with the appropriate Low, and that would leave one channel free for Center, which I find very important. Unfortuately, no one has made recordings this way.

I suppose it will all shake down to a universal standard in about 25 years. I won't need to buy all new equipment, as I expect to be playing the harp by then.

From what I understand there are only five discreet channels plus the LFE. All the extra channels in other surround schemes are matrixed.

This idea of 2+2+2 from Europe does sound very interesting. This actually seems more like a movie theater set up to me. Not that movie theaters sound that great, but...

In the mean time I'll stay with my meager 5.1 system which has been serving me well since 1998.

OK, I have started some good dialog here! I specifically have (currently) Left, Center, Right, Sub, Left Surround and Right Surround as defined by my Pre/Pro manual (Parasound C2). However, my Surround speakers are placed an the rear wall of my room as many articles and people suggest for a 5.1 system. BTW, Ultimate AV has a very good article on placement of equipment in this months issue. So, it looks like the "other" 2 channels I can add in a 7.1 system are "Rear channels". So, if I am deciphering all this correctly when I get my new dipole speakers I will hang them on the left wall and right wall of the seating position and assign them to the SURROUND channels and take the monopole speakers hanging in the rear of my room and assign them to the REAR channel. According to the C2 manual, back channel info is always derived from the SURROUND channel so it is a matrix and not a discrete channel. Apparently, some people take 1 speaker and assign it to the REAR channel and the L and R REAR channel signals are mixed to the 1 center rear speaker. Hmm, maybe I'll look at getting a 3rd dipole and doing that and take my current speakers on the rear wall (1NTs) and move them to my upstairs 2 channel system...

This is rather confusing.

Yeah, i hear ya
When 5.1 came out, it was a good thing. now everying is trying to expand it and have the latest and greatest, when in all reality they just make it more confusing.

one of the many reasons i stick with 5.1