Tech Tuesday – Is it time for the 7.1 upgrade?
For this weeks Tech post we look at is it really worth upgrading the sound system in FRC Towers?
Over Kill? Never!!! P.S. This is NOT my system, I just thought it was funny…..
I have to be honest here. I am blessed. I have a great sound system made up of a great separate system. The front sound stage is made up of Celestion speakers and a hefty Paradigm sub-woofer (boy can this baby move some air!) and the rears are little tannoy satellites, the reason I use these as oppose to the remaining Celestions is they actually have a higher frequency response and therefore they have more room to play with and not fighting for the same space in my ear drum. It sounds great.
But for a little while now I have been toying with the idea of upgrading the system to 7.1. What this means is I would add 2 extra speakers behind the viewing area to give a more consuming rear sound stage, so I thought. I have been looking into this seriously and I am almost ready to go the extra mile and lay the cable.
But will I notice a difference?
Most of what I watch is still mixed to 5.1. All DVDs have either 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS. Even the majority of Blu-Ray still only use 5.1 DTS HD sound tracks so it almost seems a pointless exercise. The amp would have to employ some smoke and mirrors and extend the rear signal to the surround back speakers from the sides. Is it not just better to have 5(.1) truly discrete channels than making the amp to more processing to extend the signal?
My other concern is that I am out balancing the entire sound stage. What I mean here is that we are all seated in the viewing area concentrating hard on the screen and trying to lose ourselves in the latest release, so surely we should have all the power coming from the front? When I add another pair of speakers at the rear the sound stage would feel un balanced to me… 3 at the front and 4 at the back. But I am probably splitting hairs here.
‘A Well installed 5.1 system is always better than a poorly installed 7.1 system’
This is a quote from a famous Audio Visual forum and it is some advice that maybe well ring true. Maybe I should just leave it well alone. Maybe I am just having a case of keeping up with the Joneses.
I totally understand why CINEMAs have more than the two rear speakers, but is it really needed in the home set-up? I guess I have managed to write a post here that answers a lot of my worries itself. I reckon I have talked myself out of this upgrade…. Or have I?
About The Author – Scott Lawlor
Chief Editor of FRC. A self confessed geek with an unhealthy thirst for all things Home Cinema. Whether it is the latest Action film or Subwoofer.
Have any of you guys a 7.1 system installed? Do you feel it is worth the effort? Comment below…
Scott Lawlor
Not worth it at all, and not even noticeable unless you have a massive dedicated theatre room where you can properly space out the channels.
And like you said hardly any movies have a true 7.1 soundtrack and even the ones that do, sound perfectly fine in 5.1.
Actually, you say that now, but I’ve recently seen an increase in Blu-Ray releases where the audio mix has been upgraded to 7.1, even on films you might not expect! I think the day will come soon where a 7.1 mix might become the standard of home cinema audio, much like 5.1 did back when DVD first arrived….
Interesting to hear two differing views on the subject.
I don’t have the space to put my five speakers in a surround setting. Right now they are basically just all facing me head-on. Needless to say I wouldn’t consider this unless I had the right setting, but even then I don’t think I’d need it.
Interesting Max. So you have all the speakers in front of you?
It’s a tough call. I’ve advised people to see if the money would be better spent on a new amp, or improved speakers, but if you’re happy with what you’ve got, it could be an option. As mentioned, you’d need to have a good sized room.
I wrote a post on this a while ago but it still stands true:
http://www.homecinemabuyer.co.uk/amplifiers-and-receivers/is-it-worth-upgrading-to-71-surround-sound/
I know how you feel though – even with a great system, the desire to upgrade and improve is always there. There just something about getting new AV kit!
HAHA You are so right Mark.
I am always wanting a new piece of kit, or tinkering with the settings on the existing stuff!! HAHA
Thanks for the comment
oh, Scottie, you’re an utter freak, you know
That picture of your sound system looks like something from PROMETHEYS lol
PS don’t like the colour of the walls, who’s idea was it?
HAHAH That is NOT my front room Dezzy!! It is OK
I love that photo of giant speakers surrounding a tiny TV, ha ha.
I’ve been using a 7.1 set up for years and to be honest I can’t really tell a difference between a 5.1 and 7.1 encoded films. Like you mentioned, most films are recorded in 5.1 so no need to upgrade. But a film like Tron: Legacy was pretty cool to listen to in 7.1 because it was originally recorded in 7.1. Also, if you calibrate all of your speakers evenly, you can get a great surround sound out of your 5 speakers.
My Panasonic BD player can convert a 5.1 BD sound into 7.1 by using some sort of matrix, which is pretty cool because all of my speakers have sound coming out of them. When I was using a PS3 as my BD player, only 5 of my speakers are in use, unless I watch films recorded in 7.1.
I am starting to think I might give it a little try at the weekend. If I like the sound then I will go about sorting the wires properly.
Thanks Ted.
Nah, why 7.1 when you can go all the way and 15.1! Meanwhile, I’m still on the TV stereo speakers ahah
HAHA Castor!! You so need to upgrade your kit my friend
That top pic makes me laugh – what a grand sound system but doesn’t the TV look like it has missed out a bit…
…I won’t be able to upgrade to 7.1 as long as I have a wife. I already get complaints about those rear speakers!
I am chuffed you like the image Dan!
I guess I have been failry lucky with my wife, she HARDLY (and I stress Hardly) moans about wires!!
Alot of that just went over my head but love the picture! Looks like someone’s setting up for an illegal rave in your living room!
Thanks for reading anyway matey!!
Looking at the TV I can here Indy’s voice in my head. “It belongs in a museum!”
Also it looks like the rug really ties the room together!
LOL!! nice one!
HAHA love the rug comment….
Those speakers look impressive but whats up with that antique tv?
HAHAH Funny Huh?
Dude, I think the general consensus here indicates your money might be better spent on a new TV… LOL!!
Anyway, with regards to 7.1, Mark above hit the nail on the head with his line about having a good sized room – 5.1 is fine up to a point, but unless you’ve got a large-to-huge loungeroom with plenty of rear space to put some extra speakers, upgrading to 7.1 is a bit of a waste. That’s not to say the additional audio of the 6th and 7th channel isn’t important, because it IS (after all, that’s the way the sound engineers mixed it) but the loss of this delineation by remaining with 5.1 instead of 7.1 is minimal at best. Of course, there will be others who might argue the opposite, so take what I say with a grain of salt…
But seriously, dude, with speakers like that, why squint at the picture on the screen? That’s where I’d be spending my money, if I was yerself!
HAHA Yes, that is not my set up!! But I bet it sounds awesome!
I think I might just try it out and see how it goes!!
Thanks Rodney
..the pic is obviously taken at the home of someone who has a souped up Renault Clio in the driveway with a boot made entirely of a sub-woofer.
Indeed Dan, indeed!!
I don’t think I’ve got the space to make it worth my while going to 7.1
Mind you I could do with upgrading my 5.1 system. Any suggestions?
Phil I have LOTS!! I will try and catch up with you on FB or somewhere to help you spend your money… muhhahahahahah
Personally I probably wouldn’t go for 7.1 if I had the space for it. Happy with the 5.1 system I’ve got.
I am moving to a new place and setting up the living room as a media room. I just got a new AMP and when I went to set up my 5.1 system I was amazed at the number of speakers I could hook up to this unit. Forget 7.1 try 11.2. No more I have 3 speakers in front and 4 behind. I have connections for Front L/R, Front Wide L/R, Front High L/R, Center. The space is 15 Wide by 23 Deep, would I notice the difference hooking up the additional 7 speakers?
I Love Your TV,looks like an old Sony and i bet it looks better than most if not all Plasma, LCD,LED TVs out there…..one of my friends always buy a new TV every year and at the moment he has a Flagship $5000 LG 65” 3D LED looks good in 3D and ok in blu ray cartoons but thats it, and seems to lose picture quality as it gets older….. 6 months older, I just hate the way everybody has pastel skin on these new TVs and watching fast moving sports action is a real let down… so i say keep your TV and wait until 4K or 8K TVs arrive, Cheers, P.S. I also have a old Sony 36” TV, the last and best TV sony ever made.