Which method for 7.1 (upgrade from 5.1).

[ianh]

Hi all, I currently have a Sony STR-810 Amp using regular 5.1. However I've just bought 2 more speakers for a fuller 7.1 experience and the options the Amp gives me for the placement have me confused, theres:-

a) Extra height - they go high above the fronts for "over the top of your head" panning as well as "around the side".

b) Side - inbetween the fronts and rears to better horizontal panning (original 7.1).

c) Mixture - One front high and one rear head height (better horizontal panning at the back + "over the top")

I was just going for the original 7.1 extra speakers on the side but now I've found my amp can do so much more I thought I'd ask if anyone else had tried these different modes or have you gone for the original 7.1?

Cheers.................................................................IanH

 

[Chong Warrior]

The first one is "precence" and is supposed to make the front sound field bigger by adding front height, so an example is rain/thunder is supposed to be more realistic due to the added height.

The second is traditional 7.1 and it reduces the gaps in the surround sound.

The third is more of a feature of your Sony amp, not all do this.

Most people use the second option but I'd definately give the front heights a go and see what you think works best.

Myself I've used the extra outputs to Bi-amp my front speakers as they're large floorstanders but I'm tempted to give the front height a go one day as I've got a spare set of speakers. Only problem is trying to make it look good in the living room.... too many speakers for the missus lol

 

[lucid]

err... if you were doing 5.1 properly then the original "rear" speakers should have been more to the sides of the listening position, not behind. That means that adding the additional rears for 7.1 they would go directly behind the listening position and not somewhere forward of the listener.

Movies are mixed in a studio where the 5.1 speaker positions are pretty much set the same whether the studio is in London, New York, L.A., Tokyo or anywhere else. If you're spending money trying to recreate that effect at home then doesn't it make sense to follow the same pattern as the professionals?

Have a look at the guides for Dolby, DTS and THX. They all pretty much tell the same story for 5.1 DTS gets a little more complex for 7.1, but bear in mind that the options for those layouts are specific to films or programmes mixed for that flavour of DTS 7.1 rather than something more general; whereas you want something a little more practical for all films mixed in 7.1 so a Dolby layout might suit you better.

 

[ianh]

Cheers Lucid - I should have mentioned my sofa is against the rear wall so the "rears" of my 5.1 are actually sides. The sofa will be moved around when the other speakers arrive so I can get 7.1 "rears" behind me.