5.1 Surround Sound Speakers vs 7.1 Surround Sound Speakers

Comparing 7.1 to 5.1 surround sound speakers is like comparing Christmas to your birthday. They may be different, but on both days you end up with a lot of presents. While both systems offer the fullest, most realistic sound for your home theater system, there are differences. The distinction between the two setups has primarily to do with the number of speakers and the physical arrangement of them. Between systems of the same brand, there is no difference in quality to speak of; there are simply more speakers with the 7.1 system. Regardless, compare the layout of the two systems and see which would make a good fit for your entertainment center. 

5.1 Surround Sound Speakers

With a 5.1 surround sound speaker setup you are surrounded by a total of 5 speakers and a single subwoofer which produces low frequency vibrations that fill out the bottom end of the soundscape. The 5 speakers of the 5.1 setup include the front left, center and right speakers as well as 2 rear speakers, left and right. 

The arrangement of the speakers is important in order to achieve the optimal sound from the system. A surround sound speaker package should come with instructions on how to place them in your room for the finest quality sound. Directly below your television goes the front center speaker. To either side of the television are positioned the front left and right speakers, angled a little to greet the audience. If you imagine a single couch facing the television as the audience seating area, the rear left and right speakers face each back corner of the couch, respectively, set towards the back corners of the room. The subwoofer bass module can sit off to the side of the entertainment center. It can also go in a free cabinet. 

7.1 Surround Sound Speakers

Like the 5.1 surround sound setup, the 7.1 system has a bass module, but instead of 5 it has 7 satellite speakers. In addition to the front left, center and right and rear left and right speakers it comes with 2 side speakers. The arrangement is essentially the same as the 5.1 except for the placement of the additional speakers. Imagine again the single couch placed before the television. To either side of the couch, mounted to a wall, are the side speakers. They point directly at the ears of the listeners and fill out the sound laterally. 

5.1 vs. 7.1 Surround Sound

Whereas the 5.1 surround sound system relies upon the rear left and right speakers to fill out the sound coming from behind the audience, the 7.1 system has 4 speakers that create an even more intense 360° experience. Depending on the shape and size of your theater room, one system might be more advantageous than the other. If the room is long with the corners spaced far apart, it might be necessary to fill in the middle. In this case a 7.1 surround sound would be optimal. However, squarer rooms would fill up with sound with 5 speakers just as well as with 7. In that instance the extra 2 speakers might actually clutter up the audio. 

You’ll have to take the dimensions of your viewing room into consideration before deciding on a surround sound speaker system. The good news is that you cannot lose with either the 5.1 or 7.1 arrangement. Both offer a spherical sound experience and create a total audio complement to the visual theatrics of your system.