5.1 vs 7.1 Home Theater System

A lot of people have been talking about 7.1 home theater systems. They seem to be the successor to the 5.1 home theater surround sound systems, and have recently become more common. Plenty of folk have already invested heavily in 5.1 home theater systems. Is there a compelling reason for them to go out and spend hundreds more on a new system? Is a 7.1 home theater surround sound system so much better? 

How Effective is 7.1?

Some people claim that 7.1 surround sound is just a myth and that while some DVDs are mixed in 6.1 sound, they use an algorithm to split the sixth channel to make a seventh. However, with more and more Blu-ray discs coming on the market, many of these are mixed in real 7.1 sound. 

How 5.1 Surround Sound Works

5.1 surround sound uses a center channel, then front and rear speakers to both left and right. The front speakers are used for music and speech, while the rear speakers are utilized for sound effects and background. A subwoofer adds depth to deeper sounds, bringing things like explosions alive. 

5.1 surround sound is ideal for rooms that are small or mid-sized. In such rooms they can create a very full sound.

How 7.1 Surround Sound Works

7.1 surround sound is more complex than 5.1, and not just because it uses more speakers. It takes the surround and background information that’s used in two speakers in 5.1 and spreads it out across four speakers, giving the feeling of greater depth. This is effective in bigger rooms where the sound field is larger.

The Advantages of 7.1

There’s no doubt that 7.1 home theatre systems are the coming thing. It’s becoming harder to find new 5.1 receivers as they’re superseded. With 7.1, even if you don’t use all the speakers in your living room, you can use the two extra speakers separately elsewhere. Effectively, you could watch a DVD in one room and when you’ve set up the system correctly, you could use the CD player and the other two speakers to hear music in another room, or even set the speakers up outside.

The Advantages of 5.1

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a 5.1 home theater system. If it works well for you and you’re satisfied with it, then why replace it? Unless your living room is especially large, the sound field options of 7.1 surround sound won’t be especially noticeable. 

5.1 surround sound is decidedly cheaper than 7.1, which can be an important factor in making a choice. By choosing 5.1 you can save hundreds of dollars. You should note, however, that you can buy a 7.1 surround sound receiver and use it with a 5.1 speaker set-up. This means you have two channels free for other uses, such as running stereo in another room. 

Conclusion

What system will suit you best depends on whether you’re looking for the latest thing. If you are, then 7.1 is definitely for you. Otherwise, it’s it may be better to save the money on the 5.1.