Do you need a special receiver for 7.1?

How many movies, and which examples, support 7.1??

Since noone has responded that is HT savvy, let me attempt.

The simple answer is that 7.1 encompasses an extras set of speakers in the sound stage. But you probably guessed that!

Perhaps a search on the 'net will turn up answers you seek.

Regards,

BBIBH

I am actually having a bit of investigation done on this one. Basically the majority of both 7.1 receivers and recordings are actually 5.1 with 4 effects channels. The information is the same on right side and rear and the left side and rear. I believe there have been some processors made that have discrete side and rear channel information but not in a receiver format, I am having this looked into. We'll keep you posted.

Ian Colquhoun
President & Chief Engineer

7.1 indicates 7 speakers, comprised of 3 in front (L+C+R) and 2 surround sides plus 2 surround rears, and a subwoofer. No music or movie material to date utlizes all 7 speakers discretely, though some receivers and pre/pro units will direct a matrixed signal to these 6th and 7th speakers.

Several notable makers offer 7.1 receivers that include 7 internal amps to drive each of the 7 speakers. It is their decoding software that stretches the sound into those 6th and 7th speakers. Note that the new Dolby Pro Logic II only provides info for 5.1, even though some receivers will place sound in the 6/7 speakers.

My two cents? A decent 5.1 setup is mind boggling (just play the DTS version of Saving Private Ryan to hear what I mean).

As one well know AV critic once said recently, "Let's give all the media producers a chance to produce music and movies using 5.1, they're just getting comfortable now -- why should we all of a suddent move the goal line to 7.1 before they've even had a chance to score using 5.1??"

You are so right about getting the 5.1 recordings perfect first, even the stereo recordings, but the move further down this road has already begun. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was the first movie actually recorded in 6.1.

Ian Colquhoun
President & Chief Engineer