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7.1 vs 5.1
#283111 12/20/09 01:00 AM
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Hi everyone, new to the site and I imagine this has been asked before but I am just about to buy an Epic 60 system and trying to decide if 7.1 is worth it in the end. My new receiver is 7.1 but am trying to decide if I will be able to tell the difference.....it is more a question around the speakers taking up extra home in the living room versus benefits. Other question - I love the look of the Boston Cherry but it wont match with the current furniture (can you hear my wife in the background ) do the Black Oak look as impressive.

Thanks in advance

Re: 7.1 vs 5.1
Aus_Hardrock #283114 12/20/09 01:13 AM
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Welcome to the forum!

7.1 works very well if you have the room behind the seating area, say 4ft or more for the speakers to really work right or a weird corner situation as I had in my old house where the Left side surround was in front of the one side couch adding the rear channel helped fill the void that was in the corner where you entered the room.

Many find 5.1 is all they really need as the rear channels do not receive much information but the new HD audio formats on BR make more use of the rear channels.

IMO, it really comes down to the room and the willingness to purchase extra speakers.

I think the Black Oak does not look impressive but it does blend in to the room decor easier.

Last edited by jakewash; 12/20/09 01:13 AM.

Jason
M80 v2
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Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
Re: 7.1 vs 5.1
jakewash #283116 12/20/09 01:19 AM
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Here's where I speak up and say, that I find 7.1 makes a huge difference. But as pointed out, my rear wall is 7 behind me, and my surrounds are directly to the sides. So indeed the rears make the sound field more complete.

As for discrete 7.1 content, that isn't so needed. With Dolby Prologic IIx, and DTS NEO:6 the extra, rear channels can be very convincingly created from the surround. My channels 6 & 7 are always active with some amount of sound.


Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011
Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8
Sony PS4, surround backs
-Chris
Re: 7.1 vs 5.1
ClubNeon #283117 12/20/09 01:28 AM
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Thanks Jay and Chris for your replies, issue I have - the rear QS8 will be directly behind the lounge - 2ft at most and the sides at 4-5ft. So it probably won't work. Thanks Jody

Re: 7.1 vs 5.1
Aus_Hardrock #283124 12/20/09 02:53 AM
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Jody, welcome. Yes, with so little space behind you for a rear sound field to develop, a 7.1 setup likely wouldn't be of significant benefit. One step that should help a bit is to position the QS8 side surrounds a foot or two farther back than directly to the side, so that a little phantom back effect can be created.


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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: 7.1 vs 5.1
JohnK #283134 12/20/09 04:03 AM
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I just bought some M3's in black oak, and I'm impressed how good they look. Much better than the pictures here.

Re: 7.1 vs 5.1
CatBrat #283136 12/20/09 04:12 AM
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You could try 1 or 2 QS8s as they would spread the sound out a little, like a direct radiator mounted farther away, if you really want to try 7.1.


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
Re: 7.1 vs 5.1
jakewash #283137 12/20/09 04:17 AM
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Here's another idea, use 5.1, then you can use the surround backs as zone 2 in stereo mode in a different room, or for a different set of speakers for some variety.

Re: 7.1 vs 5.1
CatBrat #283148 12/20/09 05:34 AM
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Finishes like Boston Cherry or High Gloss Cherry are 'WOW' finishes. When someone walks into the room, they are immediatelly noticed and drooled over. The Black Oak finish won't have any of your guests falling all over themselves when they see them. However, that isn't to say that they look cheap or of low quality in any way, shape or form. All of the Axiom finishes are in my opinion very well made and flawlessly applied to the speaker itself.

I purchased all of my Axiom speakers from the Factory Outlet and had whole heartedly expected a subprime finish to arrive at my door step. No such thing occured. When I opened each box and inspected the speaker inside of it, they all exceeded my wildest expectations. I could not find a seam, blemish, nick, scratch, dent or any other sort of mistake what so ever. Axiom may not design their speakers to be particularly flashy, but the finish is top notch.

So rest assured, no matter which finish you choose, you will have a collection of speakers living in your HT that look every bit as high-end as they sound.


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Re: 7.1 vs 5.1
Micah #283157 12/20/09 01:53 PM
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Blu ray may allow for 7 channels... but very few titles have it. That isn't to say 7 speakers in a good sized room wouldn't benifit from the two extra speakers, but don't add those channels with the expectations of hearing a lot of discrete sound coming from them... yet \:\)

This site is pretty great for statistics:

http://www.blu-raystats.com/Stats/TechStats.php

It shows of the 1935 blu ray titles with a known audio type, 135 of them have 7.1 audio. I've gone through that list and there are countless titles in that list I've never heard of.

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