Re: 5.1 to 7.1 - Surrounds Question
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420 |
Can you clarify? You mean a single QS8, or a pair of M2's, even if there is less than 4 feet?
If less than 4ft QS8's either a pair or a single, I ran a 6.1 system for years and it worked very well as the QS spreads the sound out very well, but with the new 7.1 movies an extra rear channel might be warranted. If the distance is more than 4ft then I would recommend some M2s or M22s as the distance will allow the speaker to spread the sound out and also throw the sound out towards the listening position. Although alot of this is personal prefference, some people still prefer the QS all the way around.
Jason M80 v2 VP160 v3 QS8 v2 PB13 Ultra Denon 3808 Samsung 85" Q70
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Re: 5.1 to 7.1 - Surrounds Question
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466 |
It is fair to point out there is a very, very small percentage of material that will actually give you distinct sound to 7 channels and of those titles on blu ray I've listened to the difference has been so subtle I wouldn’t' go to great lengths to do 7.1 for myself and I have a very similar room size to you. In larger rooms as already mentioned it can serve a purpose to help fill the sound out in the room, but for the point of hearing 7 distinct channels I don't think the source material has a high enough penetration right now to bother. But to say it another way. There is some 7.1 discrete content out there now, and there will only be more in the future. Along with PLIIx which can make 7.1 out of anything (not to mention PLIIz which can make 9.1 out of anything). Don't rule out support for 7.1 if you have even the smallest interest in using it in the future. At least run the wires, or make some allotment for it, even if you stick with 5.1 for now.
Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011 Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8 Sony PS4, surround backs -Chris
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Re: 5.1 to 7.1 - Surrounds Question
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
'Nook, welcome. As some of the replies indicated, the determining factor isn't the size of the room, but the availability of enough space behind the listening position for a good rear sound field to develop. There's no hard and fast rule, but at least 4' is a common suggestion. If not, a 7.1 setup wouldn't likely be of significant benefit(and a single rear surround in 6.1 wouldn't be either), and mounting the side surrounds a couple feet farther back than directly to the side would give a bit of phantom back effect to help out some. You could consider moving the couch slightly toward the front to provide more space behind you.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: 5.1 to 7.1 - Surrounds Question
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 16,441 |
My room is a little bigger than yours with a bit more room behind the couch. Junk in the trunk?
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Re: 5.1 to 7.1 - Surrounds Question
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 602
aficionado
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aficionado
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 602 |
Why not start with 5.1 and see if that's good enough? Or if you have a newer receiver, adding WIDE or HEIGHT speakers adds more to the overall effect - so I'm told.
I believe I'll be going with the HEIGHT speakers soon. According the the people that invented it (Dolby PLIIz or Audyssey's DSX), the order of importance is WIDE followed by HEIGHT.
But in my room, WIDEs are out of the question.
-- Denon 4520, EPIC80/500/VP180 Speakers
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Re: 5.1 to 7.1 - Surrounds Question
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5
regular
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OP
regular
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5 |
Thanks for all the great advice and suggestions so far - this looks to be a very active and helpful forum.
I recognize that 7.1 material is just starting to emerge in the marketplace.
I just bought a new receiver on Boxing Day so I should be good in that department for the next couple of years. Well, actually I bought two because I couldn't decide which one I really wanted. I got a Yammie 6290 and a Denon 890. We'll see which one earns their place in the equipement rack.
Although the room is not an odd shape I still don't have huge placement flexibilty because on one side wall at the midway point is a fireplace so furnture is either before or after it.
The wire fishing idea should work - both suurounds are on an exterior wall so there should be a vapour barrier. But I am considering the baseboard idea too.
The surrounds will go on side walls that are 6 feet long so I could go a foot or two in front, even or a foot or two in back as one of you mentioned.
Since the QS's seem to be somewhat "multidirectional" if I mount them behind the main listening area should I purchase a pivoting bracket so they can be angled or will a flat wall mount set-up be fine?
Thanks again for all the feedback.
Last edited by nanook; 12/29/09 03:28 AM.
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Re: 5.1 to 7.1 - Surrounds Question
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
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shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654 |
Yes, if you use only side surrounds they should be positioned a couple feet farther back rather than directly to the side. The "multidirectional" nature of the QSs makes it unnecessary to aim them and they should be mounted flat to the wall.
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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.
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Re: 5.1 to 7.1 - Surrounds Question
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077 Likes: 7
Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club shareholder in the making
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Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club shareholder in the making
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077 Likes: 7 |
But to say it another way. There is some 7.1 discrete content out there now, and there will only be more in the future. I really wonder about what they choose to release in 7.1. There are some crazily unimportant catalog titles that get 7.1 audio, yet there are so many new big blockbusters that stick with 5.1.
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Re: 5.1 to 7.1 - Surrounds Question
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466
connoisseur
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connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 3,466 |
I think it has to do a lot with whether the audio is being remixed for the release or not. One of the first DVDs with DTS ES 6.1 was Se7en. The picture and audio were completely reworked for DVD release, so they figured since the 6.1 tech was available they might as well use it. I figure the same is happening with BD. When the sound is being completely remixed they figure might as well go all the way. But for recent theatrical releases which already have strong 5.1 mixes, they just get ported straight to disc.
By the way, the new 7.1 mix on The Nightmare Before Christmas BD is amazing.
Pioneer PDP-5020FD, Marantz SR6011 Axiom M5HP, VP160HP, QS8 Sony PS4, surround backs -Chris
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Re: 5.1 to 7.1 - Surrounds Question
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077 Likes: 7
Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club shareholder in the making
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Founder, Axiom Upgrade Club shareholder in the making
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,077 Likes: 7 |
Man, I fell asleep during my viewing of that Blu-ray, and I still haven't made a point of watching it in its entirety, but yes, that movie really pops on BD, both in picture and sound.
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