I've read some polarized opinions on the advantages of the EX channels over 5.1. Can someone please elaborate on having a 6.1 over a 5.1 and a 7.1 over a 6.1? I'm planning on getting the epic grand master with a EP500 but I'm rather stumped on adding on a pair of M2i's as the back surrounds. I'm particularly interested in knowing if the 7.1 adds a noticable upgrade over 6.1.
Drew, if you have enough room behind your listening position(say 4' or more)for back speakers to create a back surround effect, then it'd be better to use the full 7.1 setup rather than 6.1. THX, Dolby and other authorities suggest using two back speakers even if they were playing the same mono material, mainly because of a psychoacoustic effect in which a sound produced by one speaker directly behind the listener can "reverse" and appear to come from directly in front rather than behind as intended. Also, when DPLIIx or Logic 7 is used with either two channel or five channel material, the extracted sound is sent as different "stereo" signals to each of the two back speakers. The lack of any 7.1 material therefore isn't a reason not to have a 7.1 speaker setup.
Are you saying there is a way to effectively utilize 7.1 without actually having dolby digital EX etc.? Does the reciever play any part in this? I'm getting a Yamaha V2600 unless somebody has a better option at that price range($850).
My Pioneer does some magic with 5.1 material for the 7.1 rears. I don't know how much of an impact it makes, but there is sound back there. For EX content, it is very impressive, but again, it really depends on the content - some is great, some not so.
-Brian
I've got the Yamaha VX2500 and it does a great job mapping 5.1 into 7.1! Any surround sound is more defined and envelops the room better. I've noticed that it definitely helps a lot when there's echo in the movies (like when bullets strike). It's not like a night and day difference but it definitely adds more realism to the movie. We were watching Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and my wife got startled by noises coming from behind, also she thought there was some water dripping behind us too. It's amazing how much realism those effects can add.
I also enjoy using the receiver's ability to map stereo into 7.1. I enjoy watching tv shows on DVD (like Stargate SG! or Battlestar Galactica) and they usually are in stereo but the receiver does a great job mapping it into 7.1 and it's pretty accurate in placing sounds.
Your comments are very encouraging, thanks a lot.
One last question
....Are the M2i's capable of good surround effects? I'm apprehensive on getting another pair of Qs8's. I've been hearing so many good things on the M2i's that I've been considering getting 2 pairs of them to use as side and back surrounds. Any advice or information on these speakers would be a great help.
I still think QS8s for surrounds and M2s for rears is pretty close to optimal. If the rears have to be very close to the seating position then that would be an argument for using 4 QS8s instead of a QS8/M2 mix.
That's a good question I do not know the answer to. I got the first season through Netflix on DVD so I don't know whether the HD broadcast is in 5.1 or not (it might also depend on your cable/satellite company). I'm sure somebody knows though.
i did "upgrade" from a 5.0 setup to 7.1...at least in my experience there has been a much noticeable difference especially watching movies......just my little .02c
7.1, imho is the way to go. Get a receiver that can provide 7.1 channels, and you will be good to go. The offer for an audition is still open, so feel free to PM me, and we can set up a time. If not for anything else, you can hear how the QS8's sound...as compared to the M2's. I have both sets of speakers, though, I only have 2 M2's vs. 4 QS8's.
Yes Drew, as some of the other replies have also indicated, receivers(your 2600 will have DPLIIx)have processing which extracts some of the sound(which belongs in surround farther back)which is naturally present in the two stereo channels or the side surround channels of 5.1 source material and steers it to surround speakers to give a better effect. In fact, the 6th channel material in a DD EX disc, which would provide a mono back effect, isn't used when DPLIIx is in effect. Instead material is extracted from the left side surround which should go to the left back and likewise for the right side, providing a stereo rear effect.