I was told that if I upgraded to the lossless formats (Dolby TrueHD.DTS Master), that my current 5.1 would be a problem if the movie was encoded in 6.1 or 7.1. For example, the if I didn't have any surround backs connected, the sounds would simply be lost. They are not mixed into the left/right surrounds or into a single surround back.

Was told this by the folks at Yamaha when I inquired about the Rx v-663 and when I called another large online company. I even called Yamaha back a second time and asked a different operator. The guy said all their receivers worked that way w/ lossless audio.

They all said it is not a problem w/ the normal DD or DTS but not the lossless formats.

Is this the case????????

Trey, that's my understanding, i.e., that any actual discs with 7.1 TrueHD(very few exist yet)won't have the back surround channels mixed into the side surround channels by the Yamaha when the speaker setup is 5.1. When I get some time I'll try to double-check this.

Took a look now(sign-in required)at the 663 manual and found that a Note at the bottom of p.86 does state that TrueHD back surround channels aren't mixed into the surround channels when there are no back surround speakers. Assuming that the manual is correct, apparently the information that you were given is correct.

Is that just with the Yamaha, or all receivers?

Sean, when I have the time I'll check out a few dozen more manuals(don't hold your breath).

John, don't go through all that. I was just curious in case you knew off hand.

Reading dozens of manuals does not sound like fun.

I was kidding, of course. As you may have gathered from some of my other posts, I'm not very interested in TrueHD, etc., which appears to be a typical over-hype deal, so that was my one try to check that issue. Luckily I happened to see in my quick scan the somewhat buried Note that addressed it.

I'm with you, JohnK. Think I'll just stick w/ what I have now. I don't think many folks know this is the case w/ the lossless format. I do own a few BluRays that are 6.1 and it would annoy me to know I am losing sounds from a missing channel.

May go ahead and add 2 more Qs8s to the rear as my Christmas gift, then I'll be ready to go when I eventually have to move into TrueHD/DTS Master. For now, my 659 can just matrix them in.

Good call Trey, and I like the way you start planning early. Christmas it is.