Home theater wizard... 8.1 surround format ?

I try out the wizard just for kicks and saw a 8.1 surround format can someone explain this format.... don't know of any a/v amps with this but perhaps the people @ axiom know something we don't anyhow maybe Ian or Alan care to explain

thanks

Could be wrong but I believe 8.1 is
Front Lt/C/Rt
Side Lt/Rt
and
Rear Lt/C/Rt

A little extreme perhaps unless you live in a football stadium.

I think 8.1 implies one of two possible scenarios:

1) Front L-C-R, Rear L-C-R with alternate surround L-R speakers for music (i.e. monopoles instead of dipoles)

-OR-

2) Front L-C-R, Rear L-C-R, and a front L-R effects pair that is elevated to give height information. A 10.2 system would add a Wide Front L-R pair and second sub. If I'm not mistaken, Yamaha makes an upscale receiver that powers front effects speakers for 8.1.

8.1 almost certainly demands its own room, unless you want your living room/den looking like an AV store.

i think FordPerfect has it right set up wise..

living in a football stadium?! not very proper for a home theatre! unless you have 80,000 close famlly and friends over

a small point but it's FordPrefect, not FordPerfect

. I'm the last person in the world who would ever believe that Ford is "perfect".
But back on topic, is the move to 8.1, or 7.1 for that matter, a logical evolution or is it just done for the sake of change. I would think that for the average person that type of a setup would tend to be overkill.

Not that there is nothing wrong with overkill

sorry FordPrefect!

you will have to excuse my disleyxai

Well, i hear 10.2 is on the way... I like the idea of 7.1, as long as it's 1 L R C, 2 sides, and 2 rears, and 1 sub. Putting 4 in the back is retarded.

Hi ravi,

well i have 4 speakers in the back (2 x qs-8 middle rear for es/ex and 2 x M80's in the rear corners for 7 channel stereo) so what does that qualify me under???

Johnny

last time i heard 4 speakers in the back, i found it sounded terrible. i like the idea of front mains, center, sub, quadpoles on the sides, and quadpoles in the back, or even dipoles or direct radiators... depends on preference.

Ravi....

the way i use them are not at the same time when using 7 channel stereo well the rear m80's are utilized only with the side surrounds, front mains, center and sub when listening to movies or tv (Dolby Pro Logic II or DD or DTS or DTS/ES DD/EX) i utilize the front mains, center, sides, rear qs8 only, this makes for an awesome setup, i have experiemented alot with axioms in the past... i've tried with 2 x vp150's in the rear, also tried with 3 pairs of m80's (front mains, sides, rears), the best thing i found was to buy and use a speaker what they where intended to play for furthermore the qs8's where not designed to playback stereo music (classical or others) to get real enjoyment from a total music experience i have found the the setup differs from the Home theater one and the setup i have was the best comprimise.

GOOD LORD MAN!!
3 pairs of M80s??!!

I don't suppose you have any spare change from those purchases to help me buy a new car to replace my '86 aging Civic do ya?

well i wanted to experiment and since sold 1 pair of m80's & a vp150 to a friend and and an other friend a vp150 so that leaves me with 2 x pairs of m80's, 2 x pairs of qs8's with qss8 stands, 1 x vp150 and the klipsch 15" sub ...

and no I ain't elvis presly to give out new cars..... sorry