If I have a 7.1 system, I'm bitstreaming and a BluRay is a 5.1 soundtrack (DTS MAster or Dolby True) will my AVR take advantage of the rear surrounds or will they be "silent"?

Thanks

Jeff

Jeff, it depends on what listening mode you select. If you use a mode such as DPLIIx which processes the side surround channels to extract material in the two channels which is nearly equal in level(which should be imaged in back)and sends it to the back surround speakers, they'll have some content to play.