7.1 is the Future

[raghumailbox]

7.1 channel incorporates all the elements of a 5.1 channel, then why do we still think of a new 5.1 AVR?

Dolby Labs made 7.1 especially for Pixar production for its latest ToyStory3. Now Dolby confirms that the future formats from Dolby would be more of 7.1 which is supported by DataSat (DTS). Then in near future we would find 5.1 getting lost and 7.1 to coming up. Hope the 7.1 stays for longer duration, like 5.1.

7.1 channel listening can add more depth to the surround especially in larger rooms.

Check the 7.1 setup diagram from Dolby.
Dolby Home Theater Speaker Placement and Setup Guide

 

[CANDUU]

how about 11.2?

RX-Z11 - RX - AV Receivers - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

 

[theironhorse]

11.2 certainly looks drooling.. however it will take time that we actually get movies in that format..

 

[kaptan]

Exactly 7.1 is going to be the future:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

 

[sdurani]

Dolby Labs made 7.1 especially for Pixar production for its latest ToyStory3.

That's true for movie theatres, but not for home audio. 7.1-channel pre-amp/processors have been around since 1986. I've been running a 7.1 set-up since 1991. At this point there are over 350 titles on Blu-ray with 7.1 sound.

Then in near future we would find 5.1 getting lost and 7.1 to coming up.

5.1 is going to remain the norm for a long time. There are relatively few movie released per year in 7.1 sound. For example, out of the hundreds of films due to be released in the US, only 9 are slated to have 7.1 soundtracks. (3 Indian films are supposed to have 7.1 sound: Dum Maro Dum, Ra.One, Don 2)

 

[kaptan]

5.1 is the base for all these 7.1 and so on.

 

[sdurani]

5.1 is the base for all these 7.1 and so on.

No. They're discrete 7.1-channel mixes.

 

[kaptan]

No. They're discrete 7.1-channel mixes.

Do we get 7.1 audio while watching a 5.1. Provided I have a 7.1 setup??

 

[sdurani]

Do we get 7.1 audio while watching a 5.1. Provided I have a 7.1 setup??

If you don't have any speakers then you won't get any audio. But what does that have to do with 5.1 being the "base" for 7.1? They're alternate speaker layouts. One isn't based on the other.

 

[just4kix]

Do we get 7.1 audio while watching a 5.1. Provided I have a 7.1 setup??

If the source stream is 5.1, you will not get 7.1 even if you have 7.1 setup at home.

 

[anuragn]

7.1 channel incorporates all the elements of a 5.1 channel, then why do we still think of a new 5.1 AVR?

...especially in larger rooms.

The answer lies in your question itself.
Most of the modern houses nowadays are flats (atleast that is the case in metros). A 7.1 channel system requires rear speakers to be positioned some distance behind the listener whereas, in the small flats, seating position is, most of times, touching the rear wall leaving no space behind the listener for placing the rear (6th & 7th) speakers.
I think, for this reason, I would not like to go for a 7.1 setup even if my AVR is 7.1.

 

[sdurani]

If the source stream is 5.1, you will not get 7.1 even if you have 7.1 setup at home.

Sure you will.

The first consumer 7.1-channel pre-amp/processor was available in 1986 from a company called Fosgate. Two years later (1988), another company (Lexicon) came out with their first consumer 7.1-channel pre-pro. Followed a few years later by Meridian.

Discrete 5.1-channel sources didn't show up till 8 years later (AC-3 on laserdisc in 1994). And 7.1-channel sources wouldn't show up until a full 20 years later (on HD DVD and Blu-ray).

What do you think people were doing with their 7.1-speaker set-ups for all those years? Waiting two decades for 7.1 sources to show up while those additional speakers sat silent? Hardly.

Just as standard def DVDs are scaled to hi-def televisions, likewise the number of channels in an audio stream can be scaled to the number of speakers in your layout. Modern receivers can do this routinely. If you have 5.1-speaker set-up, then 2-channel sources are upmixed and 7.1-channel sources are downmixed to 5.1 speakers.

 

[mridulgoel]

how about 11.2?

RX-Z11 - RX - AV Receivers - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

Don't you think it should be 12.2..???

If a room is big enough to integrate 10 Speakers, then y only one center...

Won't the vocals reduce by the time they reach the end of the room...???

And y both the subwoofers in front..??

One should be in rear...to give a class base effect...

--------------------------------------

I am not sure y the certification drawings goes like that....

But in our demo room, we have kept the subwoofer in rear, and it really rocks...

I still have to try with two centers... but our current room is quite small for 2 centers...

 

[deepakgang]

what about a room with all the walls made with speaker array, the roof and floor as well. depending on the position of the the characters in the scene, the corresponding speakers will be activated

jokes apart, I believe 7 channel and probably 9 channel would become more popular in the coming days

 

[rana_kirti]

Hi Sdurani,

I believe I read in another thread you have identical 7 speakers. I understand they provide a seamless soundstage.

I can understand for the front 3 to be identical.

Though for the surrounds side and backs did you not consider Bipoles for their more "diffuse" effects ? Or do you like/prefer the more "localized" effects of the Monopoles ?

I have read that for mutichannel music people prefer monopolies but for movies Bipoles offer better performance.

Regards,

Rana

 

[sdurani]

If a room is big enough to integrate 10 Speakers, then y only one center...

Won't the vocals reduce by the time they reach the end of the room...???

During initial calibration, all speakers are adjusted to the same level. Vocals will be just as loud (or soft) as any other channel by the time they reach the end of the room.

Dual centre speakers are a bad idea since it can result in comb filtering artifacts. That's why movie theatres, as big as they are, never EVER use more than one centre speaker.

And y both the subwoofers in front..??

One should be in rear...to give a class base effect...

Having subwoofers on opposite walls can help improve seat to seat consistency for bass. But low frequencies are non-directional, so both subwoofers can be placed up front if thats where they sound best.

 

[sdurani]

Hi Sdurani

Hi Rana. Nice seeing you on another forum. Have you done your DTS Neo:X set-up yet?

I believe I read in another thread you have identical 7 speakers. I understand they provide a seamless soundstage.

It was the easiest way to get consistent sound all the way around. So if a car drives across the soundstage from left to right, or if a plane flies overhead from front to back, the sound doesn't change.

Though for the surrounds side and backs did you not consider Bipoles for their more "diffuse" effects ? Or do you like/prefer the more "localized" effects of the Monopoles ?

Using four surround speakers gave me enough of a diffuse and enveloping surround field that I didn't find it necessary to resort to speakers that are diffuse themselves (bipoles, dipoles, etc). Most of the information in the surround channels is ambient in nature, but for the occasional directional effect, monopoles gave me better localization. In the end it comes down to personal preference: if you like the diffuse effect of bipoles, then that's what you should get.

I have read that for mutichannel music people prefer monopolies but for movies Bipoles offer better performance.

What if you're watching movies that are musicals (like every Bollywood film)? Would you be better off with movie speakers or music speakers?

Personally, I don't really make the distinction. If your system does well with music, then it will do well with movies. Sound is sound. The speakers don't know whether the source is a movie or music.

 

[spirovious]

If the source stream is 5.1, you will not get 7.1 even if you have 7.1 setup at home.

Its possible if your AVR has matrix decoder.say Yamaha 863 cant,but other AVR can make 5.1 sound as 7.1.There are few DVDs with 6.1/7.1 true surround.

Like X-men3, LOTRGS.

 

[just4kix]

Its possible if your AVR has matrix decoder.say Yamaha 863 cant,but other AVR can make 5.1 sound as 7.1.There are few DVDs with 6.1/7.1 true surround.

Like X-men3, LOTRGS.

If some AVRs convert 5.1 to 7.1, I would expect simulation. They are probably sending the same stream to side and rear surrounds.

 

[sdurani]

They are probably sending the same stream to side and rear surrounds.

No, the surround processing sends different information to the side speakers than the rear speakers. None of the surround channels are duplicated.