My HT room is approximately 13' x 19' x 9.5'. I originally had a 5.1 set up, and used two side speakers (tripoles) and no rears. I then expanded to a 7.1 set up by adding two (monpole) rear speakers. For me, the improvement in sourround envelopment with 7.1 was significant, so much so that I will never go back to 5.1.
I listen to everything in 7.1, independent of source. I use Logic 7 in a Lexicon MC-12 to generate 7.1 outputs from any source.
Recommend you search through AVS Forums for posts by Sanjay. He has articulated several times why a 5.1 set up (whether that means sides and no rears, or rears and no sides) cannot give the same surround envelopment as a 7.1 system.
Thanks
Bruce
I listen to everything in 7.1, independent of source. I use Logic 7 in a Lexicon MC-12 to generate 7.1 outputs from any source.
Recommend you search through AVS Forums for posts by Sanjay. He has articulated several times why a 5.1 set up (whether that means sides and no rears, or rears and no sides) cannot give the same surround envelopment as a 7.1 system.
Thanks
Bruce