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Side speakers?

I know what they do in a 7.1 system. I know in a real movie theatre there are many side speakers to give an enveloping sound. My question: what channel is sent to side speakers when a movie is in 5.1??? What do they send to the side speakers in a real movie theatre? Is it a softened version of the L and R channel? Is is a blend of the rear and L or R channel?

I am planning to go to a 7.1 system in my HT but I am wondering what use the sides will be with 5.1 material?

Thanks
aveloguy

Showing 3 responses by eldartford

eldartford
4,262 posts
 
I think that there really are just 5 discrete channels, 6 counting the LFE. The rears are matrix-derived from the surrounds. Is this correct?
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Slappy...If the 6th channel, LFE, is being used for rear ambience, how do they do the exploding cars? All this stuff is very poorly explained.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
I still think that the best 6-channel setup for audio is the 2+2+2 scheme from Europe. High and Low Fronts, and two in the rear. No LFE channel is needed. If you want a subwoofer (or two, or three) get an electronic crossover and drive the SW from the Front signals. Actually I think that the two Highs could be the same signal, or one signal matrixed with the appropriate Low, and that would leave one channel free for Center, which I find very important. Unfortuately, no one has made recordings this way.

I suppose it will all shake down to a universal standard in about 25 years. I won't need to buy all new equipment, as I expect to be playing the harp by then.
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