5.1 vs 7.1

Very good information from all. I am trying to figure out why than electronic businesses would make a 7.1 receivers or processors and 7.1 multi-channel amps if there are no DVDs made for a 7.1 configuration.

You ever notice when you sit in a movie theater and don't really hear all the surround speakers working in 7.1 configuration. The transition on the surround speakers just move very smoothly at all. I just hear sound coming out but it does not match what I seeing on the big screen. I just hear mainly on the front of the stage.

The smoothness you hear is the result of the extra speakers - effectively as an effect through some part of the room, each "move" is a smaller increment so the change of speaker location is not as pronounced.

Very often those speakers are not used for panning effects but to provide extra ambience - you are inside a sub - you don't really notice it but it colors your impression. Just as a subwoofer does when its not thumping away doing dinosaurs and bombs.

AVR makers are producing 7.1 in anticpation of future Blu Ray Disc 7.1 production. So far, there are only about 25 BDs w/ 7.1 and about 10 HD-DVD (and there won't be anymore of those).

If BDs really catch on as a consumer preference over SDVD (so far, they have not), I believe eventually all BDs will be 7.1.

Just because there isnt technically 7.1 material doesnt mean you wont benefit from its use, in a larger room the extra speakers and matrixed info does make for a better and more exciting experience. What size room has more to say about the proper choice than anything listed here so far IMO. I have 2 surround systems, 5.1 works best in living room but 7.1 works best in my man cave, its all about size.

>I was wondering if there is a huge difference between using a 5.1 or a 7.1 speaker system?

If you're not using dipole side surrounds and have processing (like Lexicon Logic 7) which intelligently routes the surround channels from 5.1 and Dolby Surround mixes, it's a quantum improvement in immersion. Not quite as significant as going from a good stereo pair with a Dolby Surround track (or down-mix) which extends out nearly 180 degrees to 5.1 but still substantial.

Simple Dolby Digital THX-EX or DTS-ES isn't that interesting. A few sound tracks put a few effects right behind you.

Dipole side surrouns get most of the way there except for the THX-EX/DTS-ES tricks.