9.1 vs 7.1

[DrWho]

Don't some of the higher end yamaha recievers have a front effects channel? I suppose that would make for a matrixed 9.1 system. The guys on the forum that have them claim it makes a world of difference and they'll never go back.

Btw, 6.1 is the largest format available (so there is no discrete 7.1 material).

[sfogg]

"Don't some of the higher end yamaha recievers have a front effects channel?"

That is true some do. Does that work on top of their 7 channel processing?

"6.1 is the largest format available (so there is no discrete 7.1 material)."

In the home that is true, in the theater that isn't. DTS ES Discrete 6.1 isn't exactly all that discrete since the sixth channel is also duplicated in the L/R surrounds for backwards compatibility with regular DTS decoders.

The upcoming Dolby Digital + can support 7.1 discrete (and more) channels.

Shawn

[efzauner]

Attached is an interesting article that talks about past, present and future of surround sound. Included is talk of a hight channel in 9.1

Enjoy

WR_Surround Nov2004.pdf

[Zen Traveler]

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On 8/26/2005 8:58:00 AM DrWho wrote:

Btw, 6.1 is the largest format available (so there is no discrete 7.1 material).

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Understood. I guess I should clarify. I have a 6.1 system in a 9.2 configuration.

[thxsubwoofers]

In my opinion I would go with a 10.1 instead of a 9.1 system.

[sunburnwilly]

Anybody remember those old cone shaped chairs with the speakers built in . Maybe we should bring those back .

[TheEAR]

9.1...[:$]

All one needs is two mains(RF7's)a good center(RC7),two side sourrounds(RF5's) and two rear sourrounds(RF7's)and a few good subwoofers to handle the deep sea bass. []

I have a 7.1(6)configuration and its all good.No need for extra channels,unless maybe a la Yamaha front effects(heh I have spare RB5's).

[blake_mooney]

9.1? Where have you been? I'm already using 15.2 DTS Ultra THX4 surround sound with 50,000 watts driving them and two 24" subwoofers. Seriously though man, can you say "overkill"?

[edwinr]

I ditched multi channel last year. The format war and the continuing battle by surround receiver manufacturers to get one over the other has burned me. Two channel home theatre suits me just fine.

[NICKG]

IMHO I really don't think it's overkill. I do have a high end Yamaha amp with the extra channels. The additional speakers are a "presence" pair that are situated ideally forward of the front and to the side, like "forward side surround" and a "Rear Surround" pair. With the right effect going, depending on the source, you truly get a sort of smooth circular transition between all the speakers, and there are different sounds from each of the "channels". Or at least it appears to be that way. I'm not sure what it involves, it may just be some fancy phase/frequency shifting going on, but you should hear "that sound" from Law and Order cycling through all the speakers!

As far as the expense, well that's gonna depend on what speakers you get. The reason I bought the Yahama is it came with that nice little microphone you place where your head is gonna be and hit set up and it automatically adjusts all the speakers for optimum convergence based on size and distance.