5.1 or 7.1 Speakers?

[PAPPA3]

Following where the last post regarding surround sound ended:

Anyone have ideas  of whether it's worth the while going for a 7.1 set up, or if it's better to just stick to a 5.1?  I'm going to buy surround speakers this weekend, and don't want to waste money buying 4 sattellites to add to my 2 main speakers and centre (4 satelites + 2 main + 1 centre = 7).  I can get a set of four Quad lites as satellites.  Or I can just buy two Quad lites, and save some money.  I'm using a cheap centre, but one that works very well. 

I have a Yamaha RX-V1900 7.1 amp, so power is no problem.  My listening position is right at the back of the room (can't do anything about that).  This means that the rear surrounds are about 1.5m-2m from my ear.  The Left & Right surrounds would be about half-way through the room, about 3-4m from the listeing position, and the front main speakers are about 6-7 metres from the listening position. 

I'm not sure if a 7.1 will be significantly better than a 5.1 and if it will be worthwhile going through the extra expense.  I'm also concerned that the rear surrounds may be too loud.  In which case I will turn them down, but then of course, why pay for speakers that are hardly turned on?

Anyone with a similar dilemma, please post advice.  Thanks

[dotVIBE]

Have a look at this thread, if it answers any of your questions:

http://www.avforums.co.za/index.php/topic,4700.0.html

[PAPPA3]

OK, I'm not crazy, replying to my own post here.  Just checked out:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/talk-backs/dont-get-stampeded-by-the-71-parade/

This suggests that since my listening positing is so close to the back of the room, I can't really use rear surrounds to good effect.  The normal surrounds should do well.  I may just scout a cheap set of surrounds to hook up as rear surrounds in the future.  Based on my room's layout, with the listening position being so close to the back.  It doesn't make much sense buying an extra set of reasonably expensive surround speakers if they'll hardly come into their own.  Cheapies for ambient sound at this stage should be fine.  The Yamaha also has ProLogicZ which allows for front height speakers.  A nice touch if I can hold of a few cheap surrounds.  

Right now I'm planning to keep my Quad 11L2s for the mains, Quad lites for the surrounds, cheapies for the rear surrounds, and I need to get a better centre.  Makes more sense to invest in a good centre than in expensive rear surrounds.

Anyone have a compatible centre at a good price?

[Robert_E]

If you calibrate all the speakers with an SPL meter then you shouldn't worry about the rears being too loud.

5.1 is great. Think I've got 1 blu-ray that's 6.1 channels the rest are all 5.1.  I'm using Dipole/Bipole surrounds placed 90 degrees to the sides of the listening position slightly above ear level and the surround effect in movies is great. In fact I've never once thought that I'm missing some rear speakers. When sound pans around the back you get the full effect with 5.1.

That said my theater is in a tiny floor space and some extra rears might help in a large area.  

[PAPPA3]

Hi dotVIBE

Seems that for me anyway, 7.1 will be needless expense.  The matter's settled.  Appreciate the input.  Now I have to go hunting a good centre, compatible with Quad 11L2's and Quad lites. 

[PAPPA3]

Hi Robert_E

Since I'm going to get a decent pair of surrounds this weekend, and focus on a 5.1 set-up, would you suggest dipoles as opposed to normal satellite-type.  have you noticed the dipoles make a significant difference?

[Robert_E]

I've got the Dipoles standing on top of my Diamond 9.1 surrounds and I do prefer the wide sound field of the dipoles in movies.