OK. 5.1 VS 7.1 worth getting 2 extra speakers?

[Polkie918]

Ok,....right now I have 5.1 and am happy with it however I have NEVER heard a 7.1 system......

How my room is space-wise.....it is a split level and the living room is open to the kitchen/hall/ stairs......

How I have my speakers now.... center on tv of course....2 floors next to tv...sub next to floor speaker....and then 2 rears right on the side of couch....

on a 7.1 sound would u extra 2 speakers go BEHIND me or in the middle of my setup?


who has gone from 5.1 to 7.1 and how did u like the difference?


any other info would be great thanks alot

[comfortablycurt]

The two additional speakers would go behind you. Ideally at least 3 feet behind.

Keep in mind that if you can't properly place the rear surrounds, you'd be better off with a 5.1 system.

[Polkie918]

yea it would have to go on the wall behind which is at least like 10 feet....so ill stick with 5.1

[TOOLFORLIFEFAN]

I have mine about ten feet behind my couch and it works great,I also adjusted my receiver settings to help with this distance.

[Sherardp]

I have mine about ten feet behind my couch and it works great,I also adjusted my receiver settings to help with this distance.

+1 though my distance is shorter from the 2nd row, Adjustments in the receiver should make them work very well. Go for it.

[comfortablycurt]

yea it would have to go on the wall behind which is at least like 10 feet....so ill stick with 5.1

You'd be fine with them 10 feet behind. 2-3 feet is just the recommended minimum distance.

As Tool and Sherardp said, your AVR will be able to compensate for the different distances.

[leroyjr1]

I have my seats up against my back wall and the FXI series surrounds works great.

[ckphoto]

My room would not allow for proper placement of my rear surrounds either like others have stated I compensated in the AVR. I ran some test with and without them hooked up and to my ears I would not go back to 5.1.

[Polkie918]

now the problem would be running the wires....i think it would be too much work..

[Sherardp]

now the problem would be running the wires....i think it would be too much work..

hey don't give up that easy, run cables under the carpet or along the wall and hide them. Its really worth it.

[TOOLFORLIFEFAN]

hey don't give up that easy, run cables under the carpet or along the wall and hide them. Its really worth it.


+ ONE on this, Hell i already had speaker wires ran, I ended up pulling them out and putting in blue jeans speaker wire. I love doing this stuff.