Eric_E
Supporting Actor
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2002
- Messages
- 512
I had pretty much made up my mind about what kind of equipment I was going to purchase for my first home theater, but a visit to my local dealer yesterday left me more confused than ever.
My confusion stems from my inability to understand the various surround sound formats, and what kind of equipment is needed for each format. I thought I had my mind made up on purchasing a 7.1 speaker system (the original plan was for Paradigm Monitor 7's, CC-370, and two pairs of Atoms). But when I talked to my dealer yesterday, he advised against going 7.1 right now.
I was surprised, mostly because I thought since he is a salesman he would try to push the most merchandise possible on me. I don't know if he was trying to get me to buy a receiver there as well - he recommended a NAD T752, which as far as I know has only five channels of amplification, so maybe that was part of the sales push (trying to convince me I didn't need a 7.1 receiver).
Anyway, I am really confused now about everything, and I am questioning my need for 7.1, with the complete lack of 7.1 discrete source material right now. So, if you have a 7.1 capable receiver, with 6.1 source material, it sends the same signal to the two rear speakers? Is this all a 7.1 system can do right now?
I realize that there's no such thing as future-proofing a system, and inevitably everybody eventually wants to upgrade, but will today's 7.1 receivers even be able to handle 7.1 discrete material if and when it becomes available? Or are we going to be forced to upgrade yet again?
Finally, I am confused about receivers such as the T752 - if there are only five channels of amplification, does that mean you would have to add a two-channel amp later to go 7.1? And would the receiver even be usable with the different surround formats coming down the road? I'm so lost!
Thanks for your help, and patience.
P.S. The receivers I'm considering most seriously right now are the HK 525 and the Denon 2803.
My confusion stems from my inability to understand the various surround sound formats, and what kind of equipment is needed for each format. I thought I had my mind made up on purchasing a 7.1 speaker system (the original plan was for Paradigm Monitor 7's, CC-370, and two pairs of Atoms). But when I talked to my dealer yesterday, he advised against going 7.1 right now.
I was surprised, mostly because I thought since he is a salesman he would try to push the most merchandise possible on me. I don't know if he was trying to get me to buy a receiver there as well - he recommended a NAD T752, which as far as I know has only five channels of amplification, so maybe that was part of the sales push (trying to convince me I didn't need a 7.1 receiver).
Anyway, I am really confused now about everything, and I am questioning my need for 7.1, with the complete lack of 7.1 discrete source material right now. So, if you have a 7.1 capable receiver, with 6.1 source material, it sends the same signal to the two rear speakers? Is this all a 7.1 system can do right now?
I realize that there's no such thing as future-proofing a system, and inevitably everybody eventually wants to upgrade, but will today's 7.1 receivers even be able to handle 7.1 discrete material if and when it becomes available? Or are we going to be forced to upgrade yet again?
Finally, I am confused about receivers such as the T752 - if there are only five channels of amplification, does that mean you would have to add a two-channel amp later to go 7.1? And would the receiver even be usable with the different surround formats coming down the road? I'm so lost!
Thanks for your help, and patience.
P.S. The receivers I'm considering most seriously right now are the HK 525 and the Denon 2803.