what is the use of 7 channel recievers? (1 Viewer)

[David_Stein]

over 6 channel ones at the current moment?

as far as movies go, there arent any true 7.1 channel formats, right? so either you are stuck using a dsp (if the reciever even has one) to try to extract 4 back/surround channels from 2 or 3 surround channels (5.1 or 6.1)or they are useless? assuming 7.1 channel formats are forthcoming, is it likely that recievers that are upgradable will get these new formats?

do SACDs or DVD-A have 7.1 channel formats? will then in the near future (hence the 7.1 inputs)? are there other pieces of equipment that make use of the full 7.1 channels?

if neither of the two above reasons are the answer, is it simply for two-zone use? im kind of doubting this because i would assume you would want 6.1 in one room and 2 channel in another, which would need 8 amplified channels.

anyways, i just had this question and the search button and google were answering it well enough for me. if this 7 amplified channels arent necessary for me (movies and very little chance of albums i listen to being released on SACD or DVD-A) i should be able to save some money.

 

[Marcel_V]

You are right that there are no true 7.1 formats. 7.1 is just 6.1 with an extra speaker for the back, so you have 2 speakers to disperse sound instead of one.

Personally I notice a much more ambient effect with the two surround backs with 7.1 instead of a single surround back with 6.1. For me the single back is too localized, it doesnt sound realistic enough. If you have a small room, you might be able to get away with 6.1, but in a full fledged room you are denying yourself if you dont go with 7.1, IMHO.

 

[David_Stein]

so will most 7.1 recievers just push the 6th channel in the soundtrack through both the 6th and 7th channel speakers? i think i would like that.

 

[Steve Schaffer]

Yes, David. The two back surround speakers are both playing the same thing-a rear center channel.

The main reason for using 2 speakers instead of one is that in some cases with only 1 the rear center sound can actually seem to shift to the front center. Using 2 rear center speakers, placed fairly close to each other minimizes this effect.