Question:
Looking ahead to upgrading from my trusty Digitheatre DTS i'm saving my pennies for a set of those lovely Mordaunt-Short THX Select 500 series speakers and a proper amp.
I have a question Is 7.1 really worth going for above and beyond 6.1?
From what i've read, only DTS discrete (DTS ES?) offers true separate left and right rear channels. Is that correct?
I remember reading something about Dolby Digital EX having a matrixed rear left and rear right so it requires a 7.1 speaker setup also. Is that correct?
I also take it that regardless of wether the back wall channels are matrixed or discrete, both the rear speakers are wired on separate channels. i.e.
Front Left,Centre,Front Right,Sidewall left, Sidewall right, back left, back right (7) + sub (.1)
Finally, If you want to install just one rear speaker i.e. 6.1 then do you wire both the rear channels from a 7.1 amp to this speaker or do you only connect 6 channels?
Any clarification on this is greatly appreciated.
Ok, DTS-ES is 6.1 Discrete or matrixed and DD-EX is 6.1 matixed only. There is no 7.1 standard for home use at the moment.
I have a Pioneer 811S which is a 6.1 Discrete amp but can do 7.1 output by having two rear surround speakers instead of the normal one, they are mono though. It can also take a 7.1 input for future decoders which are actually 7.1
Info on DD-EX: http://www.dolby.com/ht/co_br_0110_ListenersGuideEX.html
Thanks Kryten. Nice and clear.
So basically the one more channel in a 7.1 amp is for future developments then?
Originally posted by Ron Hill
Thanks Kryten. Nice and clear.
So basically the one more channel in a 7.1 amp is for future developments then?
Basically yes. When I finally get the time I am going to write a FAQ for here on sound and video formats etc but I haven't had the time yet and have a doc for the SETI team to finish first ;)
That guide you linked to makes it clear also that the two speaker setup for the rear channel can be driven by separate amps so I suppose an intelligent 7.1 amp should do 6.1 with two rear speakers as per the Dolby recommendation.
Hi Ron
I remember discussing the Digitheatre DTS with you when you first got it, and I got one at the same time
well I upgraded about 6 months ago to 7.1 system although I only use it with 3 fronts & 3 surrounds + sub -- and the sound is just amazing, in fact A mate of mine (a Joiner) recently came to do a bit of work for me and was just gobsmacked with the sound
and its quite amusing cos he keeps bringing an assortment of his builder mates to have a Demo, my wife is not amused though but it makes me feel good when a bunch of people are praising my kit
as for the 7th speaker I hooked one up just to see if the difference was noticable,--- I cannot notice any, or hear any extra information.
Sounds good Mr. Proctor. What system did you end up getting?
I got the Denon 2802 amp and the Kef Egg package with the extra 6th speaker Panasonic SVHS VCR & Pioneer 530 DVD. and a 42" Panasonic Plasma wall mounted
and have a Sonus Soundstyle stand for the AV Gear
Couple of pics here -- not very good quality pics done with my camcorder
http://members.lycos.co.uk/chris_procter/Animations/images/ChrisPlasma9.jpg
http://members.lycos.co.uk/chris_procter/Animations/images/ChrisPlasma.jpg
Sweet setup Mr. proctor. I like your recessed media storage and absence of cable tracking. Nice. :)
Thanks Ron
I built the recessed shelves myself - as I could,nt find any that were a good fit for DVD'S at a reasonable price,
trouble is they are now full.
as for my setup I am very happy with it, some of these DVD soundtracks are just incredible with the 6.1.
we have had this Amp for about 6 months and it still brings a smile to my face
but at The end of the day, its a hell of lot of money spent so I expected it to be good
when I first got my Digitheatre DTS I remember being totally bowled over by it,
then I got this lot and I just Love the whole system - about 750watts in my average size Living room LOL
I'm happy with my display (Toshiba 36ZP) and at some point I will replace my Digitheatre DTS with something a bit snazzier. The Digi DTS has given me sterling service but I think the centre speaker is starting to lose the plot. It always was the weakest link in the system and now I think it's past its' prime. Certain frequencies make it buzz in a most "dead speaker" like manner. :/
I have a question Is 7.1 really worth going for above and beyond 6.1?
From what i've read, only DTS discrete (DTS ES?) offers true separate left and right rear channels. Is that correct?
I remember reading something about Dolby Digital EX having a matrixed rear left and rear right so it requires a 7.1 speaker setup also. Is that correct?
I also take it that regardless of wether the back wall channels are matrixed or discrete, both the rear speakers are wired on separate channels. i.e.
Front Left,Centre,Front Right,Sidewall left, Sidewall right, back left, back right (7) + sub (.1)
Finally, If you want to install just one rear speaker i.e. 6.1 then do you wire both the rear channels from a 7.1 amp to this speaker or do you only connect 6 channels?
Any clarification on this is greatly appreciated.
Answers:
Ok, DTS-ES is 6.1 Discrete or matrixed and DD-EX is 6.1 matixed only. There is no 7.1 standard for home use at the moment.
I have a Pioneer 811S which is a 6.1 Discrete amp but can do 7.1 output by having two rear surround speakers instead of the normal one, they are mono though. It can also take a 7.1 input for future decoders which are actually 7.1
Info on DD-EX: http://www.dolby.com/ht/co_br_0110_ListenersGuideEX.html
Answers:
Thanks Kryten. Nice and clear.
So basically the one more channel in a 7.1 amp is for future developments then?
Answers:
Originally posted by Ron Hill
Thanks Kryten. Nice and clear.
So basically the one more channel in a 7.1 amp is for future developments then?
Basically yes. When I finally get the time I am going to write a FAQ for here on sound and video formats etc but I haven't had the time yet and have a doc for the SETI team to finish first ;)
Answers:
That guide you linked to makes it clear also that the two speaker setup for the rear channel can be driven by separate amps so I suppose an intelligent 7.1 amp should do 6.1 with two rear speakers as per the Dolby recommendation.
Answers:
Hi Ron
I remember discussing the Digitheatre DTS with you when you first got it, and I got one at the same time
well I upgraded about 6 months ago to 7.1 system although I only use it with 3 fronts & 3 surrounds + sub -- and the sound is just amazing, in fact A mate of mine (a Joiner) recently came to do a bit of work for me and was just gobsmacked with the sound
and its quite amusing cos he keeps bringing an assortment of his builder mates to have a Demo, my wife is not amused though but it makes me feel good when a bunch of people are praising my kit
as for the 7th speaker I hooked one up just to see if the difference was noticable,--- I cannot notice any, or hear any extra information.
Answers:
Sounds good Mr. Proctor. What system did you end up getting?
Answers:
I got the Denon 2802 amp and the Kef Egg package with the extra 6th speaker Panasonic SVHS VCR & Pioneer 530 DVD. and a 42" Panasonic Plasma wall mounted
and have a Sonus Soundstyle stand for the AV Gear
Couple of pics here -- not very good quality pics done with my camcorder
http://members.lycos.co.uk/chris_procter/Animations/images/ChrisPlasma9.jpg
http://members.lycos.co.uk/chris_procter/Animations/images/ChrisPlasma.jpg
Answers:
Sweet setup Mr. proctor. I like your recessed media storage and absence of cable tracking. Nice. :)
Answers:
Thanks Ron
I built the recessed shelves myself - as I could,nt find any that were a good fit for DVD'S at a reasonable price,
trouble is they are now full.
as for my setup I am very happy with it, some of these DVD soundtracks are just incredible with the 6.1.
we have had this Amp for about 6 months and it still brings a smile to my face
but at The end of the day, its a hell of lot of money spent so I expected it to be good
when I first got my Digitheatre DTS I remember being totally bowled over by it,
then I got this lot and I just Love the whole system - about 750watts in my average size Living room LOL
Answers:
I'm happy with my display (Toshiba 36ZP) and at some point I will replace my Digitheatre DTS with something a bit snazzier. The Digi DTS has given me sterling service but I think the centre speaker is starting to lose the plot. It always was the weakest link in the system and now I think it's past its' prime. Certain frequencies make it buzz in a most "dead speaker" like manner. :/
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