I do not want a 7.1 receiver, and neither do you

I take my house audio very severely. I imply, I’ve 5 receivers in my home, and whereas they are not all plugged in, I might definitely dig a number of the outdated ones out earlier than I ever choose up a soundbar. Now, a few of them are extra feature-rich than others. I am an enormous Dolby Atmos fan, so I would like one thing that may use not less than seven audio system. My fundamental setup is 5.1.2, which implies I’ve the 5 common audio system after which two top audio system for Atmos. I ought to actually get round to upgrading my Atmos audio system sooner or later, however they get the job carried out at the moment.

Due to this, I’ve a 7.1 receiver, however I’d by no means truly use a 7.1 speaker setup. I exploit the 2 further channels to calibrate my Atmos audio system, and I feel most individuals would get much more mileage by taking that route over a 7.1 system. Organising a real 7.1 encompass sound setup takes up a variety of area, and when you’ve got pets or young children, it may be an even bigger burden than you’d anticipate.

Let’s take Atmos out of the equation for a second and fake I solely have the selection of 5.1 or 7.1 audio. In that situation, I might nonetheless take 5.1. It would sound loopy, however I can clarify.

I merely cannot match all these audio system in my room

Room constraints are actual

The most important cause why I do not suppose folks want a 7.1 receiver is area. Except you could have a devoted house theater space, having seven audio system in a lounge is a tricky promote. Even if you happen to can disguise the wires, the audio system nonetheless take up a variety of area. It takes a variety of time to place issues collectively, and if you happen to use your receiver’s room correction software program, it’s a must to ensure you by no means transfer these audio system round.

It is quite a bit to ask of anyone, particularly in the event that they stay with individuals who do not worth the identical form of issues that you just do. For most individuals. I think about it is quite a bit simpler to simply plug in a soundbar and name it a day. A 5.1 encompass sound system is not precisely a center floor for that, however you may be extra acutely aware of area with 5 audio system versus seven. Even if you happen to do have the area in your lounge, there is not any assure you will get sufficient area between your surrounds and again surrounds. I’d be terrified of all of it mixing in collectively. If that occurred, then it could really feel like a waste of cash to have these two further audio system after I might have put that cash in direction of different elements of my setup.

I’ve a large open basement that I might wish to make right into a devoted theater area sooner or later, however I am nonetheless years and years away from that changing into a actuality. Nevertheless, that’d be the place I might match seven audio system together with Atmos audio system, nevertheless it’d imply I might have to purchase a receiver able to all that. In the intervening time, I am pleased with what I’ve, and I feel many individuals discover themselves in the identical scenario. I solely added the Atmos audio system as a result of I had the 2 further spots for them — I’d be simply fantastic with simply 5.1 if that is all I had the choice of. I grabbed another 7.1 receiver from Goodwill not too long ago, and I’ve no intention of ever utilizing all these ports.

It additionally is dependent upon how you propose to make use of your audio system. Taking part in video video games is an excellent use of surround sound, and that is an space the place I feel you might get a variety of mileage out of seven.1 encompass sound and Dolby Atmos. Nevertheless, if you happen to largely watch motion pictures, 7.1 won’t be the play.

Most sound comes from the entrance

Surrounds aren’t as necessary

I spend most of my time utilizing my encompass sound watching motion pictures, and that is the place 5.1 can shine. An important audio system in your encompass sound setup are your three entrance ones. Many individuals, myself included, counsel dumping essentially the most cash into these. The truth is, my surrounds are a pair of Sony bookshelves that I beforehand utilized in a stereo setup. You do not are inclined to get a variety of motion from these audio system, so you do not have to interrupt the financial institution on them. That is to not say they are not necessary, however they definitely do not get as a lot use as one thing like your heart speaker.

I am not saying you would not get worth with a 7.1 system, however I do not suppose you would be as blown away going to that from 5.1 as you’d be going from stereo to five.1. It acts extra as an enhancement of what you already like as an alternative of a very transformative expertise.

Now, there are a couple of guidelines of thumb. If you may get a 7.1 receiver at an reasonably priced worth and plan to ultimately add these audio system or use these two further spots for Atmos, then go for it. I do not need anyone to purchase a 5.1 receiver with no improve path, solely to exchange it down the highway once they get the urge so as to add extra audio system. Then again, if it can save you a pair hundred {dollars} by getting a 5.1 receiver, and you don’t have any plans to improve, that is a greater wager.