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

I take my residence audio very significantly. I imply, I’ve 5 receivers in my home, and whereas they don’t seem to be all plugged in, I might definitely dig a few of the outdated ones out earlier than I ever choose up a soundbar.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 want one thing that may use at the least seven audio system. My foremost setup is 5.1.2, which suggests 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 someday, however they get the job executed at present.

Due to this, I’ve a 7.1 receiver, however I’d by no means truly use a 7.1 speaker setup. I take advantage of the 2 additional 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 lots of area, and when you’ve got pets or babies, it may be a much bigger burden than you’d count on.

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 state of affairs, I might nonetheless take 5.1. It’d sound loopy, however I can clarify.

I merely cannot match all these audio system in my room

Room constraints are actual

The most important motive why I do not suppose individuals want a 7.1 receiver is area. Until you’ve got a devoted residence theater space, having seven audio system in a lounge is a tricky promote. Even should you can cover the wires, the audio system nonetheless take up lots of area. It takes lots of time to place issues collectively, and should you use your receiver’s room correction software program, you need to ensure you by no means transfer these audio system round.

It is lots 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 lots simpler to only 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 could be extra acutely aware of area with 5 audio system versus seven. Even should you do have the area in your lounge, there is no 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 might really feel like a waste of cash to have these two additional audio system after I might have put that cash in direction of different components 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. Nonetheless, that’d be the place I might match seven audio system together with Atmos audio system, however it’d imply I might have to purchase a receiver able to all that. In the meanwhile, 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 additional spots for them — I’d be simply high-quality 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 depends upon how you propose to make use of your audio system. Enjoying video video games is an excellent use of surround sound, and that is an space the place I feel you would get lots of mileage out of seven.1 encompass sound and Dolby Atmos. Nonetheless, should you principally 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. A very powerful audio system in your encompass sound setup are your three entrance ones. Many individuals, myself included, counsel dumping probably the most cash into these. In truth, my surrounds are a pair of Sony bookshelves that I beforehand utilized in a stereo setup. You do not are inclined to get lots of motion from these audio system, so you do not have to interrupt the financial institution on them. That is to not say they don’t seem to be 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 a substitute of a very transformative expertise.

Now, there are a couple of guidelines of thumb. If you may get a 7.1 receiver at an inexpensive worth and plan to finally add these audio system or use these two additional spots for Atmos, then go for it. I do not need anyone to purchase a 5.1 receiver with no improve path, solely to interchange it down the street after they get the urge so as to add extra audio system. Alternatively, 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.