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 previous ones out earlier than I ever decide 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 a minimum of seven audio system. My principal setup is 5.1.2, which suggests I’ve the 5 common audio system after which two peak audio system for Atmos. I ought to actually get round to upgrading my Atmos audio system someday, however they get the job completed 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 take advantage of 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. Establishing a real 7.1 encompass sound setup takes up numerous area, and when you have pets or babies, it may be an even bigger burden than you’d anticipate.

Let’s take Atmos out of the equation for a second and faux I solely have the selection of 5.1 or 7.1 audio. In that situation, 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 largest cause why I do not suppose folks want a 7.1 receiver is area. Except you’ve gotten a devoted residence theater space, having seven audio system in a front room is a tricky promote. Even should you can cover the wires, the audio system nonetheless take up numerous area. It takes numerous time to place issues collectively, and should you use your receiver’s room correction software program, it’s important to ensure you by no means transfer these audio system round.

It is rather a lot to ask of any individual, particularly in the event that they stay with individuals who do not worth the identical type of issues that you just do. For most individuals. I think about it is rather a lot 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 could be extra acutely aware of area with 5 audio system versus seven. Even should you do have the area in your front room, there is not any assure you may get sufficient area between your surrounds and again surrounds. I’d be afraid of all of it mixing in collectively. If that occurred, then it will really feel like a waste of cash to have these two further audio system once I might have put that cash in the 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 in some unspecified time in the future, however I am nonetheless years and years away from that turning into a actuality. Nonetheless, 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 state of affairs. 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 depends 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 can get numerous mileage out of seven.1 encompass sound and Dolby Atmos. Nonetheless, should you largely watch films, 7.1 may not 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 films, and that is the place 5.1 can shine. Crucial audio system in your encompass sound setup are your three entrance ones. Many individuals, myself included, counsel dumping essentially the most cash into these. In reality, my surrounds are a pair of Sony bookshelves that I beforehand utilized in a stereo setup. You do not are likely to get numerous 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 middle 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 really transformative expertise.

Now, there are a couple of guidelines of thumb. If you will 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 street after 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 haven’t any plans to improve, that is a greater guess.