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 don’t seem to be all plugged in, I would definitely dig a few of the previous 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 at some point, however they get the job completed at present.

Due to this, I’ve a 7.1 receiver, however I’d by no means really use a 7.1 speaker setup. I take advantage of the 2 further channels to calibrate my Atmos audio system, and I believe 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 lots of house, and if in case you have pets or young children, it may be a much 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 would 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 assume folks want a 7.1 receiver is house. Until you may have a devoted house theater space, having seven audio system in a lounge is a tricky promote. Even for those who can cover the wires, the audio system nonetheless take up lots of house. It takes lots of time to place issues collectively, and for those who 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 dwell with individuals who do not worth the identical kind of issues that you just do. For most individuals. I think about it is lots 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 will be extra acutely aware of house with 5 audio system versus seven. Even for those who do have the house in your lounge, there is not any assure you will get sufficient house between your surrounds and again surrounds. I’d be afraid 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 once I might have put that cash in direction of different components of my setup.

I’ve a large open basement that I would prefer to make right into a devoted theater house in some unspecified time in the future, however I am nonetheless years and years away from that turning into a actuality. Nevertheless, that’d be the place I might match seven audio system together with Atmos audio system, but it surely’d imply I would have to purchase a receiver able to all that. In the interim, I am pleased with what I’ve, and I believe 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 tremendous with simply 5.1 if that is all I had the choice of. I grabbed another 7.1 receiver from Goodwill lately, and I’ve no intention of ever utilizing all these ports.

It additionally is determined by 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 believe you might get lots of mileage out of seven.1 encompass sound and Dolby Atmos. Nevertheless, for those who principally watch motion pictures, 7.1 won’t be the play.

Most sound comes from the entrance

Surrounds aren’t as vital

I spend most of my time utilizing my encompass sound watching motion pictures, 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 probably the most cash into these. Actually, my surrounds are a pair of Sony bookshelves that I beforehand utilized in a stereo setup. You do not are likely 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 vital, 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 assume 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 number of guidelines of thumb. If you will get a 7.1 receiver at an inexpensive value 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 switch 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 wager.