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I’ve 5 receivers in my home, and whereas they don’t seem to be all plugged in, I might definitely dig a few of the outdated ones out earlier than I ever choose up a soundbar.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 would like one thing that may use at the least seven audio system. My primary setup is 5.1.2, which implies 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 finished at present.

Due to this, I’ve a 7.1 receiver, however I might 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. Organising a real 7.1 encompass sound setup takes up quite a lot of area, and in case you have pets or young children, it may be an even 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 largest cause why I do not assume folks want a 7.1 receiver is area. Until you’ve got a devoted house theater space, having seven audio system in a lounge is a troublesome promote. Even if you happen to can disguise the wires, the audio system nonetheless take up quite a lot of area. It takes quite a lot of time to place issues collectively, and if you happen to use your receiver’s room correction software program, you need to be sure you by no means transfer these audio system round.

It is rather a lot to ask of anyone, particularly in the event that they dwell with individuals who do not worth the identical kind of issues that you simply do. For most individuals. I think about it is rather a lot 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 might 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 might be afraid of all of it mixing in collectively. If that occurred, then it might really feel like a waste of cash to have these two further audio system after I may 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 turning into a actuality. Nonetheless, that’d be the place I may 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 intervening time, I am proud of 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 might 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 just lately, and I’ve no intention of ever utilizing all these ports.

It additionally is determined by how you intend 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 could possibly get quite a lot of mileage out of seven.1 encompass sound and Dolby Atmos. Nonetheless, if you happen to principally watch motion pictures, 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 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, recommend dumping essentially 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 quite a lot 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 middle 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’ll 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 number of guidelines of thumb. If you will get a 7.1 receiver at an reasonably priced 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 once they get the urge so as to add extra audio system. However, 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.