7.1 vs 5.1 vs 2.1

Out of context: Reply #4

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  • luckyorphan0

    As d_rek said, it's all about the source.

    Most DVD movies (even blu-ray) are still not mixed with 7.1 sound, so for now, owning a 7.1 system is kind of a hope for better materials that are due to come out (much like the current 3D TV craze).

    It all depends on how big of an audiophile you are trying to be. Most untrained listeners can't hear the difference between a solid 5.1 and a 7.1 mix, even if they sit through blind testing (as we do at my company all the time). But if you're really training your ears to hear the difference, it's pretty great.

    Just make sure that in the end, when you output a 5.1 mix on your 7.1 system, you change the setting on your receiver to accommodate such a shift.

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