Tell Us If You Use 3.1, 5.1, 7.1 9.1 system?

[Trdat]

I am fascinated to know how many people actually use a full surround system with their AV's. I am also interested to know if anyone uses their AV similar to me in which all they need is upmix to centre channel with a room correction and perhaps the use of the volume correction for loud and soft sounds as well once in a while(and of course subwoofers). I ask this as there isn't any products that fill just this range, I understand 3.1 is pointless as a selling point but how about 5.1, I can't even find any AV Pre amps with 5.1 with XLR's outputs they all start with 9.1 and ridiculously expensive. So I am really curious at least from the group of people who do have AV or AV pre amp, how do they use them and for what. I don't listen to music with the centre channel only dialogue for television and then use the AV for music listening in stereo as my main pre amp with Hypex amps.

I didn't know how to do a vote so apologise that would have worked well with this thread.

 

[Deleted member 58670]

I have a 15.2 preamp (Anthem AVM70), but only use it with a 5.1 active speaker setup, plus four speakers in the ceiling for Atmos. So seven channels are not in use.

I don’t use the preamp’s room correction, but the tone controls are used, and on rare occasions even the balance control.

For movies I like to use the DTS:X upmixer.

 

[GD Fan]

5.1 in use here, when appropriate.

2.1 most of the time.

Denon 3700 with a Rotel 1582 for the fronts.

 

[Leeken]

Movies and tv shows,4.0,denon 3200,when it dies I’ll be strictly stereo

 

[Thomas Savage]

I used a 5.1 system for awhile , used the pre outs on the AV ( denon I think ) with some quad 606 amps driving the back channels and a krell amp doing the left right and center ( krell did a 3 channel amp back then) . Canton ergo 900s for rears, fronts were some Pro Acs , both floor standing .

Using a 42-inch screen in a relatively modest sized room , I found the sound overwhelmed the screen size , just didn't make sense to me, so I scapped it in the end.

Back to stereo now but am hoping to use some powered studio monitors and multiple subs in a 5.4 or 5.2 setup in the future , using external amps again but room correction this time . Can't be bothered will more than that channel wise , don't see the point especially with all the modern signal processing these days .

I did in-between times use 3.1 .. kinda pointless as little to no native support for that .

 

[boxerfan88]

i use 5.1/5.2(w butt shakers) out of my old Yamaha 11.2 capability. Good enough for me to enjoy movie & tv show.

 

[bluefuzz]

how many people actually use a full surround system

We had a poll on this last year.

Personally, I have neither the space nor the inclination for a multichannel setup. There is very little music worth listening to that requires a surround rig and multichannel effects in movies I find actively distracting. They add neither realism nor engagement to the movie. So strictly 2.1 for me (with Dirac DRC).

 

[Palmspar]

Cinema 40 Arendal 1961 5.3.2 atmos.
The 3 subs are diy scanspeak/hypex with 5 drivers 4x12 and 1x13 inch.
2000W @4ohm

 

[Will P]

I have main room Yamaha CX-A5000 11.2ch in 6.2 configuration. All active speakers.
For 2ch music it's either in 2ch stereo or multichannel stereo. For Blu-ray material in Straight (native channels 5.1 or 7.1).

Secondary room Onkyo TX-SR3100 5.1ch with 2 virtual Atmos heights. I'm using it in external bass management in 2.2, 2.2.2 (virtual), 4.2, 4.2.2 (virtual).
Most of the time in 2.2 w/external bass management (2.0 through MiniDSP).

Every time when I play multichannel and I turn off the fronts to check the surround sound levels I've got disappointed.
Anything beyond 5.1 has diminishing returns for me. I'd rather be blasting 2.2 up to 5.3 as opposed to a less capable SPL-wise system spread out on many channels.

For 2ch music enhancements while in 2.2 I prefer external DCX2496 Wide Stereo (adjustable parameters) to open up the sound field. As a secondary choice DTS Virtual X for projecting stereo field x5 beyond listening position inside the room for casual listening.
YMMV

 

[Holmz]

I have it set up as 5.0.0, but will likely be at 5.4.2 as thing progress.

In terms 3.1, I am of the opinion that unless you have people sprawled out left to right on the sofa, then a 2.x.x, 4.x.x, or 6.x.x may be about as good.
The center channel really needs to be able to throw a smooth-wide pattern to do what it is supposed to do.
If the LF and RF are very good, then adding a so-so center may be a step backwards.

@Trdat you are not wring about XLRs, and ridiculously expensive.
And I am somewhat intrigued as to how you alter the center channel up and down.
(Maybe I need to read my manual, as it seems like it is not easy to the point of a cretain button… rather it is going into the setup as far as I can tell.)

Obviously using a center channel, and altering the dialgue up and down, discounts using a 2.x.x, 4.x.x, 6.x.x approach.

 

[SIY]

7.4, soon to be 7.4.2. Passive fronts and subs, active surrounds. Waveforming bass.

 

[Will P]

I can't even find any AV Pre amps with 5.1 with XLR's outputs they all start with 9.1 and ridiculously expensive. So I am really curious at least from the group of people who do have AV or AV pre amp, how do they use them and for what. I don't listen to music with the centre channel only dialogue for television and then use the AV for music listening in stereo as my main pre amp with Hypex amps.

Here is my post how I added XLR pre-outs to Onkyo TX-SR3100 5.1 receiver.
It's my preferred system now.
The other receiver is Yamaha CX-A5000 11.2 pre-pro XLR.

Don't let the Onkyo $249 price confuse you. It's shocking, I know.

I took it through multiple tests trying to convince myself that it was lower quality but I've got surprised, big time.
I'm listening to it right now as I type.
Here is the link to my post below:

Onkyo TX-SR3100 AVR 5.1-Channel used as XLR preamp - measurements

Hi everyone! This is my first post here. Many thanks to Amir for the hard work and detailed measurements and analysis in each review. Many thanks to the rest of the ASR community for the feedback and info provided. Onkyo TX-SR3100 It's advertised as 5.2 but in reality it is 5.1 with 2...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Juhazi]

Living room set is 5.0 with 65" QLED TV. Main speakers are diy 4-way with dsp that reach to 25Hz. Most of listening is pure 2ch music.
HT room is 5.1 with 100" projector/screen, sources Netflix and Blueray. The diy sub goes down to 15Hz. Use is minimal since kids have moved out long time ago. Option to pure 2ch for cd,, vinyl, streaming Tidal, dsp for the sub and eq.

Basically same setups for almost 20 years and no plans for updating... Both AVRs are Yamaha RX-Vxxx

 

[Blumlein 88]

5.4 setup. Actives for surrounds and subs. Passives up front.

 

[antcollinet]

Ive got 5.1.4 here in a small 3.5m x 4m room. Fairly recently added the last .4

Sound quality is excellent (IMSO), but I'm not sure how good the "height" effects are on movies. I really need to find a good demo including obvious height sounds to check it out.

 

[darth]

5.1 here for personal space, smallish room. Might move to a 5.1.2 later. Have a 2.1 for the living room.

 

[Tatr76]

5.2.2 in attic room off avr. Have amp switcher that is connected to separate system that drive front mains and subs for use of tt, cd, tape, music server, ect...

 

[Thighsofsteel]

I run a Meridian 861v8 with a Primare 35.8 amp. Dynaudio Contour 20i and 25i centre. Older Dynaudio contour SR surrounds in a 5.1 config.
Music is nearly always Meridian DSP trifield, fed from an innuos zen mini mk3 streamer. Either ripped or Qobuz.

I am so happy I can’t find it in myself to buy a newer processor with all the channels etc. But I am wary of the age and lack of manufacturer support on the 861.

 

[Bleib]

5.0. soon 6.0

 

[Oddball]

9.5.4 so lots of channels and speakers...when get to it will add two middle Atmos to finish off.