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

[drodgers]

5.1.2 (which also perfectly matches my AVRs capability). I use 2.1 for dedicated music listening (airplay/vinyl), and generally use Dolby upmixing of non-atmos content to 5.1.2 when using a mac mini as a media center PC.

 

[Trdat]

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.

Well the centre channel is just for me or the person next to me. I have come to like my centre channel it took a while but now I am convinced a good centre channel is better than phantom centre subjectively speaking of course. And I don't watch movies I am watching youtube content or television series on ITV or BBC or random channels.

@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.

Sorry what do you mean by alter?

(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.

My apologise, lost the meaning of this sentence....

 

[Trdat]

So it seems that although there are a handful people who utillize more than 5.1 the majority have unique reasons on their use base of 5.1 or less, not too disimilar to how I use mine. So, how come there are no options for a simple affordable AV that has Dirac, 5.1, XLR outputs, and a variety of Dolby upmixes, and preferably some type of Audyssey Dynamic volume? A product like this might make large profits if it were affordable and well measuring.


For the lack of the better term an AV is used for convenience but there packed with so many pointless features when the majority are not using them.

The Parasound(although 120volt) has XLR outputs but it doesnt have any USB or optical input but that can be fixed with a digital to digital converter however no upmixing so what the point...?

 

[Ultrasonic]

For music it's 2.0 for me: I use a subwoofer but it's integrated with my main speakers as if they're full range. (Some may call this 2.1 but to me this implies a seperate LFE channel which is not present on stereo recordings.) There is no AVR in the signal path for this system.

For movies, 5.1. I use a Marantz Cinema 70s and send the pre-outs for the front left and right to my stereo setup.

 

[Alexanderc]

It has been interesting reading these responses.

For me, movies and TV is 5.1. I used to have a 5.1.2 system that I thought added a lot to the experience, but my new home doesn't accommodate the ceiling speakers.

All my serious music listening is in another space and either 2.1 or 2.0.

 

[DrStranger]

Planing for 3.0

 

[a2Thompson]

I might be an oddball here. My main music listening in the room I spend almost all my time in is the kitchen/dining/living room. Not super huge (30’x12’x10’h) but I’ve got a 6.1 system that I actively switch the DSP to make one of like 4 typical locations ideal in terms of delays and balance and eq below 300 hz. All music, no screen.

Then in my family room (12’x14’x10’h) with a drop-down screen and projector I run a 2.2 system. I keep thinking I should find a way to add channels, but I’m really not sure if that is gonna make it much better. Movies are already so amazing sounding.

 

[Rottmannash]

5.1.2 RZ50 but can switch to dedicated 2 ch for stereo listening via the recently reviewed BobWire XLR1. Almost never listen to music multichannel (unless it's Apple Atmos tracks) but all tv/movie is 5.1.2, 2 subs and DL always on.

 

[MatrixS2000]

2.1 for music
7.2.4 for home theatre
separate rooms for each

 

[jhaider]

7.1(3).4 in the main system, Dirac Live Bass Control. Primary foreground use is music (Atmos native or basic 2 channel unmixed with Auro), outside of NFL season at least. Background use is TV, or movies for the kids.

The other room with a TV is 2.1(2), RoomPerfect.

 

[Titurel]

Capable of 5.2, optimized for 2 or 1.

 

[GD Fan]

Interesting to read that people are using a mix of passive and actives in the same system. Guess that kind of answers my lingering question about the advisability of adding an external class D to power the rears and center while the fronts are driven by a class AB.

 

[EasyC]

5.2.4, small room, Kef and SVS, Denon 3800, calibrated with the excellent Evo1 Neuron by OCA. Also used for stereo.

 

[Golfx]

My system is in my signature. I listen to most music using auromatic upmixer presenting a nice front wall of sound.

 

[Aventador_SVJ]

5.1 in main room, 2.1 everywhere else. DIRAC in all rooms.

 

[mtbdudex]

HT 1.0 in basement was "done" 2009-ish as 7.1 full Paradigm with a RH IB 4 x 15" line array, 2 rows with 4 seats each; 18.5 ft long , 14.5 ft wide, 8.75 ft tall, 2300 cubic ft. 130” scope screen filled via Sony VW-60 and panamorph UH 480 a-lens, 4308CI AVR.



HT 1.5 2011-2012 evolved into 11.2 via front heights and front wides with 4520CI, 18"/15" sealed subs in MSO & acoustic panels and deep dive into REW for acoustic treatment placements.

Trivia; what 1 movie was released on Blu-ray that took advantage of discrete front heights / wides then?



HT 2.0 2015 added solid core door 48” wide full sealed and acoustic art covers to the panels. Prior had 6ft opening to adjacent game room with just curtains. Definitely having a sealed room is game changing for acoustics, soundproofing, and LFE.

HT 2.5 2017 - 2018 8500H enabled Atmos 9.2.4 or 7.2.6, pj to JVC RS400, went AT screen 138” with full DIYSG HTM-12's as LCR behind, with HTM-8's as side / rear surrounds and front / rear heights, Volt-10 as top mids, front wides HTM-6 built into side walls.



Early 2022 pj went to JVC NX7.

3 kids tightly aged kept the HT tweaking kinda minimal, we just enjoyed it.

Now my kiddos; oldest daughter graduated college & working on her own, middle son a junior at MTU, youngest son a new USA Marine.

So - now dad hobby time is back



Now as part of HT 3.0 got the Denon A1H Nov-2024, so at 9.3.6, and decided to tackle balancing my RH side IB line array with a LH side dual sealed 18" box from GSG.

I bought two 18" UM18's way back in 2018 and never got around to it ..surely some of you have done same , buy and life get busy.

 

[Holmz]

…
Sorry what do you mean by alter?

Turning it up and down in volume.

My apologise, lost the meaning of this sentence....

It means that obviously one needs a center channel to be able to turn the center channel up and down in volume.

 

[Thomas Savage]

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

That's what I was wanting . Just makes sense especially in my modest European ( sorry , post brexit, Elungy) space .

 

[Martin]

7.2.0 for video, 2.0 for audio.

Martin

 

[Clmrt]

5.2 up, 5.1 down.