I do not want a 7.1 receiver, and neither do you

I take my dwelling 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I’ve 5 receivers in my home, and whereas they don’t seem to be all plugged in, I might definitely dig a number of the outdated ones out earlier than I ever decide up a soundbar. Now, a few of them are extra feature-rich than others. I am a giant Dolby Atmos fan, so I would like one thing that may use at the least seven audio system. My essential setup is 5.1.2, which suggests 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 accomplished at the moment.

Due to this, I’ve a 7.1 receiver, however I might 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 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 numerous house, and you probably 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 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 most important motive why I do not suppose folks want a 7.1 receiver is house. Until you may have a devoted dwelling theater space, having seven audio system in a lounge is a tricky promote. Even when you can conceal the wires, the audio system nonetheless take up numerous house. It takes numerous time to place issues collectively, and when you use your receiver’s room correction software program, it’s important to be sure you by no means transfer these audio system round.

It is quite a bit to ask of someone, particularly in the event that they reside with individuals who do not worth the identical type of issues that you simply do. For most individuals. I think about it is quite a bit 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 may be extra aware of house with 5 audio system versus seven. Even when you do have the house in your lounge, there is no assure you will get sufficient house between your surrounds and again surrounds. I might be terrified 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 the direction of different components of my setup.

I’ve a large open basement that I might wish 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 changing into a actuality. Nonetheless, that’d be the place I might match seven audio system together with Atmos audio system, nevertheless it’d imply I might have to purchase a receiver able to all that. In the meanwhile, I am pleased with 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 positive 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 relies on how you propose 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 might get numerous mileage out of seven.1 encompass sound and Dolby Atmos. Nonetheless, when you principally watch films, 7.1 may not be the play.

Most sound comes from the entrance

Surrounds aren’t as essential

I spend most of my time utilizing my encompass sound watching films, and that is the place 5.1 can shine. A very powerful 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 likely to get numerous 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 essential, 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 suppose 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 a substitute of a very transformative expertise.

Now, there are just a few 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 after 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 haven’t any plans to improve, that is a greater guess.