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Why 7.1 Surround Sound is Overkill For Most Homes

RX8 writes "Home Theater expert Mark Fleischmann explains why you should not fall for the 7.1 hype and why 5.1 surround sound is adequate for most homes. From the article: 'With the marketing of 6.1 and 7.1 surround, the industry has decisively outwitted itself. It has convinced many consumers to buy new receivers and more speakers. But it has also undermined the 5.1-channel standard, which is more appropriate for the home, slowing the acceptance of surround sound in general.'"

9 of 408 comments (clear)

  1. 2 ears, 2 speakers by deprecated · · Score: 3, Funny

    That is the Law. Are we not men?

    1. Re:2 ears, 2 speakers by semiotec · · Score: 2, Funny

      stereo? Bah! Real men listen in mono! I am currently perfercting a technique where I use my tongue to sense the vibration in the air. Hmm... taste that Britney Spears...

    2. Re:2 ears, 2 speakers by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 2, Funny

      Next thing you know, they'll be telling us "5 blade" razors are stupid, too!

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  2. Why 5.1 and not 2? by Vo0k · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well, movies, music, such stuff where quality matters, if you're a connesseur you may want 5.1 or even 7.1. But 5.1 may mean difference between being alive and dead, and you NEED it in certain case.
    Friend's tale. He's the 1337, I'm just a n00b so it doesn't matter in my case. UT deathmatch. He bought his new 5.1 and configured it correctly. Some tunnel deep underground. And then he hears, left-behind, the sound of a Ripper, that deadly spinning disk that upon hitting your neck cuts your head off, granting the opponent an instant frag and counting as headshot. "Duck" and the ripper zooms over his head. Fast turn and a rocket into the enemy's face. One frag less for the opponent, one more for him, one 1337 tale more to tell, one more deathmatch won in total... Thanks to 5.1.

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  3. Summarized for Your Convenience by thib_gc · · Score: 2, Funny

    Summarized for Your Convenience: "Why 7.1 Surround Sound is Overkill For Most Homes: because seven plus one is eight, which is a lot." Thib ;-)

  4. Re:stereo anyone by jiushao · · Score: 2, Funny
    I suspect that most other people would be happy with a sub $6000 5:1 system from their local electrical outlet or nothing at all.



    Do you see what you are saying here? A $6000 system, do you want people to live like animals? You are what is wrong with the world today, denying the common folk the very basics of civilized living.

  5. Re:The Real Sound by Hast · · Score: 2, Funny
  6. Re:It's all canned sound by Skater · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes, but it's not really practical to drag Queensryche over to my house every time I want to hear "One More Time".

  7. I don't know about you but... by brunes69 · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... I find it hard to conceentrate on the TV while moving my head all around the room.