Soundstorm with 7.1 speakers or go with 5.1?

[wannaoc]

I now its only a 5.1 chip but I was reading on the Creative website that that the speakers have something called "upmix" which will make them work as 7.1 even on a 5.1 system.

I am currently on an old Altec Lansing 4.1 speaker system but want to upgrade. Should I just keep with a 5.1 or go for the 7.1? Either way they will be connected to an NF7-S.

BTW I was looking at Creative T7700 7.1 and I'm not sure of 5.1 so some help there would be great too. :) I don't want to go over $150.00US though.

[wannaoc]

Did some more looking and maybe the Logitech Z-640 as 5.1 speakers if I go that way.

[ptwearnhardtfan]

Check out the Logitech Z5300. 280 watts, and they sound great. I got 'em from Amazon.com for $147. Much better than the Z-640s.

[wannaoc]

Those are nice, THX and all. Well for 5.1 those would be my choice I guess but what about 7.1?

[CrashOveride]

I would go with 5.1, they are probably better quality for the same price and you almost deffinatly won't run into any problems.

[ptwearnhardtfan]

For some DECENT 7.1s, you're gonna pay a hefty price.

[Evnas]

I would go with 5.1 simply because 7.1 in still the "new" thing, and you pay a premium for that. If you have the cash and are willing to shell it out, then by all means grab a 7.1 though

[IceMan3928]

ok, forgive the dumb question, but i understand 5.1, and 6.1, but where the heck does the 7th speaker go??

[wannaoc]

7.1 loses the rear center but adds a side speaker on both sides. It gives a more full circle sound imo. The problem I have found is that only a couple high ends support it. :(

[IceMan3928]

have Dolby and DTS even come out with an encoding to support 7.1 yet?

[james.miller]

nope. Highest numbner of "true" channels used in a "home" format is still 6.1.


Its better to get a decent set of 5.1's than a sub-par set of 7.1's. it always is. In my opinion, anything over 6.1 is a waste.

[madcow235]

THX does 9.1 i think, when i was home theater shopping a while ago a few brands had that option. I think it was just heavy heavy up mixing, all the recievers were in the 2k range :eek:

[james.miller]

it is. the true highest number of fully-discreat channels is still 6.1. DD and DTS are the standards that cary the audio on the dvd. THX is just a method of processing that audio.

[Lord_Vyper]

I just got Creative's T7700 7.1 speakers to go with my ABit NF7-S rev 2 mobo, and I've had nothing but random inexplicable problems. Currently I don't have a 7.1 system... more like a 5.3, since both the right rear and right side speakers seem to think they're subs. Ah well, anyone got some ideas on what could be the problem? Since you'll ask, I have the latest soundstorm drivers from Nvidia, and the speakers are set to upmix 5.1 to 7.1

[CrashOveride]

Man, maybe they should come out with 360.5 to make sure you get a full circle of sound :rolleyes:

Can you honestly tell the differnce btwn 5.1 and 7.1? Much less 6.1 and 7.1? Imax movie theaters don't even use 7.1... and they have big budgets :p (then again they have huge bad ass speakers too...