The word best is relative when you use it to describe anything in life. If you’re wondering if the 7,1 surround sound system is the best, the answer is it depends. Many factors come into play when you’re looking at home audio. Some of the most common factors include your budget, brand preference, and room size. Find out more about the 7.1 home theater system in this article.
Read more: Is 7.1 surround sound the best?What’s the Difference Between a 5.1 and 7.1 Speaker System?
To determine if the 7.1 system is really an exceptional choice, you must first know the nuances between the 5.1 and 7.1. Both are home theater speaker systems that enhance your music listening, gaming, and movie viewing experience.
The primary difference between the two systems is the number of speakers. As its name suggests, the 5.1 system consists of five speakers plus one subwoofer. It has front left and right speakers, surround right and left speakers in the listening area, a center speaker, and a subwoofer.
Meanwhile, the 7.1 has seven speakers and a subwoofer. In essence, the 7.1 builds upon the 5.1, by giving you everything it has, along with two additional rear surround sound speaker sets. This goes behind the listening area, adding great sound depth and robust quality.
When is It Best to Install Each Speaker System?
Since the 7.1 surround sound system setup adds two speakers to the 5.1, and you get more speakers, does it automatically mean it’s a better option than the 5.1? Not necessarily. The more the merrier rule doesn’t apply here. It still depends on many factors.
When you have a smaller room, a 5.1 works sufficiently well for watching movies and listening to music. It will even work for your gaming system, especially if you play in your bedroom or a smaller den.
Meanwhile, installing a 7.1 system in a tiny room with an improper setup can be overwhelming. The sound from the two extra rear speakers will end up sounding muffled because the sound waves don’t have enough room to move around. The additional rear speakers may end up dominating the front channels. As a result, you may not hear the dialogue and front-side sound effects well. In short, you won’t get to enjoy the advantages of the two extra rear speakers.
Where Does the 7.1 Work Best?
The key to great sound is proper home theater installation and picking the best products that match your space. Investing in a 7.1 provides an incredible listening experience if you place it in the proper room size. It works much better for larger rooms since sound can move around optimally. If you have too few speakers in a big room, sound can get lost in the space.
Moreover, since you’re working with more speakers, you can enjoy a deeper surround sound listening experience. On top of that, if you’ve got media that’s designed for theater quality, the output will come out so much clearer in the 7.1 than the 5.1
Ultimately, choosing between the 7.1 or the 5.1 will hinge on your unique situation. Choosing the 7.1 will be more expensive and complicated to set up since it has more speakers. If you’re not sure about what to do, contact a professional home theater installation team to help you configure something for your space.