7.1 vs 5.1

[ANUPLUCIFERGAMER]

Hey guys! i have another question. what's the big difference between 5.1 audio setup and 7.1 audio setup? which is better for gaming? would 5.1 be good for gaming? and which is "better" to use for 3d surround sound oriented computers? i would like to know all this!

[M-ursu]

I like my 7.1 asus vulcans.

[Cacao]

How about we implement that box idea I suggested on your previous thread?

[ANUPLUCIFERGAMER]

no please!

[helping]

5.1 is probably what you're looking for. 7.1 is a bit excessive, while it can sound better you'd have to have software or content that supports 7.1, and there isn't much that does, if not the 5.1 will have to be upscaled to emulated 7.1. In a headset you probably won't notice much of a difference. 7.1 headset won't help you hear where something is any better than a 5.1 headset.

 

I have a 7.1 HT system and the side speakers don't really do that much, but if there's a movie or something that supports 7.1 sound it's pretty nice, if not the receiver usually upscales to 7.1

[JDGaulin]

How about we implement that box idea I suggested on your previous thread?

I agree, this dudes topics are not thought out at all.

[rashdanml]

7.1 has two extra speakers.

 

5.1:

1 center channel speaker directly ahead.

2 front speakers, left and right, usually either side of the center channel.

2 rear speakers, left and right. As far back as you can put it.

1 subwoofer.

 

7.1 adds two more speakers directly to the right and left of the observer. So basically, 6 speakers surrounding you, with an additional directly in front of you.

 

7.1 is obviously better for the full surround experience, assuming your source audio supports 7.1. But it adds 2 more speakers, so the cost of it may not be worth the extra benefit. 5.1 or even 2.1 is probably decent enough for gaming. And then there's virtual surround which uses software to simulate the additional speakers. There's also sound bars, which uses more creative methods of simulating surround sound (2.1, 5.1, etc) with usually a single speaker directly ahead of you.