As we've been saying for a while now, 7.1's coming of age — and, with increasing frequency and utility, it's coming to home theaters.
With a growing list of releases taking advantage of those extra channels, why not take a chance with us and get yourself a copy of Puss in Boots on Blu-ray.
The Shrek spinoff, with Antonio Banderas voicing the swashbuckling feline, sports a new multichannel mix, and comes to us courtesy of the nice folks at Dolby. For more on that, check out the video to see what rerecording mixer Anna Behlmer (who we heard from recently regarding her work on Super 8) has to say about mixing for animated features and the advantages of working in the 7.1 format.
Puss in Boots in Dolby 7.1 with Re-recording Mixer Anna Belhmer from Dolby Laboratories on Vimeo.
As usual, all you'll have to do to qualify to win is share your thoughts with us. This week's topic: Have you gone up to 7.1 in your own home yet? If so, what made you make the switch? And if you haven't (or you've remained resolutely two-channel), let us know your reasons for that too.
I have a 7.1 receiver but only have 5.1 speakers. I would love to add a couple more speakers at some point. I'll bet it sounds amazing.
I do not have 7.1 yet. I am currently using 5.1.
I have 7.1 setup for about 5 years now for watching DVD or Bluray movies. I have also added 2 more tower speakers for my stereo setup for my music listening.
AH SURROUND! ALL ENCOMPASSING SOUND, it brings life to the screen image like lightning did for Frankenstein. It doesn't have to be an exorbinant outlay of time and treasure to be enjoyed, but it does require one to "not see" but only "feel" the hardware and all the realestate it envelopes. I started with a Onkyo 7.2 bought on deep discount and started acquiring Polk speakers during sales online, and from a refurb store, and even used off ebay. They all match timbre wise and otherwise. Until just recently I used the Audessey DSX wide but picked up a matching Onkyo 2 channel amp on clearance and I am now up to 9.2. My only dissappointment in this investment is the suprise at finding movies I thought would surely be recorded in 7.1 NOT BEING SO. I don't have an ideal room for it but I still love being in the middle of the battle instead of watching from the sidelines.
Still 5.1...looking forward to upgrading when we finish the basement.
7.1 reciever in house.... saving for the rest of the speakers.... it's gonna be awesome!
I have a 7.1-capable A/V receiver, but have not upgraded to the rear speakers, primarily because I don't really have a place for them. The rear wall is a stair to the main level of the house. My only option would be to mount them on stands and move them into position whenever a 7.1 movie is being played. I have noticed in those movies with 7.1 sound that the missing rear surround can be detected. I noticed it particularly in the 7.1 mix of "Sound of Music."
We still have 5.1 but really look forward to upgrading soon.
We have a 7.1 Channel Blu-ray 3D Home Theater System from Samsung. We watch a lot of movies and television. When you spend a lot of time home you start to think about how you can make that work the best for you..you end up saving money not watching movies out, etc. We also have a 55" TV so our system works really well for us.
Come on!!!!! First 5.1, then 6.1, now 7.1. With all these speakers, my living room is starting to look like a Best Buy showroom!!
Have a Philips 5.1. I have to stay with that for a while, since I'm out on workman's comp, & not upgrading anything now.
I am currently at 5.1 and would go all the way to 9.1 (or 9.2 ha ha) if I owned a home instead of renting a crappy NYC apartment. Saving my pennies lol!
I am currently at 5.1 and would go all the way to 9.1 (or 9.2 ha ha) if I owned a home instead of renting a crappy NYC apartment. Saving my pennies lol!
Currently have 5.1 and would love to upgrade to 7.1 but it is just not in the budget now.
My hubby who is suffering sight loss problems recently installed the latest Blu-ray which offers the best audio possible with up to 7.1 channels of surround sound (equal to or sometimes better than the sound heard in theaters).
No we don't have 7.1 yet hopefully we will soon.
I don't have any type of surround sound at this point time due to finances, however once I get my tax return I'm thinking of upgrading my system.
Winning this would be just the excuse I need to up my current 5.1 to 7.1 plus have the backing of my kids.
I'm setting up my 7.2 system now, I have the Onkyo 7.1 speaker system, with the LG 50 plasma. I will be enjoying the new Onkyo 616 avr when it comes out. Also the OppO 93 will be the star of the show.
to be honest, i have no idea what kind of system i'm running. i leave that to my home theater guy!
Just setup my first 7.1 system with a biamp on my front towers. Waiting on the 2012 higher end onkyo to come out with their new hdmi tech. My current HK amp wont play 7.1. Bluray direct 7.1 sure beats streaming stereo sound we,he become used to!
Have a 7.1 (7.2 really, but another subwoofer is my next toy). I find it most effective in weather-releated sounds -- distant thunder, rain, subtle stuff that fills the room.
I still use 5.1 stereo surround sound in my main entertainment room. I haven't seen a compelling app or reason to go 7.1 yet.
I'm just 2.1 with an extra soundbar. It's okay for now.
I still have 5.1. Looking to get new home theater set up with TV and 7.1 when I have the $$ for it.
It's becoming more and more complicated to fit all the channels in the room. I have a dedicated HT room in my house and can play with the options, but for a lot of people having 7 channels is a huge challenge. I have B&W in 9.2 setup and to be honest can't tell much difference between 5.1 & 7.1. Maybe the existing content is not taking advantage of more challenge, but right now it just satisfies my ego, but doesn't provide much tangible benefits to justify the cost. I have to listen very carefully as opposed to enjoying the movie to hear a difference in 5.1 vs 7.1 :)
I do have 7.1 (actually 7.4 since my LF, RF, LS & RS have built in subwoofers and all 4 are connected to my LFE output. I've been building my system over the past 10 years and the sound is phenomenal! I use it for movies and music.
I'm running off 5.1 Analog via my computer, I'm not sure if they ever made a 7.1 solution for computers, but if I find a cheap enough solution, I'd take the plunge.
I've had a 7.1 system for about a year now and I built a home theater room in my basement designed to make the most out of my system. What surprised me the most is the fact that when I actually go to the theaters now, i'm actually disappointed with the sound quality and now it seems that only IMAX theaters get me out of the house for movies now.
I have two home theatre systems. Downstairs, I have 7.1. Love it. Just bought an Ipad and Apple TV to hook up down there. Upstairs, it's the kids theatre and just have 5.1. You can definitely tell the difference.
RCA upstairs, Onkyo downstairs.
Haven’t gone to 7.1 yet but my daughter has and loves it. Have hearing loss and usually use headphones so don’t have to blast neighboring apartment.
Still 5.1 and really pleased, have everything installed in a small room so it makes the sound feel bigger.
I would like to set up 7.1 but I think a 10 by12 room is to small for that set up. I would love to hear the extra channels that they are adding to newer movies.