The sound of music enthralls all of us. One wants to listen to the best sound possible, and why not? The clarity and quality of the sound is what makes us differentiate between the good and the bad. And, when you are looking to install that perfect home theater for your room, you tickle your head with the question that whether you should go for the standard 5.1 receiver, or should you look for something new, experiment with the 7.1 channel receiver. Itâs always better to try them both in the store, and to make sure you have the necessary information so that the salesperson doesnât take you for a ride, read on for âenlightenmentâ.
What’s it all about?
The 5.1 and 7.1 are common surround sound formats. Every coin has two sides. So, it depends on your tastes and preferences. The quality and depth of surround sound depends on the equipment one uses. The receiver binds the equipment together. Also termed as Audio Video receiver, it is one of the most important links in producing a good sound. There are two main channels which people prefer 5.1 and 7.1. You must be wondering why there is no such thing as 6.1, there is, but its usage is far less than these two. A home theater receiver ties several things into one like:
1. Preamplifier or preamp which is responsible for all audio video controls and processors, inputs and outputs.
2. Power amplifier which drives the speakers.
3. Radio tuner for FM programming which also includes AM and satellite bands.
So, you can see for yourself the importance of the receiver. Now, you want to know about 5.1 channel receivers. But first, what does the term 5.1 means? The number 5 simply tells the number of separate channels of sound. 5 or 7 refers to the full range channels which can carry a complete musical signal. The .1 is the Low frequency effects channel. It is denoted by a decimal because it carries one tenth of the full bandwidth of the channel. So far, the more common is the 5.1 channel. 7.1 increases the spatial sense and provides that extra zing regarding special effects. The directionality of the sound is improved tremendously. So far few soundtracks have been released on 7.1 format. But no matter what, the soundtracks will surely run better on 7.1.
5.1 Channel Receivers:
Now, 5.1 channel receiver has been the standard for many years now. In small or average sized rooms, you get a really good sound and the experience is good, but as the size of the room increases, the sound starts to feel a bit feeble. It consists of
1. A center channel for an anchor stage for music vocals or dialog.
2. Left and right front channels for stereo music reproduction and for main soundtrack info.
3. It also has right and left surround sound channels.
4. Subwoofer channel provides the low frequency effects.
7.1 Channel Receivers:
7.1 channels have various benefits over 5.1 receivers. It adds another full bandwidth channel to the mix, so that the sound is more enveloped and feels more âsurroundedâ. A 7.1 receiver takes the experience one notch higher. Instead of combining both the surround and rear channels into two channels, it divides it into four channels, so that the sound is more crisp. Nowadays blue-ray soundtracks are based on the 7.1 format, and some even offer lossless surround sound. Dolby trueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio offer 7.1 discrete channel formats.
Verdict:
Now, what should you buy? If you think for the future, then you should go for the 7.1 channel receiver. It will enhance your listening experience, and is not gonna be outdated soon. And you can always use the option of installing the secondary speakers at some other location. So, go out and treat yourself to the sound of music.
