11.2 surround

[goldar]

Has anyone installed/experimented will 11 channel surround? I know it's not encoded in the source. Any compelling reasons on doing this?

- Howard

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by goldar

Has anyone installed/experimented will 11 channel surround? I know it's not encoded in the source. Any compelling reasons on doing this?

- Howard

Howard.......Unless you just like giving your money away to A/V manufacturers for electronics and speakers, I see no point in 11 channel surround. A well implemented 5.1 surround system presents a convincing home theater sound stage.

[doggiehowser]

I think it does work pretty well. I use DTS Neo X with a Marantz AV8801, and it sounds incredibly immersive especially with a NeoX soundtrack like Dredd/Expendables 2.

Man of Steel will be as well I think

[thxthx]

When McIntosh allows me with a new processor, I'm going to 9.1. Don't think I can physically do the "width" channels, but I'd like to if i get the room. Might go more one day if Dolby Atmos hits the home market. It's a great excuse to have more blue meters in the rack

[goldar]

Thanks guys, helpful input. I'm really leaning towards going 11 channels. Maybe just because I can


I have a similar wide issue with my room. I plan on solving it by moving the L/R wides a few feet forward along the side walls angled towards the reference listening position. I am assuming that the Audyssey calibration will be able to compensate for any distance adjustments in the placement. I'm still in the framing stage of the room so it will be a while before I can report on the results.

I welcome any opinions or suggestions!

Thanks,
Howard

[doggiehowser]

I think the wides just need to be at the right angle rather than along the front wall next to the front LR speakers.

[goldar]

Originally Posted by doggiehowser

I think the wides just need to be at the right angle rather than along the front wall next to the front LR speakers.

Agreed, but I don't have a wide enough front wall, so I'm going to widen the angle by moving them up.

[trek737]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Howard.......Unless you just like giving your money away to A/V manufacturers for electronics and speakers, I see no point in 11 channel surround. A well implemented 5.1 surround system presents a convincing home theater sound stage.

+1

Only my two cents so take it for what it is worth. Jeff Meier with Accu Cal who professionally calibrated my room and hundreds of others every year is not a big fan of the 9 and 11 speaker systems... When I asked him about the rears for my place he said that such a small amount of the audio is design for them that he did not feel it was worth it.

If you already own all of those speakers that yeah hook em up and see if you like it. But if not maybe just wire the room for it and put the best 5.1 system in that you can afford and go from there. Then if you are not satisfied you have the wires in for the others.

Good luck either way you go... That is the cool part about these HT builds, it is your room so do what you want.

[goldar]

Originally Posted by trek737

+1

Only my two cents so take it for what it is worth. Jeff Meier with Accu Cal who professionally calibrated my room and hundreds of others every year is not a big fan of the 9 and 11 speaker systems... When I asked him about the rears for my place he said that such a small amount of the audio is design for them that he did not feel it was worth it.

If you already own all of those speakers that yeah hook em up and see if you like it. But if not maybe just wire the room for it and put the best 5.1 system in that you can afford and go from there. Then if you are not satisfied you have the wires in for the others.

Good luck either way you go... That is the cool part about these HT builds, it is your room so do what you want.

thanks!

I do already have the speakers. The Marantz AV8801 is less $ than the MX121 much less the MX151. Since McIntosh doesn't make a 4 or 8 channel amp, I think I've decided to use two MC205s (10 total channels) to drive the 8 total channels for the front high/wides and the surrounds I'll use the two left over channels from the MC205s for another pair of speakers in another room in the basement... Probably connect them to a Sonos for the bar

At any rate, you are correct about wiring for it. Ivan was kind enough to place the order for the spool of Luna 16/4 with Wireworld this morning! (Thanks again Ivan!)

- Howard

[djwhog]

I have played with the 7.1 on my system and the movies etc that support it, I think it is a waste of $$$ and I prefer the 5.1 is enough, everything else 2 ch and subs is what it should be IMOP