Sound 5.1 vs. 7.1 what is for you?

Sound 5.1 vs. 7.1 What is for you? and it is known that cinema is one of the best ways to consume movies. Not only because it is the only means available during most premieres, but also because of the level of immersion that movie theaters bring us.

Index of contents

Cinema sound

This has a lot to do with the experience that movie theaters give us: a dark environment where the focus is what is projected on the screen, a video quality far superior to what we can find in traditional streaming or DVD and, of course, immersive and immersive sound.

Such is the taste for these tricks, that over the years, users have been provided with different ways to emulate the characteristics of large screen rooms.

It is from this intention that the 5.1 and 7.1 domestic sound comes from, the protagonists of this entry. Today we aspire to compare the benefits and disadvantages of both.

What is surround sound

To better understand these two concepts, it is important to explain what surround sound is and how it differs from other arrangements, such as stereo audio.

We refer to surround sound (or surround sound) to the technique that consists of making use of the space arrangement for different audio channels enriching the perception of sound for the listener thanks to the location of different speakers in the environment.

This technique differs from traditional stereo sound by its use of a greater number of audio channels and by adding physical location to the sound, which gives it a sense of depth or localization, thus improving the level of immersion that this gives us.

It all depends on the number of channels

Defined surround sound, it is easy to conclude that the greater the number of channels and the better distribution of the speakers throughout the space, the better the immersion that this will give us.

And that is what the terms 5.1 and 7.1 that lead this text consist of, in the number of channels and speakers involved and the map in which they are distributed. In this way, the “5.1” sound makes use of six channels in total, distributed in five speakers and a subwoofer ; while the "7.1" sound is articulated by seven speakers and a subwoofer , along eight channels.

There are distributions with a greater number of speakers around the listener, some of them with various heights (such as 7.1.2), but the two mentioned here are by far the most common in studios or home theaters.

What are its "Pros" and Cons?

We have already talked about the main advantage of both distributions in our audio, but we have not delved into the advantages of one over the other, or its drawbacks.

Sound 5.1

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Kamina

For smaller spaces or lower budgets, the 5.1 distribution may be the most interesting option. It is easy to find complete 5.1 sets for sale in stores, reasonably priced and requiring no additional installation or configuration outside of placing them around our room and downloading the relevant software.

However, the absence of the two rear speakers that the 7.1 configurations do have greatly limit the directionality and location of the sound with respect to the distribution on 8 channels, much superior in this matter.

Sound 7.1

On the other hand, although the distributions in 7.1 are much higher, it is not usual to find them ready to buy, you have to buy the different parts of this distribution separately, which makes them a much more expensive option. In addition, the sound suffers in small or poorly insulated rooms, achieving the opposite effect to that desired: making the audio more diffuse and worsening its directionality.

Two common 7.1 distributions.

So in the end it is a matter of budget and space. Those with spacious rooms and space to properly place their speakers around the cabin will have a good 7.1 experience. While those with less square meters, or less budget, will appreciate the front location of the 5.1 distributions.

And what about virtualization?

For those users who do not have a complete room to use as a multimedia room, or simply have a desktop computer; and want to enjoy the surround sound experience, there is virtualization.

Virtualization software window of an old Sound Blaster sound card.

The virtualization of surround sound is intended for headphones, and consists of using effects, such as temporarily varying the sound of an audio track or using filters, to create the feeling that said sound is more or less far from our ears, creating feeling of space.

It is done through software, taking advantage of the information contained in each audio track, but they can take advantage of the dedicated hardware of a sound card for better operation (and avoid latency problems) and it is an especially popular technique in video games, to generate sensation Of space.

However, its effectiveness depends a lot on the programming of the software that uses it and on the quality of the headphones on which the sound is projected, so in most cases, if its results are satisfactory or not, it depends more from trial and error than from virtualization itself. It is a popular claim for today's sound cards.

Last conclusions

As you can see, despite the benefits of surround sound, it may not be an option for everyone; and in the end its correct use depends more on the space in which it is installed, the type of content that is consumed and the budget that we have, than on the choice between 5.1 or 7.1.

For us, the best option for the majority of users is still 2.0 in stereo for the desktop and 5.1 for well-connected rooms, due to its facilities and good results, but we do not deny the enormous quality of the 7.1 distributions, despite their high price. and additional difficulties.

The Master SwitchResearchgate font