Even though I have a 7.1 system, I'd have to agree with SeanZ0r especially if you needed to put the money into something else instead.
A system with 7.1 (center, two front speakers, two surround speakers, two back surround speakers and one or subwoofers) is awesome with DVD movies featuring Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES Matrix/Discrete. This is especially true with those soundtracks that use the back surround channel with good effect and don't turn it into a gimmick.
The only problem though is the fact that there just aren't that many such titles at the moment. Will HD-DVD/Blu-ray change this? Time will tell. For now, there is a very limited selection of movie titles that truely support a 7.1 speaker system.
Some surround modes benefit from 7.1 to some degree and there is also Dolby Pro-Logic IIx (which I don't have, only II) that is especially designed to take full advantage of 7.1 systems: even from 5.1 soundtracks. How much better such a 7.1 setup would sound over a 5.1 system is subjective at best.
Furthermore, in smaller rooms, 6.1 (just one back surround speaker) is plenty. Two back surround speakers are better for larger, wider rooms and the rear channel is mono anyway.
There are no movies in 7.1, on dvd. 6.1 is the best you can do for discreet channels. As was said, the new HD dvds that are coming, may change that. With technology being what it is now, there should be 7.1 movies in the not too distant future.
6.1 sounds great, to me. My room isn't big enough for 7.1, or I'd be setup that way. My main receiver has pre-outs, that I hooked up another receiver to, for powering the 6th and/or 7th speakers. It was great with movies like the three LOTR E.E., Gladiator, etc............
It really comes down to personal taste.
good suggestions and advice.i'm happy with what i got and will prob wait till the "new"stuff comes out.which can be both exciting and frustrating because you can never really be caught up.
depends on the size of your home theater room, how many speakers you have already, and what reciever you're looking at buying. Huge room? Three pairs of towers? By all means, go get yourself a denon avr-3805 and begin enjoying life.
For me, a 7.1 system falls under the header of " it would be neat to have, but not really necessary".
As mentioned in this thread, the best you can get as far as most discrete channels is 6.1 and I believe that is DTS-ES. But I do admit that having two rear centers would be sweet even if the 7th channel is just matrixed from the 6th.
