WHICH IS BETTER? | 7.1.2 vs 5.1.4 | Dolby Atmos | DTS:X

Hooooo boy! You got yourself a 9 channel AVR...but now you're wondering which configuration to go with! Should you go with 7.1.2, or 5.1.4? Well, there are pluses and minuses to both, so I go over those details with y'all! Check it out!

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MY HOME THEATER SETUP
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65” LG C1 OLED TV

Marantz SR7015

Outlaw Audio Model 7000x Amplifier

Peachtree Nova300 Stereo Integrated Amp

Emotiva BasX A3 Amplifier

FRONT LCR
Aperion Audio Verus III V8T Towers

Aperion Audio Verus III Grand V6C Center Channel

FRONT WIDES & VOICE OF GOD
Aperion Audio Novus Slim N6SC LCR

SURROUNDS
Aperion Audio Verus III Grand V5B Bookshelf

SURROUND BACKS
Aperion Audio Novus N6T Tower Speakers

ATMOS HEIGHT SPEAKERS
Aperion Audio A5 Height Module

LG UBK90 4K Blu-ray Player

AppleTV 4K (4th Gen)

Nintendo Switch

14 AWG Copper Speaker Wire

Monoprice Low Profile 22 Lb Capacity Speaker Mounts

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MY VIDEO GEAR
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Audio Interface – Focusrite Saffire Pro 40

Sennheiser MKE600

Sony A7 II Full Frame Mirrorless Camera

Canon EOS Rebel T5i

DJI OM 4 SE

Shure KSM32 Cardioid Condenser Microphone

XLR Male to Female Microphone Cable

JOILCAN 81" Tripod

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LINKS
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Everything you need can be found at the link below! Woohoo!

#dolbyatmos #hifi #hometheater

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DISCLAIMERS
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[flyinlow]

Just set up 5.1.2 after watching your previous video on the height channels. I put the inceiling speakers a foot in front of the listening position and aimed the tweeters towards the seats. Sounds incredible. It expanded the sound stage so much.

[Chris-hruj]

This is a great video.

I have a 5.1.4, but I was always unsure about how effective side surrounds were at imaging rear sound effects. But I had an epiphany: when playing video games that support surround sound, you can really test out the rear speaker location imaging. I was rotating my camera view while playing God of War just to test surround sound, and what I discovered is that 5 bed layer speaker imaging REALLY makes you feel like voices and sound effect travel around and behind you, giving you that immersion and sense of direction. Its the same with Horizon Forbidden West. Sounds behind the player view literally feel like they are behind your ears.

I attribute this discovery to my being able to control the direction of the sound in a video game. You dont have the same control of direction of sound in a movie. With movies, I've always just kind of accepted and perceived the noise how it was mixed and configured in my space. But i was always unsure of my rear imaging, and I've read that many 7.1 movies dont even really use the rear channels much.

But to summarize, video games are a great way to test and prove that the rear imaging from a 5.1 system works. I considered adding rears, but I think I'm just fine. I agree, 4 heights give a sense of direction above with height effects.

[JavonDGreen]

I’m going from a 5.2.4 to a 7.2.6 I know my mind will be blown. I loved the .4 setup so much. We sold our house and are building a new one with a dedicated theater. Having the immersion of 7 ear level instead of the phantom side surrounds will be welcomed and I get to keep the height movement you also discussed. Ealan you are my favorite YouTuber right now. Your content is stellar and accurate. I wish you were around when I first got into this hobby about 4 years ago. Would have saved me some time and money. I agree with everything you say. I can confirm it all myself. Keep making this content my friend.

[whitecrowuk]

My opinion is: following Dolby positioning is most important for immersive experience. Therefore whatever room can accommodate. Couch close to back wall - go with 5.1.4. You have more space in the back go with 7.1.2. That is if you’re limited to 9.1. In terms of making holes if you do go with 7.1.2 and think you might expand in the future don’t buy ceiling speakers, buy on walls they will work brilliant and you will deal with two small holes later which any self respecting man should be able to deal with.

[calibre]

You just keep answering those tricky questions that most of us building our Atmos systems are asking mate, another great video 👍

[jeffwagner]

The problem, if you don’t have a designated theater room, your living room becomes your TV center. If you add ceiling speakers your living room furniture is basically locked in. No more moving your furniture around for a change and variety.

[Cyclone]

Team 7 ear level speakers right here!

...but I appreciate what you are representing here. It makes a lot of sense. It's expensive to go 7.1.4. Even with the cheapest receiver, you still have to buy a amp to fully power all of them. You can find 9 channel only receivers for much less, and I really think if you are going to go Atmos you have to get 4 height channels or you are not getting the true 3d audio experience.

[MrBill]

In my case, I prefer 7.1.2. I have tried both setups in my space. There is not a lot of good Atmos content and I love my surround backs for most content. In my opinion, most movies have more sound coming from my surround backs than my Atmos speakers. Other rooms might be different. I like your videos!

[zalllon]

I agree with you. I have a Denon 4400, and I’ve had a 7.2 set up for a bit. Then just over a year ago got some ceiling speakers to have it as 7.2.2. It was cool to hear things above you, but as others have said … it’s like having surround sound only using 2 speakers at the front. I literally received the Emotiva Basx A3 amp yesterday, and 2 bipolar speakers. I’ll swap out my 2 bookshelf speakers with the bipolar, use them as height channels for the front and move my ceiling speakers as close to the back as possible (as seats are 12’ from back wall). The new amp will power front stage.

[bronstet]

The correct answer is 7.2.4, of course! 🙂 The best of both worlds. My setup is 6 bipolar surround speakers for the front, side and back speakers, 2 serial connected center speakers, 2 subwoofers in opposite corners, and 4 height speakers mounted at the top of the side walls.

But yes, if you must choose between 7.1.2 and 5.1.4, do the 5.1.4 setup and go for the maximum amount of height speakers.

[Foreverjazzfan]

My surrounds in 7.1.4 are elevated, no other way to do it in my room. My rear surrounds are directly below but in a couple feet from my rear heights. My front heights are directly above my front L and R. Both front and rear heights are aimed toward the mlp about standing height. You really get that submersive sound all around and above you. Sounds amazing.

[Concertina]

In my personal opinion, Dolby Atmos is just not worth it if you only have two speakers because you only get half the experience: up and down but not forwards and backwards. I started out with 5.1.2 and I have no regrets upgrading to 5.1.4 instead of 7.1.2. I personally get a more immersive experience being in a full dome (or bubble) of sound rather than just a sound fence. A 5.1.4 setup has always felt complete to me, whereas a 7.1.2 feels incomplete. I don't feel like I'm missing out at all by not having rear channels. I would say if you're going to do Dolby Atmos, it's a better investment to get 4 channels. Otherwise, just save your money and stick to 5.1 or 7.1.

[ntlknight]

Thank you for the time you devote to helping us along, I’ve been enjoying your content! I’m new’ish to the more advanced side of home theater setups and in particular, to Atmos…but I’m in the process of buying new hardware and I have some questions which I hope are not too long or cumbersome!

1. 2 CHEAP (old) AVRs vs 1 EXPENSIVE ONE?
For the budget-minded, rather than buying one of the newer AVRs that offer all the channel outputs needed to have tons of speakers, could someone use 2 (older and cheaper) machines to power the same number of speakers…and still get proper Atmos configurations?

2. DO OLDER AVRs HAVE PROPER ATMOS OUTPUTS?
There are used Denons selling online, like the AVR-3312Ci for around $100. While on the back it has 1 set of “Height” outputs, it doesn’t say Dolby Atmos on the machine. Are all “Height” outputs on older AVRs sending data properly to overhead speakers? The AVR-3312Ci does say Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD amongst other things, but not Atmos. Does a receiver *have to be* Atmos specific in order to pass the data/sound properly to the speakers that would be setup as ceiling/upwards-facing speakers (not to mention the ground-level speakers that Atmos communicates with)?

3. 2 AVR’s? —or 1 AVR + 1 AMPLIFIER?
If the answer to question 1 is that yes, (you can buy a cheaper AVR to receive all the HDMI (and other) inputs from your sources…and if said AVR doesn’t have enough channel outputs to power 5-7 ground-level speakers AND 2-6 ceiling/upwards-facing speakers) …would one be able to use the pre outs to power an additional amplifier? —or would it need to be another AVR, to get the proper Atmos configured output to the speakers?

4. REGARDING THE SPEAKERS.
If I put together the right AVR system (whether a single unit, or a combination of 2 or more) to power (up to) 7 ground-level speakers, plus 1 (2, or 3) sub-woofers, plus (up to) 6 ceiling (or upward-facing) speakers, can I mismatch different speakers and brands? For instance, I recently bought a set of Klipsch Reference Theater pack (before I knew about the Reference Cinema pack). If I keep the Theater pack and buy 2 more ground-level speakers…AS WELL as some overhead speakers (whether ceiling-mounted, or other) …could I shop around to add to this array, even if I end up getting cheap ceiling speakers? The ceiling speakers (round ones that install into the ceiling) seem pricey compared to the set 5.1 set I just bought. If I shop around and buy other brand speakers (whether the round ones made specifically for ceiling use or not), would that yield workable results?

5. KLIPSCH UPWARD-FACING vs CEILING SPEAKERS.
Which are better? Would the Reference Cinema pack be a better option for having Atmos “ceiling sound” rather than using the Reference Theater pack and adding cheaper ceiling speakers (mounted on the ceilings and pointing down)?

Thanks in advance!

[davewme]

I did 5.1.2 as well. from 5.1 moved paradigm dipole from rear surround, to ceiling, slightly forward of seating area. and added klipch studios, to the rear, increased my sub from 10", to 12" polk. in a small 8x12 space, with 4' walk thru area beside. I am very happy with the sound! I feel so much depends on the space. but really appreciate your videos, to help give me ideas, that will work with what I already have. :)

[tonyprano]

Running a 7.2.4 at the moment with a 75" tv and loving it!

[wraighsj]

Really, REALLY useful info. I'm about to install new setup with 4 heights so your video's have been invaluable. Many thanks. You sir, are my kind of nerd! 🙂

[wendellwendellb]

I have preordered the 3800h, and I will be setting up a 5.4.6 speaker setup!

[joentell]

The thing I respect about you is that you take the time to try things out so you can speak from experience. I know it takes way longer than it seems on a video.

I have 7 ear-level and 4 heights for Auro3D, VOG channel, and center height. When I moved from 5 to 7 ear-level speakers, I noticed the difference, but I wonder if it's not just because I had more space behind me by not having to put my seats up against the wall. I sometimes switch my rear surrounds on/off and I can tell the difference, but it's not huge imo. Properly placed side surrounds (slightly behind and to the side) can sound very convincing.

4 heights definitely has more movement....WHEN there's content up there. The other reason to go 5.1.4 is if your AVR has Auro3D, you can upmix lacking content. You need 4 heights for that. That's why I prefer on-wall to on-ceiling.

[Classicman.]

Another great video! I just got my x3800h and extra Klipsch R-41SA’s for rear heights! This was an upgrade from a 5.1.2 on a S930h with mirrored subs to, now, a true 5.2.4

[DIYDumpRat]

Nice one Elan 👍 Hey I know it's something that probably doesn't affect you greatly but I was wondering if you could at some point cover how to do atmos for home theatres with 2 rows of seating. I'm pretty sure I have it pegged but need to be certain before making my atmos installation vid for my channel. For example when you have a 5.2.4 and a 7.2.4 setup with one row seating all 4 atmos are angle to that one row. But with say a 9.2.4 setup I'm assuming that we only have 2 speakers shooting at both the rows? But it just doesn't make sense when thinking about the surround signals. Wouldn't a 9.2.4 setup with 2 rows need different atmos signaling compared to say a 7.2.4 etc? Anyway it's just something that's suddenly popped up on my radar that I've been thinking about. Cheers man 😎