If you are 100% sure that you won’t be expanding your surround sound system from a 5.1 to a 7.1, it may be more sensible to simply opt for a 5.1 receiver as these are usually less expensive. With others, this must be set in the menu. Some receivers recognize automatically whether a 5.1 or a 7.1 system is connected. Note that it’s possible to power a 5.1 system with a 7.1 receiver. To this end, it will need to have enough outputs for a 7.1 system. The A/V receiver will have to support all channels in a surround sound setup. Teufel’s Columa 300 5.1 home cinema system can be easily expanded into a 7.1 setup with the addition of two column speakers. All speakers should be situated symmetrically so that each speaker in a pair is roughly equidistant to the listener. The centre and front speakers, on the other hand, should be angled towards the listening position, also known as the “ sweet spot“. In addition, there should be at least 10 cm between the speakers and the wall. Because these speakers, like all surround speakers, are responsible for an atmospheric sound, it’s important that they not be place too close to the listener.

Like the surround speakers placed to the side of the listening position, the surround back speakers should be mounted at the ear height of someone in a sitting position. However, noticeable improvements in sound can generally be experienced in rooms larger than 30 square meters by expanding to a 7.1 system.

Room acoustics, after all, are influenced by interior furnishings and a room’s shape. It’s difficult to give a minimum room size after which it makes sense to employ surround back speakers. In some interiors, however, there may not be sufficient space for this arrangement. The use of surround back speakers can be a good idea in larger living rooms. From this position, they supplement the atmospheric sound already created by the surround speakers placed to the side of and slightly behind the listening position. The two additional loudspeakers contained in a 7.1 configuration are employed behind the listening position and are sometimes called surround back speakers or surround rear speakers. A 5.1 system consists of 6 loudspeakers a 7.1 system uses 8.

Dolby 5.1 speaker setup