Confused about 7.1 Formats

Audiotomb, that's great! Jplenhart, Anthem is a fine a/v processor/switch and will very likely allow you to use a 5.1 format or even a 3.1 format if you don't want rear speakers. The WAF goes way down as you increase the number of speakers. Ask the dealer or check out the website to confirm the optional set-ups for the Anthem. Think of al the DVD's you could buy or rent with the savings in speaker and amp costs! Have fun!
P.S. Personally, I like at least a center channel while watching a movie -- but I'm unable to get the appropriate soundstage since my TV is between my speakers. A lot of your final setup and choice to go to 3, 5 or 7 speakers/amps(plus subwoofer) depends on your room size and ability to choose function over form.

There are no Dolby or DTS 7.1 formats.

The DTS-ES Discrete 6.1 format actually delivers a discrete rear center channel.

Dolby Digital EX Matrix 6.1 and DTS-ES Matrix 6.1 both encode the rear channels in a manner similar to Dolby Pro Logic so that a rear center channel can be derived.

P.S. If you haven't heard about the Chesky 6.0 format, you should take a look at the following website:

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/manufacture/chesky.htm

Hi

I guess I am a bit confused about using 7.1 format pre/pro. If I have a 7.1 pre/pro but a 5.1 speaker setup, will this work - in other words does 7.1 mean it can do 7.1 and down?

Thanks,

jplenhart

Jp, go to www.anthemav.com to get the specs, manual etc. on the AVM 20. If that doesn't work, go to www.sonicfrontiers.com. A 7.1 setup requires 7 speakers plus a powered subwoofer and seven channels of amplification. A 5.1 setup requires 5 speakers plus a powered subwoofer and five channels of amplification. Most good audio video preamps/processors will allow you, with menu options, to use fewer channels if you choose to do that. Since many DVD formats offer six channels of sound (subwoofer -- which is the .1, front center, front left, front right, rear left, rear right), choosing to use fewer speakers and amps will mean that you are choosing not to utilize all the info that is sent. So, going to a front right, front center, front left and subwoofer setup means that you will not hear the rear sound effects. The 7.1 setup (per my understanding), would normally still rely on the same six channels of sound provided on the DVD. An internal processor enhances the information to provide a more spacious sound field -- but there is no new information above what is on the DVD's six channels of sound. I believe that some new DVD formats allow a seventh channel which can then be split to two speakers (i.e., 6.1). I don't believe that is very prevalent today but tomorrow ...? Basically, the 7.1 allows you the opportunity to synthesize the extra channels for most DVD formats and provide you some growth for the future when new formats utilizing more channels are available (I am, however, not a fortune teller). Please check out the Anthem site for more details. Also, the www.outlawaudio.com site is very useful. Folks, I'm probably in over my head here, so please feel free to correct me.

I was on a flight this week and picked up some HT mags, Sound and Vision and one other that I can't remember, not Stereophile GHT because I sub to that one. Anyway, one of them featured the new THX Ultra2 system and explain the new 7.1 decoding and setup in great detail. You might look to find that rag and learn a great deal.