Where are 7.1 audio?

[DIYer]

I've seen online list of blu-ray with 7.1 audio but it's rather small. All the new releases I've seen so far are 5.1 audio. So what's up with 7.1? Wasn't that going to be the standard already? What happened?

 

[Randy]

It was trumped by "Whole Sonic Overhead Sound"!!!! bscene-buttred: :angry-banghead: :teasing-neener: :scared-yipes: :laughing-rolling: :twocents-mytwocents:

 

[DIYer]

Don't get me started.

 

[walls]

I often wonder that myself, although I do have quite a few DVD's with 6.1 descrete.

 

[Towen7]

I for one am thankful for the relative lack of 7.1 material. It has save me from bothering to invest in two more matching speakers and having to place them. Seriously though... I'm assuming that one reason may be that most consumers don't have 7 speaker setups. Then again even fewer will bother implementing Dolby's new "height" channel.

 

[mzpro5]

Tough to compete with the 3D revolution that is going on.

I mean it is dazzling how much 3D material is out there to go with all the 3D displays and players that are flying off the shelves. :roll:

 

[TitaniumTroy]

No room for 7.1 at my place, however when I do have the space. I will be going with Whole Sonic Overhead, that guy was ahead of his time.

 

[DIYer]

that guy was ahead of his time.

By using behind his time processor. :laughing-rolling:

 

[Hot Monkey]

Not really sure what you guys are talking about. What is this Whole Sonic Overhead Height Channel thing?

 

[mcad64]

I believe Toy Story 3 is DTS Master Audio 7.1

 

[yromj]

Here are my guesses:

Most HTIBs are 5.1 and I'll bet that they represent the vast majority of surround sound systems.

DVD is not 7.1 capable.

Movies at the theater are generally 5 channel, I believe.

Each of the last two requires more time and effort to develop blu-ray specific soundtrack.

John

 

[Flint]

Using the same tech which gave us a solid center "dialog" channel for over a decade with few complaints and impressive results is being used to do the same for the rear surround channels when a discrete 5.1 soundtrack is fed into a modern HT processor. Add a little steering logic to generate a convincing left and right rear channel output and you've got a totally immersive full 7.1 experience. It is easier to market 5.1 to lay consumers who have yet to install 7.1 systems while letting the expert users take advantage of the logic in their HT processors.

I love 7.1 from my system when watching 5.1 encoded content. It is completely immersive and convincing to me. True, i'd rather have diwcrete 7.1, but decoded 5.1 to get 7.1 is still friggin' awesome