3 replies to this topic

[Petri]

Hello.

 

I know that basis of my question might have been asked and answered countless of times, but...

 

I have started looking in to getting a surround sound system for my living room, and Wii U being the main attraction of that setup.

I already know, that I need an AV-amplifier/receiver that supports LPCM.

Been looking at amplifiers, and my retailer only has 3 amplifiers, all from Sony, that I think might fit the setup.

STR-DH540 (5.2), STR-DH730 (7.1) or STR-DH740 (7.2)

Here are the questions, I slept through the AV classes, so I'm kind of outside with audio stuff.

1. Is there any problem using 7.1 amplifier with devices, that only support 5.1 (Wii U)?

2. Is there noticeable difference between 5.1 and 7.1?

3. X.2 refers system having two subwoofers? Can I leave another one out on those X.2 amplifiers?

4. Is there any sense or noticeable difference in having two subwoofers (X.2)?

 

As these systems can get expensive, especially since my wife is pretty picky about the speakers shes willing to let in our living room,

I've been thinking of building my surround system by working my way from ground up from 2.0 to 5.1 to finally 7.1 for devices that support it.

5. Would that be possible?

6. After 2.0, if I go for it, would I gain anything by going with 3.0 and then 4.0 surround system on Wii U or with any device?

7. I have been thinking of getting that STR-DH730, should it work with Wii U?

8. Any other suitable amplifiers on the market I should look in to?

 

And last, since I have no idea what I'm doing here.

9. Any tips what I should try to invest in, and what I should avoid?

 

I'm sure I had a lot of other questions as well, but they kind of got lost while typing this.

Not looking for perfection here, but any tips from anyone with some experience with surround sound systems would be welcome.

[Cloud Windfoot Omega]

Hello.

 

I know that basis of my question might have been asked and answered countless of times, but...

 

I have started looking in to getting a surround sound system for my living room, and Wii U being the main attraction of that setup.

I already know, that I need an AV-amplifier/receiver that supports LPCM.

Been looking at amplifiers, and my retailer only has 3 amplifiers, all from Sony, that I think might fit the setup.

STR-DH540 (5.2), STR-DH730 (7.1) or STR-DH740 (7.2)

Here are the questions, I slept through the AV classes, so I'm kind of outside with audio stuff.

1. Is there any problem using 7.1 amplifier with devices, that only support 5.1 (Wii U)?

2. Is there noticeable difference between 5.1 and 7.1?

3. X.2 refers system having two subwoofers? Can I leave another one out on those X.2 amplifiers?

4. Is there any sense or noticeable difference in having two subwoofers (X.2)?

 

As these systems can get expensive, especially since my wife is pretty picky about the speakers shes willing to let in our living room,

I've been thinking of building my surround system by working my way from ground up from 2.0 to 5.1 to finally 7.1 for devices that support it.

5. Would that be possible?

6. After 2.0, if I go for it, would I gain anything by going with 3.0 and then 4.0 surround system on Wii U or with any device?

7. I have been thinking of getting that STR-DH730, should it work with Wii U?

8. Any other suitable amplifiers on the market I should look in to?

 

And last, since I have no idea what I'm doing here.

9. Any tips what I should try to invest in, and what I should avoid?

 

I'm sure I had a lot of other questions as well, but they kind of got lost while typing this.

Not looking for perfection here, but any tips from anyone with some experience with surround sound systems would be welcome.

1. 7.1 means it has 2 extra channels for side  speakers, they are not a version number,  a 7.1 channel amp can play 5.1 chennels.

2. no unless the amp  digitally  enhances to 7.1 using mafhs. Otherwise  its just 2 extra channels  which you need 2 extra speakers for with 0 difference

3. the .x number refers to the sub channel, there is generally no benefit of having 2 sub channels since the sub should blanket the area and cover all  speaker sounds besides maybe adding area or power, in this case placement becomes problematic as  subwoofers may end up fighting each other and causing dead areas or super strong  areas.

 

4. see 3

 

5. if you buy a 7.1 you can run 2.0 and build up speakers until you have 7.1, hell you can have 7.0 and buy a sub latter, but the sub really fills in gaps.

6  yes, you get channel sperration,  do not go from 3.0 - 4.0 go from 3.0 - 5.0 since the 3rd channel will become the center channel.

 

7. yes

 

8 I do not have enough money to test every sound system

[Petri]

1. 7.1 means it has 2 extra channels for side  speakers, they are not a version number,  a 7.1 channel amp can play 5.1 chennels.

2. no unless the amp  digitally  enhances to 7.1 using mafhs. Otherwise  its just 2 extra channels  which you need 2 extra speakers for with 0 difference

3. the .x number refers to the sub channel, there is generally no benefit of having 2 sub channels since the sub should blanket the area and cover all  speaker sounds besides maybe adding area or power, in this case placement becomes problematic as  subwoofers may end up fighting each other and causing dead areas or super strong  areas.

 

4. see 3

 

5. if you buy a 7.1 you can run 2.0 and build up speakers until you have 7.1, hell you can have 7.0 and buy a sub latter, but the sub really fills in gaps.

6  yes, you get channel sperration,  do not go from 3.0 - 4.0 go from 3.0 - 5.0 since the 3rd channel will become the center channel.

 

7. yes

 

8 I do not have enough money to test every sound system

 

Thank you, that should help a lot.

 

Is there anything I should look out for, when buying speakers?

If I understood right, speakers have a power threshold.

 

I know that my colleagues fix (or rather scrap, since fixing is not worth it) subwoofers that has been burned because

they couldnt take the power.

Mostly those are car equipment.

I just want to avoid burning hundreds of euros worth of equipment.

[Cloud Windfoot Omega]

Thank you, that should help a lot.

 

Is there anything I should look out for, when buying speakers?

If I understood right, speakers have a power threshold.

 

I know that my colleagues fix (or rather scrap, since fixing is not worth it) subwoofers that has been burned because

they couldnt take the power.

Mostly those are car equipment.

I just want to avoid burning hundreds of euros worth of equipment.

you hve to make sure that the  home theater system can output the  right amount of power to the speaker, based on wattage i believe, I would not worry about it being too high you may need a speaker amp to raise the output.  Try to get all your speakers to have about the same model or wattage.