Podcast #1264: Family Room - 5.1 vs 7.2 what makes sense?

On today's show we take a look at your family room and decide whether a 7.2 system is worth it over 5.1. We also read your emails and catch up on the week's news.

News:

• How Valuable Is TV to Smaller, Independent Cable Operators?
• DirecTV and EverPass reach new deal to keep NFL Sunday Ticket in bars after threatening split

Other:

• Rage Against the Garage Door Opener (ratgdo)

Family Room - 5.1 vs 7.2 what makes sense?

Most of us don't have a fully dedicated theater room to fully deck out with a 7.2.4 Atmos system. Most of us have family rooms and would like some sort of a surround sound experience beyond a low end sound bar. The question we get asked a lot is whether a 7.2 system will provide a noticeably better experience than a 5.1 system. So today we answer that question.

Spoiler, in most family living rooms, a well-set-up 5.1 system is the smarter choice. A 7.2 system only becomes clearly better if you have good space behind the seating and can place the rear speakers properly. Let's get into it.

Pros of Going 7.2

• Better immersion - The two extra rear speakers create a more continuous sound field. Sounds that move from front to back (or circle around you) feel smoother and more realistic.
• Improved envelopment - You get a stronger sense of being "inside" the movie instead of just having sound coming from the sides.
• Smoother bass (the .2) - Two subwoofers reduce bass peaks and nulls. This is often the biggest real-world improvement over a single sub.
• More seating flexibility - Multiple people can enjoy better surround effects even if they're not in the exact sweet spot.
• Future-proofing - Many modern receivers can use the extra channels for Atmos height speakers later if you decide to expand.

Cons of Going 7.2

• Space requirements - You need room behind the main seats for the rear speakers. If your sofa is against the back wall (very common), the rear speakers end up too close and the benefit largely disappears.
• Higher cost - Two extra speakers + a second subwoofer + possibly a more expensive receiver adds significant cost.
• Harder placement - Getting the rear speakers at the right height, distance, and angle is more difficult in a shared family room.
• Diminishing returns in smaller rooms - In rooms under about 15x15–16x18 feet, the extra speakers can actually make the sound less coherent if they're too close together.
• More clutter & wiring - Extra speakers and cables are harder to hide in a multi-purpose family room.
• Content reality - Most streaming content is still mixed in 5.1. True discrete 7.1 tracks are less common outside Blu-rays

Rules of Thumb for a Family Room

If your sofa is against the back wall you are realistically looking at a 5.1 system since the rear speakers have nowhere to go. If you have 3 feet or more behind you, 7.2 may be worthwhile. If you can't fully afford a proper 7.2 system you will be better served with better speakers and a great subwoofer.

Bottom Line

For a typical family room:

• A high-quality 5.1 almost always delivers more enjoyment for the money and effort.
• Only go 7.2 if you have decent space behind the seating and are willing to spend more for the extra immersion and smoother bass.

Next week should we discuss if Atmos is worth it in a family room?