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For the last question, here are a couple of notes:JVC has a Dolby Headphone processor which can be plugged into an existing audio system:http://www.audiocubes.com/product/JVC_SU-DH1_Surround_Headphone_Adapter.... video isn't critical, I the HK 3490 also has Dolby Headphone as well and is a stereo amp, so you won't be paying for a bunch of unused channels if all you need is the headphone output. It does, however, have less digital inputs than a typical AVR, but, hey, it has digital inputs!

i think the whole 7.1 surround sound, is a marketing ploy to get the consumer to pay top dollar for a 7.1 receiver. I mean if the studio mix is only in 5.1 its irrelevant to have such a system. im looking for discrete channels not some neo mock-up!

I have a JVC SU-DH1, which has proved convenient in times such as David mentions. I'm told that they are still made, but most are available from Japan. You can read a little more at http://pureaudio.blogspot.com/2008/11/jvc-su-dh1-portable-surround-decod.... Some PCs and laptops also have Dolby Headphone built into their DVD playback software products. Computers with Dolby PC Entertainment Experience also include Dolby Headphone.

Even though not all movie soundtracks are 7.1 having a the 2 extra speakers comes in nicely when listening to music or any other 2 channel material. The easiest way to upgrade to 7.1 is to upgrade your front right and left speakers then migrate your original speakers further back. Not only will you enjoy new speakers, you will also make use of the ones you already own.

7.1 is not a total gimmick. 1. It's nice in larger spaces where you tend to lose the "enveloping" sound of 5.1...even if it's (7.1) matrixed.2. Some 5.1 soundtracks matrixed to 7.1 actually sound pretty fair...cheack out X-Men United for a solid example.3. There ARE some 7.1 studio mixes out there and there'll certainly be more.In the end, I'll take that extra 2 channels, thanks. In a modern receiver, it can be seen as only a bonus, IMO, as fidelity really isn't being terribly hindered in a $500 unit. Sounds like a lot of sour grapes from those without it, or unwilling to upgrade.NO harm, no foul.

Forget measly 7.1, I'm waiting on 11.2! I wonder how my wife will like 13 speakers spread across our entire living room, though?

Hi, I just purchased a samsung plasma,model PN58B550, IN THE SPECS IT DOES NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE 3:2 PULLDOWN, DOES THAT MEAN THIS SET WONT DEINTERLACE PROPERLY, DONT ALL SETS NOW HAVE THIS FEATURE,or is it listed as something else, I have a samsung blu-ray PD-3600 does the player do all this before it is sent to the tv. I am stumped.can you help me please.thanksval

All TVs have video processors that ostensibly include 3:2 pulldown compensation, but some work better than others. I haven't seen the B850 plasma, but Tom Norton is reviewing the very similar B860, and he says it passed the 1080i 3:2 test but failed the 480i test. The BD-P3600 player passed the 1080i 3:2 pulldown test in HT's review, so either way should work just fine as long as you don't send 480i to the TV.

Regarding the JVC SU-DH1, I just verified that is no longer available.

Thank you for helping us all out in picking what we need and not going with the hype. I have a 55-inch Samsung LED TV (120 Mhz), which is connected (HDMI) to a Samsung BluRay player and my satelite (HDMI) HD DVR. I would like to get a 5.1 surround-sound system. My budget is $1000 or a bit more if necessary. Here are my questions: (i) What receiver should I get? What features to look for? Could you suggest some specific models? (ii) What type of speakers? How may watts? Neighbors are not a concern and room is 10 x 12. Any suggestions as to manufacturer/models, etc? I will be primarily using this room for watching TV, movies (BluRay), but no gaming. What selection/combination would give the best bang for my buck?Jo Clyde

Jo, $1000 for an AVR and speakers isn't much. I suggest looking at the Onkyo TX-SR607 AVR ($600; review at hometheatermag.com/receivers/onkyo_tx-sr607_av_receiver/) and DCM Cinema2 speaker system ($400; review at www.hometheatermag.com/compactspeakers/1107dcm/). If you can spend a bit more, take a look at the Klipsch HD Theater 500 speaker system ($600; review at hometheatermag.com/compactspeakers/klipsch_hd_theater_500_speaker_system/) or Energy RC-Micro system ($1000; review at hometheatermag.com/compactspeakers/energy_rc-micro_speaker_system/).Alterntiavely, you could look at a home theater in a box that includes AVR and speakers but no disc player, since you already have one. Home Theater rated the Onkyo HT-SR800 ($600) very highly, but it has since been replaced by the HT-S5100 ($600). And just today, I got a press release for two new Onkyo HTIBs (no disc player), the HT-S7200 ($900) and HT-S6200 ($700).

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but it seems related enough. I'm trying to find some good 5.1 headphones with an optical in. Are there any for under $200?

I don't know of any 5.1 headphones with optical in. And I'm not sure what you mean by "5.1 headphones." Do you mean headphones with separate drivers for each channel or simulated 5.1? If the latter, that function is not generally in the headphones, but in the AVR or pre/pro audio processing...something like Dolby Headphone. Maybe there's a set of 'phones with Dolby Headphone or something similar built in, but I don't know of any. I'll see what I can find, or maybe our readers know of somthing along these lines...

My question regards having two(2) Center Channel Speakers (C.C.S.). I have a Pioneer Elite, #SC-09TX (10.2 Channel AVR) which has "Bi-Amp/By-Wire" (4-wire) speaker outputs for one(1) C.C.S. (using the 9th & 10th channel) Can the SC-09TX effectively use two(2) C.C.S. (1 on top of TV + 1 on bottom of TV) connected via normal 2-wire full-range C.C.S.??? If so, would there be cross-talk or imaging problems when calibrating the sound with the SC-09TX Microphone/Pink Noise set-up procedure???

I'm skeptical of simulated 5.1, so I would prefer separate drivers for each channel. I see plenty of them for PCs, but as you know, the processing is done by the PC in those cases. Has anyone played with simulated 5.1 headphones, Dolby or otherwise?

I work at a retail store, not saying where but 7.1 is not a necessary way to go that is for sure. However, that's not the main reason why I am blogging. I'm curious as to what everyone thinks and feels are the best songs that should be played on speakers when your listening to them. I do have a small variety, but I do know that it is the customers that know what the best songs to hear are. If you don't mind helping out, that'd be great. Thank-you!

I have a large room, and the physical construction of the room just doesn't allow for a 7.1 set-up unless, for the speakers that go on either side of the seating area, I either use in-ceiling speakers or have the speakers mounted on stands immediately next to the sofa.Not really practical.So I use the two extra channels of audio on my AVR to bi-amp (and bi-wire) my left and right main speakers (B&W DM603 s3s).I know, I know, technically, it's not really bi-amping them since the AVR is powering all channels of amplification....I could put some speakers in another room and run it as a second zone. Maybe outdoor speakers.But for now, I'll pretend I am bi-amping my front speakers and will enjoy the wonderful placebo effect I'm experiencing.

Andrew, If you mean the best songs to show-off speakers to customers then it is important to know the strengths of the speakers that you're showing. And you're also right that it should be the music that the customer knows inimately. That withstanding some of my suggestions would be Keb Mo "Just Like You Are" tr#11 (guitar), Mark Knopfler "All the Roadrunning" tr#6 (male & female voices), Billy Joel "Hits 3" tr#4 (piano), Eagles "Hell Freezes Over" tr#6. Some of the music is familiar enough that the customer will likely have heard it before or at least have an idea of what a live guitar, piano, singing voice should sound like. If the customer insists on Thump-Thump style use Manu Chao's "Clandestino" and maybe you can also broaden their narrow musical prospective. :)Personally I have ten songs from different artists/recordings that I use but hopefully this helps some. If your store has an SACD player that changes things too.

I auditioned the Marantz SR4003 AVR..and bought it...just for Dolby Headphone! I thought it was really, really impressive. However I just couldn't justify the price tag (even with the healthy discount I got)for this one feature alone, and I returned the AVR for a refund.I can't comprehend why this knockout feature didn't make it's way into every AVR from every manufacturer. It turns out I may have to buy the same receiver again while there are still a few available (looks like it's been discontinued).Regards, jameswww.furisdead.com

I have just recently purchased a 7.1ch Panasonic Sc-BT300 Home theater for a cheap price, and was just wondering if I could just use 6 speakers and not 8, since I got only a small room... Will there be a difference in the sound produced if i use this set up? Tnx