A 5.1 receiver is perfect for me, and is for you too

Audio receivers come in all shapes and sizes, whether it’s a basic stereo one, a 5.1 one, a 7.1 one, or something with even more inputs than that. As you might’ve guessed, the more ports you have, the more expensive the receiver gets. This leads to a lot of people settling with certain picks, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

There’s a sweet spot you can settle into, and it’s a 5.1 receiver. Yes, that means you’re locked out from going further than that, but I don’t think that’s something most people have to do. Surround sound systems take up more space than you’d think, and you might be surprised by how much more you’d need with 7.1 compared to a 5.1 system.

When I first started thinking about my setup, I weighed whether to go with a 7.1 system. Since I realized it was going into my living room, with my couch close to the wall, I had to look at other options. I think the sweet spot for most people is a 5.1 receiver, or at the very least, a 5.1 system. You can always buy a 7.1 receiver if you want to leave room to grow, but I think it’s totally optional. It took me a few years before I finally utilized the last two speaker spots on my 7.1 receiver, and I used them for Dolby Atmos speakers instead of building a 7.1 system.

You’ll be fine with a 5.1 receiver

It’s the sweet spot

Unless you’re an audio enthusiast, I think you’ll be perfectly fine with a 5.1 system. As a result of that, I don’t think there’s much of a reason to buy a 7.1 receiver over a 5.1 unless you envision yourself growing the setup in the future, or you can get a good deal.

For a lot of people who build a surround sound setup, myself included, space is the big limiter. It’s difficult to figure out how a 7.1 system fits in a living room, and I don’t think it’s worth rearranging your entire setup for that. Instead, you can settle for a 5.1 system, and I honestly don’t know if settling is the right word to use. A 5.1 audio setup is an excellent choice, and it blows away anything you’re getting from a soundbar or a stereo system.

Just because you’re using two fewer speakers than a 7.1 system doesn’t mean it’s a poor experience. I mean, sure, it isn’t as good as 7.1, but if everything is placed correctly and calibrated, it makes for a very engaging experience that’s easy to get immersed in. You’ll also find that a lot of Blu-ray discs are still mixed with a 5.1 surround sound mix, so you’re not exactly missing out on anything.

The biggest thing I’d be worried about when buying a 5.1 receiver is wanting Atmos in the future. Atmos is a very cool addition to your surround sound, and it’s worth the investment if you can pull it off. I just have a pair of satellite speakers mounted high up on my wall, and I’m happy with that. It only cost me about $50 to get them — these aren’t good speakers by any means. I’d notice a way bigger difference if I actually invested in some better ones, but I’m in no rush.

I think choice paralysis is a big factor in purchases like this. New receivers aren’t cheap, and it might feel like you’re hamstringing yourself by only getting a 5.1 receiver. It’s a fair fear to have, but let me tell you that in practice, a 5.1 sound system is more than enough for most people. You have to ask yourself why you’re thinking about building a sound system in the first place. If you are happy with your soundbar, then you’ll be extremely happy with even a stereo speaker set, let alone a 5.1 system.

Know what you need before buying something

This is the important step

The reason why I think most people would be fine with a 5.1 surround sound setup, and in turn, a 5.1 receiver, is that I know what most people are dealing with in their living rooms. Think about people you know in real life. Would they really benefit from a 7.1 surround sound setup? I know many people who have their TVs mounted above fireplaces, so I don’t think picture quality or sound is even on the radar for people like that.

A 5.1 receiver is perfect for scenarios like that, especially if you can get one for cheaper than a 7.1 one. It’s a lot easier to fit in your living room, and you’ll notice a big difference compared to your TV’s audio. The only real downside I see to buying a 5.1 receiver is being locked into just the five speakers. I don’t know if you’re the type of person to be tempted by upgrades, and if you are, then you’ll be limited by a 5.1 receiver. It really boils down to where you’ll be getting the best deal. If you find something you can’t pass up, but it’s a 7.1 receiver, there’s no harm done in never using all the ports. That’s really one of the best situations you can find yourself in, but in actuality, you’ll probably be fine with 5.1.