[SuxoR]

How big is the difference? Does it matter only within the quality of your sound card?

Sorry if this has been asked somewhere else

Thanks Tech Forums :]

[Oreo]

It's worth it if your a film buff.

[Crysalis]

the extra two channels are a "behind" section that basically will somewhat mirror the front center channel.

There's really no worth to it if you have a good and properly set up 5.1 system.

[tipsykip]

I think there's a bigger difference between hardware quality than the technology itself. Great speakers with a 5.1 setup will sound much better than mediocre speakers with a 7.1 setup. That having been said, I've been in some state of the art 7.1 test rooms lately and the difference in astounding. It's hard to mirror that difference at home, though, unless you've got the bucks, which I do not...

[EricB]

Research question about possible 7.1 sound card prototype