7.1 surround sound is a type of surround sound that uses eight speakers to create a 3D audio experience. It is commonly used in home theater configurations and headsets to immerse users in a full audio experience. The eight speakers include two front speakers, a center speaker, two surround speakers, two rear speakers, and a subwoofer. The "7" refers to the number of full-range speakers, and the ".1" refers to the addition of a subwoofer for low-frequency effects, such as bass and explosions.
Compared to 5.1 surround sound, which uses six channels, 7.1 surround sound adds two additional channels of sound and two extra speakers, providing more depth and dimension to the audio. The two extra channels of sound split the surround and rear channel information into four distinct channels, in which sound effects are directed to left and right surround channels (SL and SR), plus two rear surround channels (SBL and SBR) .
In a 7.1 surround sound home theater setup, the surround speakers are placed to the side of the listeners position, and the rear speakers are placed behind the listener. With the advent of Dolby Pro Logic IIz and DTS Neo:X, 7.1 surround sound can also refer to 7.1 surround sound configurations with the addition of two front height channels (LH and RH) positioned above the front channels or two front wide channels positioned between the front and surround channels.
Overall, 7.1 surround sound can create a more immersive audio experience, making the listener feel like they are in the middle of the action. It can also provide better localization of sounds in space, allowing the listener to pinpoint the location of different sounds in a movie or music track.
