Charlie- Diminishing returns, right on!

5.1 blows away 2 channel stereo (for movie soundtracks; I'm a solid 2 channel guy for music). I have 6.1, and even though I feel there's a big benefit there, not nearly the magnitude of 5.1 vs stereo. Someday, I hope to go to 7.1, and I'm anticipating another improvement, but maybe not even to the extent of 5.1 to 6.1.

Funny thought: with 7.1, we effectively have 4 speakers behind us, but only 3 in front. Almost seems backwards to me, because we have less acuity for sound behind us than in front. See what I mean? Sort of like we'd get more benefit by putting more speakers where we hear better...

(But I know, in an ideal 7.1 setup, surrounds are to the sides, and rears are to the rear, but I always thought about that seeming contradiction anyway betwen "front" and "back"... )