So, which is better: 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound?
There’s no doubt that 5.1 systems are more popular, mainly for two reasons: firstly cost, and secondly room size – you need a large room to justify a 7.1 system. Most people find 5.1 surround sound quite adequate for their purposes. A properly configured set of speakers will provide an immersive audio experience which will fill all but the largest rooms. Some people consider 7.1 to be overkill, and cite the fact that DVDs are encoded in 5.1 channels anyway (though some Blu-ray discs are encoded with discrete 7.1 channels). While some people swear that 7.1 is better, it may be a good idea to buy a better quality 5.1 system than a lower range 7.1 one.
For mounting these speakers, you will need good quality surround sound speaker stands.