Because apparently 7.1 audio channels weren't enough.... 
http://www.dts.com/professionals/sound-technologies/audio-processing/dts-3d-audio.aspx
Apparently it's been around for over a year but is finally hitting the consumer market, coming first in the new Expendables 2 Blu-Ray. http://www.highdefdiscnews.com/?p=91660
Maybe one day I'll invest in a 2.1 or 5.1 HTIB but I'm not that big of an audio geek I guess. 
My 5.1 system from the late 90s only has 2 speakers hooked up to it. Sounds good to me like that. I think about adding the two rear speakers but it's low on my list of audiophile things to do what with all my tube amp projects.
I have a 5.1. I knew 11.1, and eventually 66.1 will be "what you need to fully immerse yourself in the program blah blah blah." Most people are just lemmings. Do you know how big a room you'll need to have to even be able to use anything bigger than 5.1? Many living rooms aren't really big enough for a 7.1.
Looking at the diagram above, the front 6 channels will blend into 2 channels at best, at worst they'll become a mono channel.
But hey, it'll drive down the price of the 5.1 McIntosh I want....
That's why I've just stuck to stereo or headphones, who has a room big enough for that stuff?
"Got too much money? Come on down to ABC Audio House and we can help you out with the new, state-of-the-art 11.1 home theater system!"
I'll stick with 5.1.........currently, I'm shopping for a 10-12" powered sub, as my highs easily overpower my current powered 8" My living room isn't as big as the bonus room next to it, but the 5.1 still makes a noticable difference.
Ha ha. Another "breakthrough" product that makes all others obsolete. Are people stupid enough to spend money on it? Well, um, yeah, probably.
I have fancy interconnects and speaker cables, soo.... if i had the space and the money, this E36 M3 would absolutely happen. 
You guys haven't heard about Dolby Atmos yet, have you?
I have a 7.1 system but only 5.1 speakers hooked up to it because the room is too small for 7.1 to make much sense.
Derick Freese wrote: You guys haven't heard about Dolby Atmos yet, have you?
Appears to be designed for cinemas not really home theaters - unless you're a movie star yourself or a pro athlete....
The 2 speakers on my TV are good enough for my tone deaf ears.
Gearheadotaku wrote: The 2 speakers on my TV are good enough for my tone deaf ears.
Huh?
I've been too lazy to hook up the back speakers for years (partly because the wife likes to rearrange).
I consider myself somewhat of an audio snob, have a 65", only buy Blu-Ray's etc......I've realized 3.1 (front/center/right/sub) seems to be pretty good for me.
I just got 5.1 working at my house. Of course, typical me, it's all with old stuff. I was using a Sansui quad receiver for a few months before I tripped over a six channel Rotel amp. An old Marantz 5.1 decoder from the 90s. I'm a happy camper.
I have a Velodyne sub so I can get the discrete ".1" channel, but the funny part is, my AR9s play deeper than my subwoofer. I'm guessing I'm in a minority there.
I haven't heard a home theater center channel (or center channel speaker) that sounds good to me. But then again, I haven't heard a lot of them...
RossD wrote: I haven't heard a home theater center channel (or center channel speaker) that sounds good to me. But then again, I haven't heard a lot of them...
Most of them are kinda bad. Too small to have natural sounding voices. I had a Polk in my set up and it was kinda like that. I found an Energy at the thift store. Expensive, for me, at $50, but it does sound pretty good.
Speakers? My TV has two, that's it.
As with any new sound tech, I expect Atmos to make an appearance in homes within about 5 years. You just need a really big room to make it work well.
Why didnt they just make 10 louder?
I see what you did there...
logdog wrote: Why didnt they just make 10 louder?
I would think this is the cheap, GRM style. 
when in doubt add more speakers.
I on the other hand would look into acoustic treatments. I don't feel like I need more than 4.1 (I skip the center channel)
So, if I understand that diagram, your entire family has to sit within a five foot circle in a huge room to get the full benefit of all the speakers?
In reply to Basil Exposition:
Yeah, basically. Every audio system has a sweet spot. Look at it this way. When you bring dates around, you can use the opportunity for her to find your sweet spot
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