5.1 on 7.1 ?

Another question about upgrading. My current setup is just 5.1 and I have matched 5.1 speaker set. Can I run a newer 7.1 receiver in 5.1 mode or something like that? Is it determined by the media? IE, xbox360, dvd, bluray, etc as to how the sound is output. I believe the 360 is just 5.1, but if bluray is 7.1, is there an option to pick just 5.1...kind of like how dvds have stereo or 5.1 or dts, etc?

Yes you can. You just hook your system up the same way you normally would but you just don't use the surround back channels.

You simply set the rear surrounds as disabled and it will port all sound (even on 7.1 soundtracks) to the 5.1 speakers being used.

Yes you can run a 7.1 receiver in 5.1 mode, I don't know many houses that would fit 7.1 speaker systems properly. I will continue to run my 5.1 speaker system with whatever receiver I may own in the future, I just don't see having the room for a 7.1 system in my future.

I actually enjoy most 7.1 titles with my 7.1 setup. I just wish there were more titles that were mixed as 7.1. Some of the best I have heard include 3:10 to Yuma and The Bank Job.