A 2.1 may be stronger in the bass as compared to a 5.1 or vice
versa. You just have to read reviews, ask users or even go over to
the shops with the speakers on display and test its sounds tthere
to confirm.
If you are just an avergae user who are not particular about sounds
then a 2.1 will be fine. But there are gamers and movie goers who
are particular about sounds in entertainment and demands a
realistic experience of the media. How does it feel like in an
action, horror or car chase movie where you will feel like your are
truely experiencing the play when you can here ghostly foot steps
from the rear or gunshots at point blank or fired in a distants
echoing of into the night? How does it feel like to play a stealth
game and besides your controls and tthe display panel, you rely on
sounds to determine the direction or location where the enemies
that are approaching. In situations like this a 5.1 will definitely
be better since it will have a good bass output, 2 rear 2 side and
a front speakers to delivery surround-sound experience.
