Both formats offer benefits and drawbacks that can be important to consider depending on the type of game being played. 5.1 sound provides a more immersive experience, as the sound is layered in front of the player instead of placed behind them like in 7.1 sound. This means that objects and other sounds will be closer to the listener, making it easier to pinpoint where they are in space and time. However, 5.1 setups can be more expensive than 7.1 setups and may not be necessary for all games. Games designed with 5.1 sound in mind tend to perform better with this format enabled, but there are exceptions to this rule.