Yes it can be. Depend on what speaker you referring to

actually ur question is unclear, are you asking 7.1 htib set or 7.1 separate component set?

what i can tell is, u will need to specify the playing media.
for original cd and download mp3, it only got stereo track. means left and right. no matter how high end 7.1 surround only will play from front becos the song only have left and right.

lossless or not, songs wont play all the 7.1 spkrs becos no recorded information for the side and rear.
unless u enable the virtual surround, prologic, matrix upmix, then it only split from front channel not true surround effect. sometimes it is not perfect and worse than 2 channel.

since we human only got 2 ears, a set of proper setup 2 channel will definitely not lose to surround spkr. there are a lot must be taken care like room positioning, power, media, cables, software... to find best combination is not easy, but after sucess will make urself enjoyable. welcome to the audio  world. haha

dolby digital and dts codec can play 5.1 ad 7.1 depend on title. latest one is dolby atmos and auro3d that add ceiling spkr for realistic feel. the main arrangement type are 7.1.2 and 5.1.4 which add 2 or 4 height channel.

u can experience atmos ready cinema in 1utama or pavillion

we are getting off topic liao. this one is xls encore thread. any more u want to know may post at above pinned speaker recommendation thread.

Sorry for the belated reply.

To your first question, if you compared the high end bookshelf vs those 5.1, definitely the former sound a lot better. Remember, most 5.1 systems are created for HT and may not be suitable to music listening. Noted some bookshelfs also meant for movie and can be too bright and fatigue for music.

To you second question, any speaker that sound good on music will sound good on HT but the reversed is not true.

The rest of the questions are well address by ktek, and kudos to you, my friend.

Sorry for the belated reply.

To your first question, if you compared the high end bookshelf vs those 5.1, definitely the former sound a lot better. Remember, most 5.1 systems are created for HT and may not be suitable to music listening. Noted some bookshelfs also meant for movie and can be too bright and fatigue for music.

To you second question, any speaker that sound good on music will sound good on HT but the reversed is not true.

The rest of the questions are well address by ktek, and kudos to you, my friend.

Well because of people will buy

HT is short form of "home theater". u go cinema theater to watch movie, right?

he said bookshelf spkr is better for music playback. tone is close to real instruments and balance between treble, mid and bass.
company made 5.1 spkr set because of people will buy it. sell more unit earn more money, thats one of the reason.
more unit playing does not mean more detail and quality unless u got
1. multi channel content
2. adequate wattage amp to drive all spkrs
3. room correction. u know putting more red candle will attract more ghost. same happen to spkr where the phase crash each other causing frequency cancellation and boost.
4. free space to install them all
5. brain energy. i dont find surround is relaxing at all[SIZE=7][FONT=Impact]

easy bro, u ask 2 girls talking with u. senang & manja

now try 7 girls, stand in front and side, back.
ur eye will be turning around where can relax
i honest. i want snsd (kpop group) sing to me one by one speaker