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Devotion to 2Ch/MC?

Which are you more dedicated to; multichannel/surround or 2CH?

- If 2Ch is the primary focus of your audio-attention (willing to go the xtra mile to get it "perfect"), then why bother with surround?

- If Multichannel is the primary focus of your attention (willing to go the xtra mile to get it "perfect"), but doesn't surpass your 2CH system's performance, when why continue to bother with surround?

- - Do you feel your multichannel system can or has the potential to surpass your 2CH system's performance? IYO, can Multichannel surpass 2CH? If not, then why bother with multichannel?
cdwallace
russ_l
95 posts
 
My experience with two-channel and multi-channel music is that two channel recordings sounds flat and lifeless, no matter how good it is, when you go back to it from the multi-channel version of the same recording. It takes some two-channel listening time to readjust and enjoy two-channel again. Multi-channel recordings seem to energize the whole listening room to a much greater degree than a two-channel recording can. IMHO.

Russ
maineiac
649 posts
 
I don't know, maybe it's the wonderment of hearing a 3 dimensional sound coming through 2 speakers that make me like stereo better. In my case I do prefer to watch concert DVDs with MC but most music in 2 channel. What's up with that?
elevick
2,636 posts
 
Sometimes 2 channel just sounds more "natural"?
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,677 posts
 
I cannot imagine how 2channel can sound more natural in a good home system unless the multichannel version was done incompetently. (Of course, that certainly is possible.)

Kal
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,306 posts
 
PS - I wrote my response before I read the whole string. I think I am 2nd'g Stehno's position.

Johnnyb53 raises some good points. I was thinking about multi-channel solely as delivering discrete audio signals from other than front L & R. Great for trippy type Pink Floyd stuff maybe ... I hadn't considered what surround might contribute relative to "hall ambience".

I think I still prefer 2 channel if only because I have a better chance of being able to afford and implement significant quality changes to my 2 channel system compared to a 5+ channel system.
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