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Why is 2 Channel better than multi-channel?

I hear that the music fidelity of a multi-channel AV Receiver/Integrated amp can never match the sounds produced by a 2 channel system. Can someone clearly explain why this is so?

I'm planning to upgrade my HT system to try and achieve the best of both worlds, I currently have a 3 channel amp driving my SL, SR, C and a 2 channel amp driving my L and R.
I have a Denon 3801 acting as my pre. Is there any Pre/Proc out there that can merge both worlds with out breaking my bank? Looking for recommendations on what my next logical steps should be? Thanks in advance.
springowl
lazarus28
339 posts
 
to add to jeffrebehr's offer - if you're in austin/san antonio area, look me up.

by the way, nice system there, jeff!
rnm421ab
4 posts
 
OH! So what you are saying is that you like it better. That's quite different from offering a theoretical reason why it *is* intrinsically better, which is what I took you to be offereing when you said 'Music arrives at our 2 ears from all directions. Five channels gets it lots righter than just 2', as an apparant explanation of why 5 channel is better than two. That explanation would go just as well (or badly) for 10 channel rather than 5, 17 rather than 13, and n+1 rather than n.

Anyway, if you are just saying it sounds better, maybe so. But that doesn't answer or even address the OP's question at all. It just contradicts its implication.

Rnm4
jeffreybehr's avatar
jeffreybehr
805 posts
 
TYVM, Lazarus. It started as a 2-channel audio system; I added the multichannel stuff for movies, but the multichannel classical and film music sounded SO good--natural, spacious--that my in-remission audiofoolia reared its ugly head. I replaced the universal-disc player, the preamp, ALL (about a dozen, I think) speakers, all 3 poweramps, all the IC and speakercable, etc.

It's now the best-sounding AUDIO system I've ever heard...but I don't go searching for hi-end audio systems to listen to. :-)
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flrnlamb
508 posts
 
Rnm4, that was deeeeeeeep man!
I'm a simpleton, and eat Cheerios and such. Could you repeat all that again for me in "simpleton terminology" I'm not sure I got all of what you said there.
I only read your post once however. Maybe that's why...duhu!
campbelr
10 posts
 
Could it be all the digital processing circuitry which degrades multi-channel sound? I recently bought a "top of the line" Bryston SP1.7 multi-channel (pre-amp/processor with analog bypass) to use with my Mcintosh MC501 monos and driving Apogee Duetta II's. I compared it to a Cary SLP-98P tube pre-amp in 2-channel mode. The bottom line - the Bryston is up on Ebay right now. The Bryston is certainly one of the best mutli-channel units out there, but it did not perform better than the 2-channel Cary... my 2 cents...Bob
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