Why is 2 Channel better than multi-channel?

Dwl...Your mind, it seems, is definitely open. May I suggest that any matrix multichannel system (and I was heavily into that once) is very inferior to true discrete multichannel like DVDA or SACD. Also your two channel setup is excellent.

I think that there are two important aspects to sound reproduction: first... the sonic qualitiy (distortion, frequency response, etc.) and secondly...spatial. Multichannel addresses the second aspect, and this can be implemented with top of the line equipment, or with elcheapo stuff.

Spatial effectiveness can vary greatly even with straight stereo. Some speakers image much better than others, and planar speakers (which I like) differ most greatly from box speakers in their spatial reproduction character.

As I have mentioned before, I was around when stereo was introduced, and it got much the same reception from monaural audiophiles as multichannel does today. The more things change the more they stay the same.

I'm a 2 channel guy but recently have found that DVD based front ends have a more natural presentation for CD! Another find of mine is the anthem D1...what a freakin great preamp...upsamples all inputs to audiophile quality!

06: Dave_b...Mass production of DVD players has caused great improvement, and cost reduction, of D/A electronics. DVD players all benefit from this newer technology, even when playing CDs. Some years ago there was a quadraphonic LP system that required phono pickups to perform in the 20-40 KHz range. The quadraphonic system died, but the related improvements to phono pickups remain today.

Thanks Eldartford...I have read that the DVD spinner is different than a CD-ROM spinner/reader!

It's better on average (take a bunch of peoples' systems) because most of us don't have the room for a true, well set up multichannel system (with all the aforementioned identical speakers and amplification). If you take a good 5 channel setup (with or without sub, as needed), and perhaps no TV in the middle, it's a great thing, and obviously you can switch between 2 channel and multichannel recordings and enjoy both. So usually it's the room that is the culprit. Most rooms are really only big enough (or have too much other stuff in them) to really maximize a multichannel system. And of course MC software is limited compared to 2 channel. If it's done right, it's worth it.