Home Theatre - Hoax or Substance?

Multichannel music is still not that good. Though I did hear 1 demo that was very good. So good that it made me want a pre-amp that was clean on all 5.1 channels. It requires a hell of a lot more work to do correctly and only a few labels are probabely going to be willing to do the extra work. The rest, I expect are going to use a lot of gimicks that are going to make true audiophile run for the front door. One Bryston 5 channel amp was very favorably reviewed in Stereophile and is a class A amp in the recommended components issue now.

Personally, I find that there's more lousy sounding surround recordings than good ones. But when its a good one, it's awesome! So far, the best are DTS encoded.

I just did a post on long live 2 ch. Here is more elaboration.5 channel is easier to set up.The center speaker takes care of your "center image" The rear speakers,just put them where you like them.All processors have the built-in test tones to make things simple. Buy/rent/borrow DVD essentials,and you are a pro. With full range speakers (all) I find no need for a sub. I am one of those who think all music dvds sound best in 2 ch. (including "Hell Freezes Over")I own several DTS movies,and have rented lots more;not much difference over DD. On lazer disc;different thing. DTS was better.It just got to the marketplace to late, +,20 bucks more for titles.Back in the 50s/60s,we, who had good mono set ups, were put off at the expense of going "stereo". In the 70s we had quad in front of us.Incompatibilty of cartridge, and the vinyl killed that,along with the more equiptment aspect. Dvd is a better mouse trap,but all things being equal is the key.Quality of the processor/amps/and speakers,and the "wires".You can't expect a reciever,or a 5ch amp to be of the same quality as good separates.(from the other post -50 tubes) All this aside;the excitement of a movie at home, in SS, on budget equiptment,ain't bad at all.Think of it as a jacuzzi,you want to just stick your toes in,get all the way in? Or,do you have water phobia,and just stay on the sidelines? If you haven't heard good stuff,hold off the negatives till you have.