SACD vs DVD-A speaker set-up geometry

Ears...Favorable mention of the rear channel use on an Alison Krauss multichannel recording strikes me as strange. On the recording that I have, applause is loudly recorded only in the rear channels. This is a gimmick...not what you would hear from anywhere other than the first row, in which case the performance sonic perspective would be different. The transition from performance to applause is very abrupt and unnatural sounding. IMHO of course.

Thanks from everyone who's responded. I just brought home a 6-ch. Emm Labs rig and find it everything but gimmiky. Two channel's great until one does surround correctly. Of course I'm listening to some wonderful artists on the Chesky label, and other well recorded in great acoustic spaces in DSD. The 'drums in the rear' stuff I resevre for folks who want to sit down and be 'impressed' from one or two songs with sounds flying around the room. Not very satisfying for long enjoyable listening sessions. In that regard I agree with the soundstage arguement.

Anyone come up with the answer to DVD-A placement? Seems I can't get a straight answer!

Kal answered your question about DVD-A in the beginning of the thread.

Five channel or multi channel music isn't fully perfected yet. I think a 12 year old could do a better mixing job then some of these sound engineers. With that said, I still think that these multi channel disk put CD's to shame. I'm ready to replace all my CD's with SACD's & DVD-Audio disk. It's time to move on.

I prefer full range direct radiating speakers for multi channel music.