home theater?
I think 5 channel is a bunch of hot air
I have an extensive two channel setup that I use with a Proton 36" tv and dvd and I get excellent results, incredible sound and a moving sense. Why does one need to be tickled behind the ear to make the movie experience real?
I watch alot of music concert DVD's on my 2 channel setup and I am very happy with the sound. I've heard a few of these on 5.1 setups and what a joke. First of all, outside of some movies, the sound isn't recorded via a mic technique that truly captures the recording as 5 distinct channels.
And who would want to be sitting in the middle of a jazz combo when one can be out in front of them?
A recent listen to the Steely Dan Plush DVD, the background singers were sometimes in the center channel, sometimes hard in the back etc, whereas the two channel had them nicely balanced to the left like they were visually. And that's a dvd that was cleverly thought out by Roger Nichols no less!
My listening room is long and narrow 27 by 15 and I have the speakers along the far wall, I suppose for those listening in very deep rooms that the rear channels tend to fill things out and add a sense of depth & support instead of hearing the room reverberations.
Anyway great two channel audio with video seamed in correctly is my preference, and I don't like seeing excellent audio manufacturers and dealers go under while the theatre types are spending gobs of money on clearly poorer sounding setups that wow instead of produce music faithfully.
Tom
