Multichannel vs Stereo

Rob Babcock · « **on:** 19 Aug 2004, 08:03 pm »

Okay, I've got a short break in the Olympics, so I thought I'd stir the pot!

Just thought I'd poll the AC masses on a favorite topic of mine- MC vs Stereo. Do you like MC? Will it gain ground or one day supplant 2 channel for serious listening?

Obviously the poll answers won't nail everyone's feelings dead on, but please pick the one closest to how you feel. Feel free to post comments elaborating on your views if you wish.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #1 on:** 19 Aug 2004, 09:05 pm »

Well, I will chime in with my thoughts...

I go with that multichannel is fine for movies, but won't replace 2 channel for music, for ME, at this point. I have heard good multichannel (Primare Pre/Pro, Primare Amps, Primare electronics, JM Lab speakers, playing Dark Side of the Moon) and it is interesting. It is also different. It is also not the same experience for me, and I prefer stereo.

My wife prefers surround, so we ALL know that I will have it eventually - bought a Pro Logic pre/pro for her movie viewing this year, will eventually get a better surround decoder going, but I am in love with good stereo sound.

Mark in Canada

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #2 on:** 19 Aug 2004, 09:10 pm »

Almost every MC re-mix of stereo music I have heard sucked, the 2 channel versions have almost invariably been better.

The good news is that most of the high resolution stereo re-masters (24/48, 24/96/ 24/192) I've heard have sounded very nice.

Some of the newer material mixed and mastered in MC does sound better when played back on a good MC system.

R_burke · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 Aug 2004, 09:18 pm »

Most live events that I've been to are set up two channel.

I was impressed by some of the shows I've been to where it was multi or surround (Pink Floyd, ELP) but there were other contributing factors to my impressions of the sound

_scotty_ · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 12:15 am »

I've only used a Fosgate 360 surround sound decoder for movies.
That was when I had room to set up rear speakers. With my current setup for two channel I get surround sound reproduction of movies using only the stereo two channel sound track for replay. I have no plans to get into
multi-channel reproduction as I don't feel the performance level of the currently available equipement is as good as my two channel rig. The Meridan gear might make me change my mind but I haven't heard it yet.
The software that is available mostly doesn't appeal to me anyway so there is no big rush. I do believe that high end two channel is on it's way out. There are very few B&M stores that are able to keep an inventory of
high end two channel gear,home theatre and installations are what is keeping their doors open. Almost no one sets down and listens to a symphony clear through to the end. The way people listen to music has changed in the last 30 years
and no one seems able to devote a block of time to just listening to music.
Things change and thats the way it is. I didn't vote as there was not a category that described my take on the situation.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #5 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 12:22 am »

Geez, I almost always sit down to listen to a whole symphony or concerto, although occasionally I'll listen to only a few (eg, with something like the Planets I may listen to only a few movements sometimes).

Bingenito · « **Reply #6 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 01:35 am »

The Esoteric DV 50 plays just about all formats. I have listened to DVDA and MC SACD. I own several DSD SACDs that have MC layers.

Some of the MC recordings are nice it really depends on the mix. In summary I actually disconnected and sold my cables for MC and only have balanced stereo cabling today.

90% of the MC I have heard is painful. During a track you can actually hear the instruments move from speaker to speaker. How is the drummer going to move from front to back mid-song? Or drums in front cymbals in the back? Background singers behind me?

These are examples of bad mixes. If done right MC can sound great. This may sound strange but to date I think the only MC that was hands down better then the stereo mix was Linkin Park. Not your typical audiophile recording but it seems as if it was made for MC music.

I will take 2 very capable speakers and some killer stereo gear over MC any day. At least until engineers get their act together.

Just my opinion… Everyone has one

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #7 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 08:02 am »

I'd add Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots by Flaming Lips to that list. The stereo version is good, but the MC mix is amazing. It elevates an already great album to an entirely different level.

Digi-G · « **Reply #8 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 12:18 pm »

Here is my take on it. There is good MC and bad MC, just like there is good stereo and bad stereo. Remember back when stereo used to mean the drums and bass came from one speaker and the vocals and guitar came from the other speaker. Bad stereo. Unfortunately the sound engineers of today doing multi-channel have to relearn that same lesson (I don't understand why, either).

I also feel that good/bad multi-channel experiences are (typically) more of a function of the mix than of the equipment/decoders.

I feel that a good multi-channel presentation will sound better, hands down, when placed side-by-side with a good stereo presentation. My 2 cents.

Levi · « **Reply #9 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 02:02 pm »

MC definitely for movies and some DSD SACD recordings. It also depends on the mix Pink Floyd, Metallica, Chicago are tops of my lists.

2ch definitely for the majority of the music.

I am using a Bryston pre-pro and classe 5ch amp so I have the best of both worlds.

ctviggen · « **Reply #10 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 03:04 pm »

I don't really like MC for music. I think it's interesting, but I miss being able to close my eyes and "see" where all the instruments are. This is totally gone when there's drums playing in the back channels.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 04:32 pm »

At CES, I heard a pretty amazing mulitchannel setup (Halcro/Wilson 5-channel). The room was very big, and the primary use of the rear channels was "ambiance" in a live recording. To me, it was like one of those amazing things that you see at Disney World, where the effect was so lifelike that you grant kudos to the engineers for doing something you'd never expect to see/hear anywhere else. The re-creation of the venue and the realism of the stage + audience was very very impressive.

That said, I can't imagine having one of these in my home, and I'd expect that it would only be impressive on recordings of live music. As ctviggen says, I'm not a fan of hearing a singer on the center channel with the guitar playing to me left-rear...whether it's realistic or not is subordinate to the fact that it's more of a distraction. I've played some DTS music recordings on a Denon-based 5 channel home theater system, and it just didn't do it for me.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 04:38 pm »

I think the gimmicky surround recordings you often hear today aren't really a good indicator of what MC can do. If there's even one superb MC recording, that validates what can be done with the technology. Whether or not engineers take the high road or mix for gimmick value, that's another matter.

Carlman · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 05:00 pm »

I'm sort of a KISS method user but also someone that appreciates a different approach with some sophisticated or clever use of technology to solve a problem.

I see MC as an attempt at that but falls short to me because I don't like having multiple speakers and the setup required to get that right. I don't have the patience with myself to obsess with it. I feel like a 60 year old accountant seeing a computer for the first time when someone starts talking about digital multichannel setups.

I'm a 2-channel guy, though... I have just started feeling comfortable with my abilities to execute a good 2-channel setup. It'll take many years for me to consider adding another 3.1 to 5.1 speakers into the mix and consider it a real listening pleasure for music.

-C

Bingenito · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 06:42 pm »

If I had to put money on it I would bet MC would survive.

With HT coming into the mainstream and HT in a box having MC inputs some with 1394 connections you can bet that Joe Average consumer wants all his 5-7 mini speakers + subwoofer playing while listening to music.

After all if some is good more is better right

MC is here to stay because it is marketable.

Like anything else, if done right it will work. If "right" is creating a faithful recording you can find a few very good examples of quality MC but for the most part the same recording in 2 channel rules.

Kind of off topic DVDA sounds good but it is so irritating when you have to turn your TV on and go through a few menus to play 2-channel music. Just not worth the extra work IMO

StevenACNJ · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 06:47 pm »

I use a Lexicon MC 12 pre/pro in my 5.1 HT setup. Lex's Logic 7 does a nice job with 2 channel music sources converitng them into 5.1 channels.

It also has a great 2 channel surround mode which works well.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 07:13 pm »

Quote from: Bingenito

With HT coming into the mainstream and HT in a box having MC inputs some with 1394 connections you can bet that Joe Average consumer wants all his 5-7 mini speakers + subwoofer playing while listening to music.
...

Yes, but for those guys, the "5-channel Stereo" feature on most AV receivers would suffice; those simply duplicate the L/R channels to the rear, then send a mono signal to the center channel.

eduardw · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 Aug 2004, 09:19 pm »

Mc audio is the future, but a good mc audio set has to build around equal speakers and amps. It is easier and more affordable to build a good sounding stereo set then a mc set.
Also it depends on the format of the audio source.
For me a stereo recording sounds better when played by 2 speakers than when it is processed by a controller (logic 7), but a good mc recording sound better then a stereo track(played on a well balanced mc set).

Poll

What do you think about Multichannel for music?