[birdwizard]

I have 5 identical speakers in my setup and have recently been
enjoying the 5 channel stereo mode on my Pio 45tx for CD material.

The effect reminds me ALOT of listening to headphones. The center
image is wider and less focused, but the whole soundstage is spread
way out to the sides; in a pleasing way.

Instruments that would be in the left or right speaker only, now are imaged in space between the fronts and rears of either side. The 45tx
does such a great job setting delay, levels and eq, that echo and time lag are nearly gone. There are actually firmly anchored images. I like this effect much better than PL2 in my setup.

Any experiences or opinions on this effect?

[Uptown Audio]

Yeah, it's just an effect. There is no such thing as "5 channel stereo" as stereo is a 2 channel recording and played back over a 2 channel system will achieve the best results. You can get multi-channel (I have to get a kick out of that also as ANY number of chanels above one would be multi, eh? - what will the marketing drones think of next?) Push the "ByPass" button if you have one or the "Stereo" button to disable the Dolby demons and you can hear what the recording should sound like. You can then adjust your speakers to get the best imaging. It's not a crime to listen to stereo recordings in a matrixed or pseudo-surround sort of way, but is is wrong!
Peace,
Bill

[MaxCast]

I find the 5 channel stereo mode very useful.  I use it when cleaning the room, sound for get-togethers and for TV that is not in dolby surround.

[csero]

as stereo is a 2 channel recording and played back over a 2 channel system will achieve the best results ...

IMHO playing back a 2 channel recording over a 2 channel system is the worst thing you can do if you are concerned about high-fidelity in the sense to reproduce the original sound event. Although Dolby steering is a step in the wrong direction too.

Csero

[ctviggen]

I disagree -- I think trying to recreate an event through 5+ channels creates failure.

[JoshK]

Bob, Frank is not talking about standard HT surround as being better than stereo.

[csero]

Bob, Frank is not talking about standard HT surround as being better than stereo.

Yes, there is nothing substantially wrong with 2 channel recording, but the reproduction side is a disaster. 2 to 5 channel upconversion is an attempt to solve the problem, although a failed one.

Csero

[PhilNYC]

IMHO playing back a 2 channel recording over a 2 channel system is the worst thing you can do if you are concerned about high-fidelity in the sense to reproduce the original sound event.

Frank, what about for recordings that are studio-produced?  Aren't the recording engineers trying to optimize what they finally produce to be best played on a 2 channel system?  In this case, the "original sound event" is being captured on a multi-track recorder and mixed down to two channels using a two channel system to monitor the results.