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.

Kr4 is correct as to what is recommended. However, few people can arrange their rooms exactly as specified. Also, bipole/dipole speakers work fine. As always, speaker type and placement makes a difference, but IMHO there is no hard and fast "right answer".

Ears...Antiphonal music has been around for centuries, but until now could not be recorded properly. Classical chamber music is sometimes performed "in the round" especially in small private performances. Many people have performed in orchestras, or chiors, and find the perspective of being in the midst of the performers to be natural.

Can it be a "gimmick"? Sure: but not always.