surround processor?

The first thing to do is forget the notion that stereo recordings must be reproduced with two channels. Recordings maybe mixed down to stereo as it is a better format than mono but it's no reason to insist they must be heard in stereo. Dolby surround does an excellent job and it enhances the listening experience.

It is crucial to set speaker distances as accurately as possible (small hand held lasers are ideal and far better than tape measures). Balancing levels is critical.

I recommend having all speakers from the same manufacturer and if possible the same series. Pre outs are best and identical amplification is ideal as the last thing you want is each channel having a different "sound". Some home theatre systems allow you to turn amplification off and the massive power supplies are then ideal for surround processing.

Five point one is a good starting point, but adding two front wide speakers and two rear surrounds really encases you with sound. That's nine point one and adding four Atmos speakers completes the package.

Four subs really makes a massive difference. I prefer to have them equidistance from the main listening position.

Another crucial consideration is adding super tweeters to each loudspeaker. The difference is so incredible it is unbelievable. The best way to describe it is the recorded sound disappears and you are there hearing sounds as they were recorded. Townshend SuperTweeters are excellent but the cost for multichannels is prohibitive. I've found that BatPure are ideal and they have a higher frequency range. They only have one output level, which is basically the same as Towenhend's position one.

Movies and music are spectacular.

I've mentioned this previously, but it's worth mentioning once more. Loudspeakers can be greatly enhanced by reducing sounds bouncing around in cabinets and contaminating cone movement. Lining the cabinets with sound deadening material and filling the internal space with sound absorption material works a treat,

Make sure what you get will do at least 4K video

Absolutely. Clarity of sound and clarity of image are the way to go. Substandard surround speakers are like a substandard center speaker; not recommended for those who appreciate quality.

I too believed that 13 channel home theatre systems were excessive and unnecessary, but after experiencing the additional channels I discovered they do enhance movie experience irrespective of room size as they provide a smooth transgression, rather than jumping from speaker to speaker.

What I fail to comprehend is how and why dedicated stereo system are always assumed to be better than home theatre systems in stereo mode. Home theatre systems have decent DACs and by selecting stereo mode the multi channel processing is removed.

Could it be that as soon as multi speakers are observed there is an automatic assumption the sound is always going to be inferior? It just seems irrational and I hope someone can explain it. Perhaps the issue is with the word theatre as sound in theatres is always a compromise.

How do you like being told surround is crap?

An irrefutable statement like that is unhinged.

Sure, not everyone is going to like home theatre, especially those trapped in the stereo past from last century, but the insistence is dreadful.

Comes across as a god statement.

That's just plain stupid.

Home theaters are based around Dolby surround and any decent modern movie theater should be the same.

buckhorn_cortez that seems like a terrific system.

I just don't understand why all multi channel systems have been strangely lumped together and classified as crap. Persoanlly I believe they can be fantastic when setup correctly and it is indeed the statement that is crap.

How do you find the Audyssey? Mine sounds best when I limit correction to below 500Hz on all channels. 

So what are the compromises multichannel processors make that undermine achieving that end?

Surround processing is exceptionally suspectible to EMI and it is not all uncommon to see huge transformers so close they contaminate the process.

The best solution is separate power supplies, but that's an impossibility that'll never happen.

Subaudible background noise? Now that sounds like an ASR obsession, which is obsessively pedantic and has virtually nothing to do with sound quality.

The sound from all channels must arrive with perfect timing. If not... Well I'm sure it doesn't take much imagination... (Perhaps this failing is the reason they have been systematically labelled as crap. If timing is out, they do sound like crap.)

Disregard automatically determined speaker distances and correctly set them. Ideally use a laser range finder to get precise measurements.

Naturally it goes without saying levels must be accurately set by fine tuning the automatically calculated assumptions.

Is it just me, or do others physically laugh out loud when when they read a comment by a narrow minded foolish biggot who makes rediculous assumptions regarding knowledge and experience to prove they must be superior? 

Anyone not famillar with home theatre systems will likely not get timing. 

Home threatre processors have speaker distances. If you read the manual, the distance is so a delays can be incorporated so the sound from every speaker reaches the measuring positon at the exact same time.

After all every surround speaker is not going to be equidistance from the listening position.

There, I hope that taught you something and opened up your mind to new ideas. 

There is no reason to abusive just because you don't have the relevant knowledge.

If you don't understand the logic in it, then you have my sincere sympathty. 

Don't make stupid assumptions based on ignorance, and don't be afraid to try it. You just might learn sonething and be surprised.

From “A Fish Called Wanda:

Otto West : Apes don't read philosophy. Wanda : Yes they do, Otto. They just don't understand it.

Good quote, but totally irrelevant.

When surrond processors are being discussed it is relevant to talk about setting them up.