Two-channel is inferior to multi-channel, no?


I think that 2 channel is inferior, though, of course, my ears and reason may be mistaken.

Feedback please!

The obvious reason, I am thinking, it is that two channels are less representative of infinity (live music) than 3, 5 or 7, etc. This is the case even if the transducers, amps & speakers, and room acoustics, are perfect (dream on...) in the 2-channel mode.

In my own system, two Revel M-20s as center channel, vertically arrayed, with Revel M-50s on either side, there is the occasional CD (jazz is my thing) that sounds better in stereo, than with 5.1 processed sound, but this is rare. Most sound better with the center channel prominent (either in Dolby Standard or Music modes).

It's possible that I simply need better equipment.

But then why do I find that the best sound (in my system) is from digital sources, e.g. DVD, Blu-Ray, SACD, whether the sound reproduces music or movies. Would better equipment neutralize (and even flip) this negative comparison of stereo to multi-channel reproduction? If so, what is the explanation?

What I find in particular (for music and movies) that is that digital sources in multi-channel mode give full breath and focus to the center channel, placing this important sound component exactly where it should be: precisely in the center of the room. And giving the other channels 'room' to shine (though, in my system, given the amplification available, this should not problem).

What am I missing in theory?
pmcneil
Nope - Nothing wrong with my setup. In trifield or any surround mode the sound always a little flatter than in Stereo. Just my opinion.
Well, I can understand objecting to excessive manipulations but flatter? I suspect that something is amiss as I have NEVER heard a mch system that is flatter than a stereo system unless it is defective!

Kal
I agree. I worked a long time to avoid excessive manipulations/dynamics. But I have never ran into a situation where multi channel was too flat (?) Just the opposite from all my experiences.

JDL-
Mds,

You may be experiencing a bad case of combing/cancellation, when your speakers cross paths. Try aiming/ or re-locating your center channel differently. Or possibly experiment w/ the distance setting on your center channel. Get the L/R speakers sounding great. Then introduce just the center channel next. Once you find a synergy here....add the surrounds one set at a time. This is the only method that I could get to create a harmoneous mix. Also experiment w/ a different surround mode. Neo-6 works well for me.
Just some thoughts....(?)
I agree based on many comparisons I have performed. Multichannel, properly done, is clearly superior to two channel. Multichannel creats a three dimensional sound field with you in the middle, that with properly set up spesakers, can come really close to being "there". The only problem with mutichannel is there is so little good material out there. One standout I have found is Diana Krall's "Live In Paris".