Why is 2 Channel better than multi-channel?

I have no idea what your budget is, but home theater receiver that provides pre-outs for each channel would allow you to get a 2 channel amplifier for your main speakers. My personal opinion is that spending a bunch of money for surround sound speakers is far less important than building your system for 2 channel listening. Movies have a way of shifting the focus from the audio a bit.

It think the absolute sound quality of a two channel system easily exceeds any surround system (assuming similar dollars spent) that I've heard, but when it comes to the home theater realm, the multi channel provides an experience that simply isn't the same with only two channels.

This may also apply to multi channel recording of live events, but it seems that this is another example where there is an element of experience that may trump absolute sound quality for some.

I've never heard an excellent two channel recording played on an quality system and left thinking something was missing. I've also never heard a multi-channel music recording that really impressed me, but I'm sure there are exceptions that would knock my socks off.

I guess I placed my vote when I purchsased an SACD player that doesn't do mutli-channel.

I've always wanted to have a CD with a quartet recorded one per channel so it would sound like you were standing in the middle of them. I think it would sound really interesting.

I actually have a LAGQ SACD, but my player isn't multi channel and my rear speakers are comparative "junk" so at this point it's more of something that I'd like to hear rather than something that could be a reality in my system.

Darrylhifi - Do you only eat one thing at a time because you only have one mouth? Cereal must be dry!

"Again, a grossly simplified analogy but, fwiw, you can hear what is behind you but you cannot see without turning your head." - Kr4

In the spirit of taking things too far...

If someone turns a lamp on behind you can generally see the light that comes from it reflecting on things within your visual range. Just because you can't see the source doesn't mean that you can't see the light. In some ways the light from a lamp and the sound from a speaker are similar. Maybe that's why people get confused and use lamp cords on their speakers.

Kr4 - Agreed. I started thinking about a bunch of different things while typing my tongue in cheek reply. It's difficult to find an analogy that applies across the board.