Why is 2 Channel better than multi-channel?

It is not inherently better. 2 channel is a dying form of entertainment. The 'dead cat bounce' is no reason to believe that it is being resuscitated by the Cro-Magnons. I have subscribed to Hi-Fi pubications since 1965, have sold equipment in specialty stores and still buy hard/software.

The principle reason that 2channel is inferior is that it is essentially an anti-social medium. Only one person can sit in the sweet spot. Frequently you can not even move your head to maintain the illusion of dimensionality. It lives on with mostly regurgitated recordings.

If you want good two channel, buy quality earphones sit on a sub-woofer and be done with it.

^ That is an awesome post, 'goodies. Love it. ^

I enjoy both and have my own theory why most multichannel setups fall short ,back in the early 90s several speaker manufactures were backing the idea that you did not need full range speakers if you used small monitors and a sub woofer in a 2.1 setup .
I like many others bought into this idea till we dragged out our huge full range speakers and then the 2.1 system all but died for anything other than computer applications.

however in the home theater world the small monitors and sub woofers are the technology of choice because of the fact that integrating 5 or 7 large speakers into a rooms decor is hard to do so the compromise is made .

back in the Quad era you used four full range speakers and that is what I do all be it 5 instead of 4 and my multichannel setup is very satisfying .

I could not do this in our house without my wife's tolerance ,but she puts up with a lot as long as I am a little respectful of the fact she hates the music I listen to and choose only a few days a month to raise the roof and scare the neighbors at full volume

2channel is inferior / anti-social medium???? It is the complete opposite. Draw your room to scale with speakers. Your sweet-spot is NOT that much closer or further than your friends’ spots in a two-channel setup. In a 5 or 7 channel setup, the person to the right and left of you are A LOT closer to their respective surround sound speaker. Don’t believe me??? Hand the guy to the right the remote and have them adjust the surrounds to their seating position. Then have the guy to the left do it. Then switch it to 2-channel and ask everyone if it is better.

So, as you can see, TWO-channel is the more socially ameliorating.

I've read through this thread and enjoy the opinions but something that hasn't been talked about is a bipolar stereo setup.I own definitive BP-8060-ST bipolar towers in a straight up stereo setup.I used a full 5.2 setup if you will for months and enjoyed it but having switched to stereo just using my towers I was even more impressed than my 5.2 setup.With my towers setup correctly I am getting an incredible 3D sound field...star wars episode 3 opening was the first movie I tested in stereo...and I was looking above and behind me as the ships flew around.These towers image very well and I have no need for a center or have a tough time with dialog.Music is just as impressive...I chose very well in my speaker choice.Happy listening...:)