GmcG said:
One needs to have a proper set up to enjoy the multi-channel music. Classic music needs to keep the phase relations between the channels (so called "coherent sounding") to have the correct image, in other case it will sound innatural and break the effect.
I recommend to everyone to try the THX music mode with the proper configuratuion of speakers (two dipeles as side surrounds, a good musical subwoofer and all other channels in "small") through i-link. For SACD multi-channel it is importand to have DSD->PCM conversion to have TA and BM.
I have tried all types of DSP reproduction, and they all suffer miserably compared to a good two-channel rig. I have even had a good friend set-up a dedicated music room with 5 identical speakers, proper room conditioning, speaker placement, the works; still sounded horrible to me (and most of our friends who are musicians, as am I).
What I find when listening to [most] multi-channel music is that after a short period of time I start to 'music surf', never making it completly thru a CD/SACD or a even song, even on my friends system; he even finds himself doing the same thing after a while.
I don't find myself doing this with movies, or watching television (TiVo); so it's not the issue of being 'surrounded' by sound. My current system provides a very good, seamless and stable soundfield with movies and the few SACD's that sound good in multi-channel. When done right (music wise) it is a very convincing illusion, unfortunately, this does not happen very often, at least for me.
Most of the problems [IMO] lies in the recording and subsequent mixing and transfers that take place. Minute changes in levels and some phase problems cause instruments or their by-products to appear in locations within the soundfield that are not natural, such as next to you or behind you. There is nothing more distracting for me than to be listening to a good recording and following the melodic line and the interplay of good musicians, then suddenly hear a cymble crash next to me, or the orchestra starts to surround me. These are not things I hear at live performances, and I do not wish to hear them in my listening room.
2-channel is far from perfect, I am the first to say this. I could not wait for multi-channel music to become available, but what we have now bears little to no resemblace to the way real music is reproduced live, at least what I listen to.