Where can I find 5.1 music?

[Meeeeatch]

Hey, everybody!

I'm Mitch. I'm a BEGINNER beginner.

So, I bought my first 5.1 system today. It's crap and I know it's crap, so I won't even go into what it is. That's not even the point anyway.

Anyway, I was wandering around Best Buy looking for some 5.1 music. As far as I could tell, they didn't have a '5.1 Section.' I knew about a couple of 5.1 titles (or DTS, I don't even know the difference between the two ) but I want to know what else is out there.

Can somebody point me to a comprehensive list of 5.1 music?

Thanks!

 

[jaxvon]

Assuming your 5.1 system can play DTS titles, a good place to start is here:

http://www.dts.com/entertainment/

 

[Meeeeatch]

Thanks for the quick reply. That's exactly what I was looking for.

Nice of you to help out someone from Columbus.

Edit:
Also, I'm using my computer so I'm assuming (but maybe I shouldn't be) that it will play DTS. Am I wrong?

 

[MDS]

Also, I'm using my computer so I'm assuming (but maybe I shouldn't be) that it will play DTS. Am I wrong?

I don't know of any soundcards that can decode DTS in hardware, but there are many software media players that can.

 

[Meeeeatch]

Cool, my software supports it.

Man 'The Downward Spiral' in 5.1 makes regular music sound like crap!

 

[Rob Babcock]

Sadly my local Best Buy has recently eliminated its DVD-A, SACD & DTS sections. Oh, there are a few discs mixed in with the "general population" but for the most part they've abandoned MC music altogether.

That's the bad news. The good news is that their selection always sucked anyway. I buy most of my MC recordings online. Music direct and acoustic sounds are both very good. Amazon has a few good deals but a crappy selection.

Welcome to AH, Meeeeatch!

 

[jaxvon]

I'd suggest that you pick up Porcupine Tree's In Absentia and Deadwing. They're excellent examples of what surround sound should sound like for music.

 

[supervij]

Check out some used music shops. Here in Toronto, I've been finding a lot of used SACDs for around $10 - $20 CND or less, and LOTS of used DVD-As for $10 - $15 CND or less. Just today I found a used 3-SACD set of The Rolling Stones -- Singles Collection: The London Years for only $30 CND!

I remember going into Best Buy once and asked a salesguy where the hi-res audio section was. He just looked at me blankly. Then I said, "You know, SACDs and DVD-Audio discs?" His face brightened, and he said, "Oh, DVD audio! Yeah, they're over here. As you can see, we have a great selection of music concerts and music videos on DVD." So then I had to explain to him the concept of hi-res music. He looked at me confusedly, then pointed vaguely at the CD section. They did have a small selection, but the prices were nuts: the minimum price seemed to be $35 CND for anything!

There are few stores that have a separate section for hi-res music (Sam's here in Toronto, for example), but most do mix in hi-res music with "the general population", so you really have to know in advance what you're looking for.

Good luck with your search!

cheers,
supervij

 

[JVC]

If you don't have dvd-a or sacd capabilities, one of the best ways to listen to 5.1 music, is on dvd concerts. One of the best is the Eagle's Hell Freezes Over concert. There are many more good ones too.............
Good luck!

 

[shokhead]

I love 5.1 DTS music disc's. Don Henley's is a fav.

 

[j_garcia]

If you like NIN, do yourself a favor and pick up the DTS version of And All That Could Have Been. It's full bitrate DTS and sounds amazing. The Downward Spiral is an excellent SACD, but the new album With Teeth on DualDisc is also very well mixed in 5.1.

 

[aspaceintime]

If there is a local Fry's Electronics, they have quite a selection of Hi-Res disks in a dedicated section.