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Re: Channels, channels, and more channels!

Posted by Rich Brkich (D) on November 3, 2003 at 07:52:18

In Reply to: Channels, channels, and more channels! posted by UmpyBill on November 2, 2003 at 19:23:06:

Hi Bill, I think you know I'm not much of a fan of multi-channel sound. I have not seen any significant demand for multi-channel high-end type Hi-Fi gear to date, especially given the way the economy has been during the past few years. Most audiophiles are standing pat and just trying to squeeze out some dollars to improve their two channel rigs, much less think about going multi-channel.

Anyway, while mutlichannel sound is (has) becomming predominate in the home theater area which will lead to certain trickle down effect in other areas of the audio hobby. It is showing up in car audio, though so far this is limited to the aftermarket arena as I think there are only a handful of cars offering multichannel OE systems. These systems always tend to by video related, not audio related where most people still seem to be happy with thier 2 ears listening to two speakers.

The problem for the audiophile in persuing multi-channel sound is more complex with the biggest issues being cost and logistics. It is one thing to mount some small (generally inexpensive) speakers in the rear wall or rear ceiling where they and their wires can be hidden, but an audiophile is going to want to properly place (i.e. not shoved in the corner on the floor facing the worong way) place five or six similar or identical speakers in a room with all that neat long (and expensive) cable runs to the front end of the system. I'm lucky if I can get 1 out of 10 customers to pay proper attention to room acoustics (room treatment) becuase of spousal concerns/issues, does anyone really think that these same folks have a snowballs chance in hell that their spouse will let them get away paying for and sticking five speakers all over their room. So, except for those few lucky guys who have dedicated listening rooms or forigiving spouses, there is noy going to be any great surge to multi-channel sound in the Hi-end HiFi arena. As well, there is the addtional factor that the vast majority of audiophiles listen to two channel based recordings (the great classical and jazz recordings of the lates 50s and 60s, pop and folks music music from the past 40 to 50 years). Then there is this countries demand for current two channel recordings to satisfy the neads of a large young audience that listens to music via two channels via products like portable CD/MP3 players, PCs, and boom boxes.

Now don't color me as a strictly 2 channel HiFi purist. Mutli-channel music when properly recorded and played back well is very impressive. It is just that there is a large inertia associated with 2 channel HiFi and any transition to multi-channel sound in the audiophile/high-end audio arena is going to take a long time.
Rich Brkich

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