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I really like DTS/DD DVD concerts as long as it is primarily ambience rather than instruments in the rear channels.However, I prefer Stereo to the surround music modes of my Theta Casanova because it makes my front channels sound harsh.
Have you experimented with getting multi-channel from stereo sources using a surround processor or something like ARM on the McCormack MAP-1 analog preamp?
Is their a way to get ambience in the rear channels without screwing up the fronts? BTW, I run without a center channel.
Follow Ups:
Unfortunately, making your rear and center channels as good as your main channels is a non-trivial exercise. A high quality MC analog preamp good enough to double as your stereo preamp would seem to be a necessary feature.
Hi.I agree with the other two posts regarding MCH.
About two months ago I acquired a Conrad Johnson MET-1 to use in a discrete MCH steup and I promised that I would give my impressions (I had not gotten into MCH, but several Asylum members suggested this equipment as an audiophile alternative and I jumped in).
I have been listening to the setup and I can say that good discrete MCH sounds convincingly good. It takes some time to get used to it and to set up properly, but the results are very good indeed.
I will post my experiences promptly and will give a full account of the adventure into MCH, but for now suffice it to say that it really works.
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Hi.Yes I increased my expenditures in equipment and maintained the same quality. In my post, which I hope will be ready by next Monday, I shall report on the adventure.
I'm not familiar with the Meridian Trifield so I will defer to Kal on that one, but in my experience, comparing electronic surround modes to discrete MCH sound is like comparing a high end stereo system to a boom box. The surround modes I've heard are electronic gimmicks that muddy the sound and destroy tonality. You are right, stereo is far far better. This is NOT true, however, with discrete MCH sound, which IMO presents a far more realistic and spacious soundstage than you get with stereo. The difference between the surround modes I've heard and discrete MCH sound is like night and day.Interestingly, discrete MCH was initially greeted with a lot of skeptism by the audiophile community. I believe that experience with surround modes was part of the reason for this.
The best I've used is the Meridian TriField which does not corrupt the fronts and permits tweaking. (I understand Logic7 is pretty good, too.) The ARM on the MAP-1 works OK but is much less satisfying as I hear a reduction in specificity with it.
None of them are as good as the better real MCH SACDs but TriField is more than acceptable.
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