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Music, multi-channel DVD-A are available, but usually sound terrible unless they were specifically/originally mixed for multi-channel:

For instance try any of the Blue Man Group's releases in DTS-ES 24/96. In describing their production/mixing process, the mixing engineer said that since the group had as many as 60 or more tracks of percussion, it became a mush of sound in stereo, so multi-channel was anatural for their music.

I have a couple $5,000 Lexicon DC-2 digital pre/pro's and an MC-12 for my state-of the-art home system) that decodes DolbyDigital and dts, acts as a high-performance D/A and has digital volume/EQ time alignment, etc. After fiddling with all the features, though, I still find that downmixed 2-channel music sounds the best ( again this is just my opinion).

In fact, audiophile-artist Neil Young, only releases his DVD-A in 2 channel 172kHz/24bit 2 channel.

i agree with you on that.... music sounds terrible with surround on.

I was just watching Gunslinger Girl DVDs.
in 5.1

GlassWolf wrote: crowds, weapons fire, etc.

LOL where is your mind today?

correct, or multi-chanel.

also for music you usually just use the two front mains.
multi-channel is for movies, where you have ambient surround effects like crowds, weapons fire, etc.

I think the word "stereo" in itself means 2 channels, right and left. As opposed to "monaural" which would be what have with just one speaker, where you wouldn't get the effect of sounds coming from different directions, etc. When you have 5.1 or 7.1 like was said previously, i think that's usually referred to as a "home theater" system or "surround sound" rather than home stereo.

..... i have back speakers in my home stereo... 2 "front" speakers, a middle, sub, and then on the opposite side of the room 2 rear speakers

oooooh sneaky :)

My wife won't let me touch her car... she's afraid of what I might do to it, given what I've done to my own cars!

I've done this experiment with her:
Time alignment trick. Try it sometime.

I usually run my system without time alignment, so that it sounds good for both seats - it's more of a personal hangup, a goal that's more unrealistic, so I want to pursue it more.

But anyway - adjust the time alignment so that you are aligned for the driver's seat... or hell, even overadjust it, put that image directly in your point of view if you can.

Then, take a drive with your wife and see if she even notices.

That's my point - and passengers who aren't familiar with your car will notice even less.

"my point was that if you give zero consideration to your passenger, it's obviously not a wife.. otherwise she'd smack the snot outta ya."

I concur. I am glad that the wife likes my music and my system, though not to the extent that she's an enthusiast. I'm working on her, though . She doesn't like the heavy rock at face ripping levels, I guess that's where the line is drawn. Maybe some horns and stout midbass drivers will make it to the Ranger. Take a 20 year old truck, throw on some hair metal and it's back to the 80s, baby! Not that I miss them all that much.