Car Audio Central - Ultimate Car Audio Forum and Community

..... 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

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.

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.

GlassWolf wrote: crowds, weapons fire, etc.

LOL where is your mind today?

I was just watching Gunslinger Girl DVDs.
in 5.1

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

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.