{"id":6962,"date":"2020-06-08T15:29:03","date_gmt":"2020-06-08T22:29:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/?p=6962"},"modified":"2020-10-12T15:29:30","modified_gmt":"2020-10-12T22:29:30","slug":"surround-music-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realhd-audio.com\/?p=6962","title":{"rendered":"Surround Music Rules!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There is simply no better way to dramatically enhance music listening experiences than to switch from traditional stereo to immersive surround sound. “No question, it’s better,”<\/strong> encourages Paul MacGowan, head of PS Audio in one of his recent YT videos. As audiophiles, we’re obligated to chase the mythical “absolute sound.” Many gladly open their wallets and spend beyond ridiculous amounts of money on exotic audio hardware and accessories that contribute nothing to bettering the fidelity of your system. If they matter, the improvements are marginal at best. But adding surround music playback to your system \u2014 in fact, you may already be properly equipped with your home theater system<\/em> \u2014 is guaranteed to elevate your listening and impress your friends and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A simple 5.1 home theater<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most audiophiles and audiophile companies insist that a proper HiFi stereo system can deliver “you-are-there” realism with low level sonic details, wide soundstages, and microdynamics (please note these are audiophile reviewers descriptors NOT mine<\/em>). All it takes is a pair of reasonably good speakers or a nice pair of headphones to maximize music enjoyment from vinyl LPs, CDs, downloaded files, or high-quality music streamers. That is until you’ve heard surround music done right. To my great surprise, Paul MacGowan is a strong supporter of surround music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ve written previously that my friend Paul misses the target as many times as he hits it in his commentaries. But he remains popular as an “expert” in the field. For example, he was off the mark when he said, “Oh God yeah!” when asked whether hi-res audio is audibly better than standard res formats like CDs and vinyl LPs. It’s not (check it out for yourself by participating in the HD-Audio Challenge II<\/a>). You can read the article at Find an Expert, Lose the Sales Pitch!<\/a> But when I watched his 5-minute response to a question from Bernie in Tel Aviv, Israel asking why audiophiles and audio companies place so much emphasis on stereo, Paul got it exactly right \u2014 at least initially.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was so thrilled at his advocacy for surround music \u2014 something I’ve been doing for over 20 years<\/em> \u2014 that I transcribed the entire video. Here is what he said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bernie:<\/strong> What\u2019s wrong with \u2014 or at least not as good as<\/em> \u2014 a surround sound setup? I\u2019ve watched a few of your videos and it seems to me that your overriding goal is to provide an audio solution that gives the listener the sense of being there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul:<\/strong> That\u2019s true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bernie:<\/strong> Of hearing the music as though it is being played live right in front of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul:<\/strong> Yes, that is exactly the experience that we\u2019re looking for and want to bring into your house. You got it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MW NOTE:<\/strong> Creating a sense that the musicians are playing live “right in front of you” IS NOT the experience that most commercial rock\/pop albums seek to deliver. Artists, producers, and engineers are looking to engage you as a listener with compelling tracks, interesting lyrics, catchy beats, musical “hooks”, and new sounds. Maybe some jazz and classical albums could be considered music documentaries, but the music industry is interested in hits not bringing “live” performances into your living room.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bernie:<\/strong> There is talk of depth, of soundstage, and the ability to discern the location of a specific instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul:<\/strong> Yes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bernie:<\/strong> So, wouldn\u2019t a decent surround system create the immersion illusion in a way better than a stereo setup cannot? I\u2019m only recently getting back into the audio and video lifestyle and so please forgive my naivet\u00e9 and lack of knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul:<\/strong> Look, there’s no question that a properly done, full immersion surround system gives an amazing \u201cyou are there\u201d image, if it was recorded properly.<\/strong> I go upstairs to our Octave Studios where Gus Skinas has one of the coolest 5-channel systems on the planet. And he has original recordings, Joni Mitchell. Uh, I mean\u2026if you\u2019re ever here ask him to play the Joni Mitchell piece in, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in full surround. Oh my God, it brings\u2026I don\u2019t know if I\u2019ve ever seen a dry eye listening to that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And then when you go to two-channel, it\u2019s like \u201cmeh.\u201d Yeah, I get it. Nothing like the surround because it\u2019s beautifully done and it\u2019s set up in a room perfectly. And yeah, It\u2019s stunning. And anywhere you walk around in the room, it\u2019s sound like you\u2019re there in the auditorium and the London Philharmonic is playing. It\u2019s an amazing experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why do we even bother with two-channel?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well first off, we\u2019re a two-channel<\/strong> audio company. We certainly love surround sound but there are very few decent recordings. And I\u2019m talking a handful of decent recordings of surround stuff. Two hundred, two thousand, I don\u2019t know. Whatever it is, they are far and few between. Most surround stuff is done for film and \u201ceh\u201d it\u2019s ok. It\u2019s processed. It\u2019s just\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MW NOTE:<\/strong> Whoa! Wait a minute! Don’t we expect audio manufacturers and publishers \u2014 our “experts” \u2014 to join us in the quest for the “absolute sound?” Maybe the continuing evolution of recorded music demands that we move from simple two-channel stereo to fully immersive multichannel reproduction. I was cheering Paul on until he threw surround music under the bus \u2014 because PS Audio is a “two-channel” company?<\/strong> By acknowledging that surround music is superior and refusing to lead his company in that direction, he’s copping out. As I heard many times in meetings of the CEA\/CTA Audio Board, “commerce comes first.” It’s all about profit not fidelity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul:<\/strong> Look, if I could wave my magic wand, everybody on this planet, including me, would have a five-channel surround system in their homes and all recordings would be properly done with surround sound. No question it\u2019s better.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a practical standpoint, there are very few decent recordings, fewer, even fewer being made \u2014 certainly just for music<\/em> \u2014again they\u2019re done for film. We have a hard enough time convincing people to put two speakers in their homes. Most people want to put up a pair of wall speakers or \u201cI don\u2019t want to see.\u201d So, they bury them behind plants and they dress them up as picture frames, and, and now you want us to add five channels and turn your living room into a theater? Naw, it\u2019s just\u2026you know it\u2019s a great pipe dream<\/strong>. You\u2019re absolutely right. But right now, it\u2019s just ain\u2019t gonna to happen. It\u2019s too impractical, too few products to listen to, to play \u2014 and it\u2019s kinda sad, \u2018cause we\u2019ve had that technology for a while. Anyway, I\u2019m not going to lament about it. But that\u2019s why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MW NOTE:<\/strong> “There are very few decent recordings?” Again, not true. Are there as many surround music titles as stereo tracks? No. But at the dawn of stereo recording and the microgroove stereo vinyl LP, were there more mono than stereo records? Absolutely. And that didn’t discourage manufacturers, artists, producers, and engineers from embracing a clearly superior format. It takes time. Some choose to sit back and wait to see where the trends take them and others set the trends.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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