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Who listens in Surround Sound?

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With the announcement of Abbey Road Superdeluxe there is much excitement about the issue of this on 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Atmos (no idea what the difference is, presumably it’s better done in dobly). I don’t have a surround sound setup and apart from XTC, the HJHs and King Crimson it’s unlikely any music I like will be issued in this format. However, I’m interested to know from people that indulge – (if Superdeluxeedition.com is anything to by there is a huge demand for it – whether it’s Beatles band or Thompson Twins)
So how often do you listen to music in 5.1 – describe the scenario – do you invite people over or do you have a space where you just immerse yourself? – can you enjoy the 2d album once you’ve heard it in 5 dimensions?

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Comments

  2. I’m a fan.

    I basically use the AV setup in the main room that is wired for 5.1, with the music played either from Blu Ray or streamed 5.1 encoded FLAC. The centre seat on the sofa is perfectly aligned for surround and I usually listen alone (and when no one else around so I can crank it up). It is a listening experience that is certainly not ‘background’ and I tend to just sit and listen. As such it’s probably a couple of albums at a time, every few weeks when I can get the ‘alone time’.

    As to the music, there are certainly the whizz bang surround effects stuff, which is okay, but to me the real gems are those that just use surround to enhance the soundscape. One of my favourite surround albums is actually Roxy Music / Avalon, which at first doesn’t seem to be much going on, but the ‘atmospherics’ are generally all around you. On the jazz side, I have some Diana Krall in surround that really enhance the positioning of the individual instruments – simple, clean and effective.

    Of course, the master when it comes to surround is Steven Wilson – his solo albums, the XTC albums, the Yes albums… all benefit from the enhanced soundscape, greater soundstage and enhance instrument positioning, They are not whizz bang effects (although you do get some instrumentation in the rears on his solo stuff).

    Do they detract from the 2D ? I would say no and that I still probably listen to the standard stereo of these albums more (especially on headphones). The surround albums bring something new (you sometimes hear stuff missed on the 2D) but the original stereo is still the original as the artist intended (unless you are Peter Gabriel, whose Us album was apparently recorded and mixed for surround and then downmixed for the standard stereo).

  3. A pal lived in a farmhouse and had a barn converted to a surround listening room. He also reviewed 5.1 gear for a hifi mag. It was different but I decided I’d rather listen to better 2 channel through bigger and better speakers than to 5.1, a problem he didn’t have as all his gear was gratis review kit.
    Dolby Atmos encodes vertical info. If having 5 speakers isn’t enough, you can have them on the ceiling as well. Sorry, I am very dull.

  4. I’d be interested but we don’t have a room in the house where it could be set up. Our living room is weirdly configured so I can’t even set up stereo there, and my studio, which COULD be OK, has near-field monitors for work and therefore nowhere to put the beloved Rogers LS3/5As.

  6. That turntable in the sketch isn’t direct drive, its a Trio ( later Kenwood) KD 1055 belt driven deck.
    My second turntable (replacing a terrible Garrard) was a Trio KD1033, the direct ancestor of the above…a better deck IMHO due to its sprung top plate…this offered better isolation from feedback.

  7. I have a 5.1 setup in my living room, an actual home cinema including a projector too. So mainly used for films and music Blu-rays that have a visual component. Occasionally used for music only, not convinced that too many mixes add much. Kraftwerk 3D Blu-ray is impressive.

    Dolby Atmos requires speakers on the ceiling and a special receiver. Will not be bothering with that.

    • That blu-ray has just been bought (as a memento now I’ve actually seen them perform it). I don’t have the living room audio set up to make full use of the surround mixes, which makes me just a little sad.

  8. I used my retirement money to buy an Oppo, receiver and 5 big speakers for the front room. I enjoy surround sound a lot. Electric Ladyland is a great one. Even the dreaded Topographic Oceans is hugely improved by the Wilson magic. 5:1 does nor replace stereo, I have a separate room for that, it is just a good alternate way to listen.

    The Avalon sacd is all but unavailable. Anybody got a spare?

    • I do have my Avalon SACD ripped to multichannel FLAC files (you should be able to plug a USB memory stick into the Oppo and play them from there).

      Message me if you are interested and I can dump on one of my cloud services.

  9. Due to some enforced time at home (see other thread) I’ve been utilising our 5.1 system with the XTC and Beatles surround releases. They do sound wonderful but are they essential? No but I’m glad I’ve got them.

    For films its essential, watching Spinal Tap as I type this and it makes such a difference. Even with a film that isn’t a massive Hollywood Blockbuster.

  10. I suppose I view 5:1 mixes in the same way I used to view Director’s Commentaries. I liked having them, but rarely listen to them. However, for the past couple of years I’ve been trying to listen to a director’s commentary every week and I’ve managed to listen to 80 odd of them. Some have been really good, so I don’t know why it took me so long to get round to listening to them.

    With the 5:1 mixes I tend to listen to them when I first buy them and then forget about them, although I listen to the Kraftwerk ones every now and then. I’m still not sure what I think about them and whether I actually prefer them to the stereo mixes or not. My ears aren’t great though, it has to be said.

  12. I bought quite a few SACDs and DVDAs a few years ago, as well as the Blu-Rays of the Fabs etc. , and my favourites are, the early Elton John albums and the Moody Blues… and Dark Side Of The Moon gets played quite often, and War Of The Worlds works amazingly well in 5:1. The Dylan SACDs are really good.

    As mentioned above, it does tend to be a bit of a special occasion for when you have people round – you don’t use 5:1 for background music. I love the immersive experience.

  13. Just bought an SACD player t’other day. It matched the amp and had built in streaming.

    SACDs are hellishly expensive and few available second hand. I’ve bought 3 so far. LA Woman, Caravanserai and Wish You Were Here. All sound better than the cds/ vinlys I own.

  15. I had a 5.1 amp (actually a 7.1 amp but only bothered with 5.1 speakers) until very recently and a universal player for a small collection of SACD and DVD-As.

    When I listen to surround discs I actually sit down and listen. No TV, mobile, tablet, laptop, books or other distractions.

    I have all the early Depeche Mode albums as surround mixes, DSOTM (obvs), the disappointing Tubular Bells remake, War of the Worlds, a Gary Numan, a couple of Genesis SACDs, Rumours, and the inevitable Steve Wilson 5.1 mixes of Yes albums.

    I also make sure I select the surround track for concert films.

    I replaced the amp set-up with a sound bar. Love the lack of multiple boxes and cables, but regretting the lack of surround. It is supposed to have a surround effect by clever direction of sound but it isn’t the same. Thinking of moving up to a soundbar that has rear speakers.

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