DTS? Dolby this that and another thing?

[markw]

I remember Dynaquad. ..and SQ and QS 4-channel recordings from the 70's.

There were actually some recordings "encoded" so there were four intended channels and these did a fair job of creating the effect. Too bad speaker technology wouldn't really allow four decent sized speakers in a most living rooms so most had to live with smaller speakers. They sometimes produced "interesting" effects from unencoded sources in some cases but I would not say they "created" new channels from two.

And, my VHS-tapes were encoded in "Dolby Surround" which actually "encoded" four channels in a stereo soundtrack and was evntually tweaked to become Dolby Pro Logic and did a pretty fair job of sending these four channels where the engineers wanted them to come from, at least until DVD's and digital soundtracks with 5.1 discrete channels became da schnitz.

All these were designed to be enjoyed in the average living room without any special contortions. Granted, one could follow certain recommendations to get even more from it, but to require one to design their living space to accomodate a sound system, is what killed quad back in the 70's. Little speakers were unsatisfying, subwoofers were still beyond the horizon, and good sounding tiny, aesthetically pleasing, speakers were not yet plentiful and affordable.

At one time, automobiles required much more attention (crank the engine, adjust the spark, use a choke, light the headlights with matches, change tires every few miles, suffer no insulation from the weather, etc...) than todays vehicles. If they were to remain so hard to maintain and use, i doubt they would have reached the popularity they share today.

If modern systems required that rigid devotion to enjoy the effect of multi-channel sound, you betcha Joe Sixpack would jump ship. As it how stands, "real" multi-channel sound can be easily enjoyed, to some extent, in almost every living space without having to have a specifically designed room.

That's like saying one needs to sit in one chair, in one specific location, with ones head in one particular position, and not move in order to appreciate the effect of something. Aside from some geeks and those into auto-erotic asphyxiation, Joe sixpack ain't gonna buy into that.

So, if what you're saying is that if I set up my room according to specs you recommend , and acoustically treat it in the way you recommend, I'll be able to hear DTS Neo create six distinct channels from two, i guess I'll just take your word for it 'cause it's never happened in any other environment I've been in and I ain't gonna redo my living environment for something this silly.

But, it did fill the room with non-objectionable, amorphous sounds that were great for parties.