So much information it is difficult to know where to start.

OK - surround sound - why doesnt it sound good for music most of the time?

Well for one thing if you are listening to DD5.1 or even DTS you are listening to a highly compressed file format. If you have DVD recording software - check out the file sizes when you use any DD format and compare it to using plain old PCM.

I have been playing with my DVD recorder a lot recently and made a number of remarkable discoveries (to me anyway).

Did you know, for example, that DVD Video supports 96Khz/24 bit in its original specs? Most players are not capable of playing it back in native form (actually most recording software isnt capable of creating it either - my current problem) - but some are - worth checking out next time you buy.

The funny thing is - that 96/24 recording ability is only available in 2 channel LPCM format - and according to the original specs - for high quality music. In other words if you want to listen to really good quality music do so in 2 channel mode (according to the orginal designers of DVD that is).

I dont think I have ever seen a DVD Video with 96/24 sound - the main problem is space. I just recorded 45 minutes of music to my hard disk at this resolution (?) and it took over 1.3 Gb.

Whilst many DVD players are not capable of 96/24 they all have to be capable of 48/16 (DAT quality). Many DVD recording software packages support this. Having played around I can confirm that my own findings are it is better than Dolby digital 2 channel soundtracks - but I cant hear any improvement over 44.1/16.

Of course if you are talking about surround sound from DVDa or SACD then none of the above applies.

I tend to agree with others here that the biggest problem with surround sound (on the above 2 media) is that engineers have still not got to grips with it. I have about 15 SS SACD's and the results are VERY variable.

This reminds me in many ways of the problems associated with Quadraphonic although there we had the added problem of some very inferior amplification knocking around as well.

In theory surround sound SACD or DVDa should be the way to go - assuming the engineers can eventually sort out the way to do it well.

In practice, however, very few people are really going to be able to get the real benefits due to a couple of minor problems.

The first minor problem is that your surround sound music system and your surround sound movie system need different speakers. Take a look at the specs for THX - this uses different types of speakers for centre channels and for rears. Compare this to the "perfect" SACD setup (according to Sony). All five speakers should be the same (I am ignoring the further options for 6.1, 7.1 and so on as well as the subwoofer).

The second problem is speaker placement. According to Sony the speakers should describe a circle around the listener and be in the same virtical plane - according to the THX standard you have effectively a flat line of speakers at the front and the rears should be closer to the listener (and I think - above them - firing down)

This basically means that however you do it if you have a single system for both it will be a compromise.

And now some notes on 2 channel vinyl:

1. Someone on here talked about a hole in the middle of the soundstage with a 2 channel playback system. Er...no. If the system is properly setup there is no hole.

2. There is an assumption here that 2 channel playback cannot create a realistic soundstage and sense of depth.

I would suggest you find a well setup vinyl system and a copy of Roger Water's - Amused to Death on vinyl - you are in for a huge shock. This recording was put together by a company called Q-sound. I have no idea how they have done it - but you will find voices and effects coming from behind you!! Scared the pants off me the first time I heard it at home - I thought someone was coming in from the balcony doors.

I should add that this record is not unique, although it is an extreme example. Other records that display this facet include - some recordings of DSOTM and Jeff Wayne's War of the World - again on vinyl.

3. Vinyl is compressed.

Well it can be - but it doesnt have to be. Try a classical recording from DECCA on one of their Full Frequency Recordings, or even Dutch, Philips recordings from the 1970's onwards. Alternatively (and I hate to recommend audiophile recordings - they are rather expensive) try Audo Analogue, Tacet, Living Stereo, RCA Red Seal or original Colombia Masterworks for classical, any Direct to Disk for Blues or Jazz, Dynagroove (from the 60's) for Jazz, some Riverside recordings are also worthwhile (especially for Sonny Rollins titles).

All of the above should sound massively sonically superior to any equivalent CD recording as long as the vinyl playback system is:

a. Reasonable.
b. Well set up.

The drawbacks to vinyl are many. It is a complete PITA to live with, requires way too much maintenance and can go out of tune in an instant. Records can deteriorate with time (note - can - there are plenty of records dating back to the fifties that are still in near mint condition - I know - I own loads of them).

The benefits are simple. It represents, to date, the best quality sound available in the home today at a reasonable price.

(Note : I added at a reasonable price as I have recently tried out the Accuphase DP85 SACD player. Sonically this is just about as good as any source I have ever heard - but at over $11,000 it should be!!)

OK - I will call it a day there.