- Joined
- Jan 27, 2019
- Messages
- 7,481
- Likes
- 12,590
The picture is in front of me, I'm perfectly fine with the sound also coming from in front of me. Sound quality matters, not the number of speakers.
Actually, the number of speakers matters too, if you are interested in hearing the actual sound mix. (As someone who works on those mixes, I have an inkling of whether you are hearing the intended sound design or not with only two speakers. Generally...no. Not, of course, that a movie can't be enjoyed without the surround mix. You can choose not to hear the original intended mix if you want, but careful not to project that to "the number of speakers don't matter" beyond your preference).
Multi-channel is a gimmick, just like 3D. It adds flash and no substance.
Speaking for yourself...ok. But multichannel arose because for many it really does add to the experience. That's why they incorporated it in to commercial cinemas, and why there are so many home theater enthusiasts who employ surround.
Because you happen not to be interested doesn't make it a "gimmick." That's where you seem to project your own interests because it suggests a sort of "they are trying to pull the whool over our eyes" that you see through, but others are falling for. At least that's how it comes off.
BTW, the surround speakers often actually help map sound to the screen, particularly when you are not using a projection set up with speakers situated behind an acoustically transparent screen. A careful balanced used of the side/height speakers can "lift" the sound higher so it appears to be coming right from the screen/portions of the screen, which is what you want. The dissing of extra channels by some is similar to those who diss CGI with a broad brush, where they think CGI mostly means obvious, action-oriented special effects. They don't realise how often CGI is used in subtle ways they never notice in "regular everyday movies" that aid the believably of what's on screen. It's the same with how surround sound can work.
(As for more expressive use of surround sound, I love good sci-fi and horror movies, and really enjoy the addition of surround sound. I was watching a "haunted house" type movie in my home theater recently and with a big "walk-in-to-it" image, the lights out, and a beautiful surround mix the sense of "being IN the spooky setting with that character on screen" was really effective. Hardly a "gimmick" given how it aided involvement in the scenes).