My dad is a pro engineer and has been trying to get people to adopt surround for a long time. He's done all of his recordings (mainly orchestra and chamber music) with stereo mics + surround mikes since the early 1990s but the producer usually mixes everything down to two channel formats.
However, my Dad still has all the multi-channel master files and loves to demonstrate them on his home system by switching the surround speakers on and off.
With the surround channels on and properly set up, you really do have more of a concert hall experience. E.g. the reverb of a loud drumbeat from the back of a hall actually seems to come from behind you.
This is totally subjective, but I would say the 2 channel version is 90% there, and the surround adds another 10%. It's a subtle, but pleasing effect.
Is it worth it? Probably not for most people, due to media space constraints (less of a problem now), the extra equipment and room configuration costs, and the fact that there is no good portable option.
However, my Dad still has all the multi-channel master files and loves to demonstrate them on his home system by switching the surround speakers on and off.
With the surround channels on and properly set up, you really do have more of a concert hall experience. E.g. the reverb of a loud drumbeat from the back of a hall actually seems to come from behind you.
This is totally subjective, but I would say the 2 channel version is 90% there, and the surround adds another 10%. It's a subtle, but pleasing effect.
Is it worth it? Probably not for most people, due to media space constraints (less of a problem now), the extra equipment and room configuration costs, and the fact that there is no good portable option.