Post if you agree that surround is good.

All other things being equal -- good music, good performances, good mastering -- I can't think of an album I wouldn't prefer to own in hi-res surround.

Ditto. Just tonight I've played 2 surround SACDs- an Opus 3 Test CD 4, and Bill Charlap's Stardust (the only Blue Note surround SACD as far as I know).

When its done well like the Depeche Mode surround mixes, there is nothing finer. I always feel bad for those who don't have a nice surround system.

I love surround sound, especially albums mixed well in that format vs. live recordings, but I understand why a lot of people don't consider it essential. However, when an album is mixed properly in 5.1 it's a beautiful thing to behold and a great alternative to a good stereo mix. I've mentioned many times on these boards, and I know many of my fellow IMWANers agree, that Steven Wilson is a genius when it comes to this, whether it's doing a classic prog album or any of his own projects. I don't know the names of other surround sound engineers, but I really like the Pink Floyd 5.1 mixes and some early DVD-Audios I bought more than 10 years ago (Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, Donald Fagen's The Nightfly & Toy Matinee's self-titled album, for example) still sound amazing. Rush, however, has never used a good 5.1 engineer. They always sound too gimmicky. To my ears, a good 5.1 mix should sound like the music is literally surrounding you, as opposed to hearing specific sounds in each speaker.

Elliot Scheiner is the king of Surround engineers but Steven Wilson has quickly caught up.

Which are the best-known titles that Scheiner has done? Ironically, even though I've been a Porcupine Tree fan since '97 and I got their "In Absentia" DVD-Audio about 10 years ago, I didn't realize until tonight that Scheiner did the 5.1 mix for that...and it's a gold standard for how surround sound music should be done.

I love the SACD surround discs of the Doors catlg and the new Blu-Ray of "Tommy" was very interesting. This weekend I will be cracking open my new Blu-Ray of "GYBR".

Rick A.

It is the only way I listen to my music at home. I even run all my stereo material in PLIIxMusic mode. In fact I wish that someone would release a BD mixed in 7.2. I have a DVD-A encoded with a 6.1 DTS-ES mix that kills (Medeski, Martin & Wood "Uninvisible", a reference disc). Whenever I listen to any 5.1 program, I have the back channels matrixed with the L/R surrounds for a more immersive sound. In the near future, I intend to add 4 more speakers for a front height/front wide configuration. I can't wait to try out the Audyssey DSX mode on my pre/pro.

SENSURROUND is better!

Most famous for working on The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over he has worked on projects including Foo Fighters, Toto, Beck, Faith Hill, Steely Dan, Band of Horses, Ricky Martin, Sting, Bruce Hornsby, Paul Simon, B.B. King, Chaka Khan, Van Morrison, Donald Fagen, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Eric Clapton, Jackson Browne, Eagles, Aerosmith and Joe Jackson.

He did Beck's Sea Change surround mix, The Flaming Lips Yoshi Battles The Pink Robots, The Steely Dan surround mixes, REM surround mixes, Porcupine Tree In Absentia, Clapton Crossroads and the recent History Of The Eagles.

Acura cars have sound systems engineered by him.

I am a fanatical surround fan and collector, been collecting rare quad mixes and 5.1 music for years on DVD format and now BluRay when available.

Sure, why not?

Does anyone collect surround mixes despite not having a surround system? Always wonder if collectors literally collect everything despite not having the proper equipment.

Even listening to certain CDs in faux surround (Dolby Pro Logic II for me) can be a great experience.

I still hold out hope for a 5.1 Sgt. Pepper remix.