I think this might have kind of tainted the surround music landscape & non-audio hobbyists equate ALL surround music with the hazy/random mixes those DSP formats usually generate.
I'll admit that DPLII, DTS:Neo and Logic7 can sometimes come up with some decent "surround" mixes, but their processor chips are totally at the mercy of the music & how it was recorded on the CD/LP/cassette/etc that's being used as the source. Some instruments can get placed in weird locations that disrupt the feel of the music; and as far as moving channel-to-channel effects (IMO with the proper music these *can* add positively to the listening experience) obviously that ain't gonna happen with a software-driven system. And many times almost nothing happens - 95% of the music is concentrated in the front channels, oftentimes with most of it stuck in the center channel. Bleh.
To me, DSP based surround mixes are pale imitations of the real thing, sort of like cheap ice cream: instead of using 100% real cream to make them thick and where it just melts cleanly on your tongue, they use thickeners like guar gum & cellulose gum and then whip in air to "fluff" them up. So sure, technically speaking the end product is creamiER, but it's also not as dense, it's sticky, it sits on your tongue too long, and lacks that clean sensation of 100% real iced CREAM.
So in my hungry mind .............
DPLII, DTS:Neo, Logic7 = half gallon tub of store-brand ice cream for $3.
True surround from the multitracks (IF mixed with care) = one pint of Haagen-Daz or Ben & Jerry's at the same cost.
I'll admit that DPLII, DTS:Neo and Logic7 can sometimes come up with some decent "surround" mixes, but their processor chips are totally at the mercy of the music & how it was recorded on the CD/LP/cassette/etc that's being used as the source. Some instruments can get placed in weird locations that disrupt the feel of the music; and as far as moving channel-to-channel effects (IMO with the proper music these *can* add positively to the listening experience) obviously that ain't gonna happen with a software-driven system. And many times almost nothing happens - 95% of the music is concentrated in the front channels, oftentimes with most of it stuck in the center channel. Bleh.
To me, DSP based surround mixes are pale imitations of the real thing, sort of like cheap ice cream: instead of using 100% real cream to make them thick and where it just melts cleanly on your tongue, they use thickeners like guar gum & cellulose gum and then whip in air to "fluff" them up. So sure, technically speaking the end product is creamiER, but it's also not as dense, it's sticky, it sits on your tongue too long, and lacks that clean sensation of 100% real iced CREAM.
So in my hungry mind .............
DPLII, DTS:Neo, Logic7 = half gallon tub of store-brand ice cream for $3.
True surround from the multitracks (IF mixed with care) = one pint of Haagen-Daz or Ben & Jerry's at the same cost.