Actually, multi-channel music can sound very good. Not all multichannel discs are created equally however. It all depends on the engineers that mix it. I like the Eagles Hotel California in multi-channel as well as stereo. Fleetwood Mac Rumors is another example of multi done right. I have Toto IV on SACD and don't care for the multi channel mix. The stereo is great though. Just because you hear a shitty multi mix doesn't mean you should forget the whole format. Most 2 channel discs sound incredible. Of course this is also dependent on the rest of your system.