Multichannel transmission of music from concert hall to home

The basis for 2 or more channel transmission of music from a concert hall to a home living room is explored. Six assumptions are given. The 1933 "Symposium on Auditory Perspective" is reviewed to indicate the difference between a concert hall and a living room as a playback space. A 2-channel system is found optimum for directional effects. Transmission of the reverberant field could use an additional channel but can be done adequately and cost effectively with a 2- channel system. We conclude there is little justification for the use of more than 2-channels to transmit concert hall music.