Earlier generations listened to mono systems while the previous generation grew up on stereo sound. But the current generation is growing in a digital surround sound environment. So, what is this Digital Surround Sound? Stereo systems reproduced music via a two speaker stereo system. Stereo most commonly refers to a "two channel" system consisting of a left and right channel. Two-channel stereo can be can be easily incorporated into everything from personal walkmans all the way up to high-end home systems.
Compared to the one channel “mono” systems, two-channel stereo systems are a major improvement. Stereo systems have the ability to distinguish between various instruments in a way that the listener gets a feel for the various instruments playing across the soundboard. Normally, when you are in a concert hall (or a movie theatre for that matter) you are unconsciously hearing sounds being reflected by the walls of the sound environment. This is why great emphasis is placed on the acoustics of a hall when an orchestra is playing. Stereo has the ability to record some (not all) of this ambiance of the hall. In a typical two speaker home stereo set up, much of this ambiance is lost because of the fact that the sound being reproduced is coming from one direction i.e. from the speakers placed in front of you.
Surround sound, on the other hand, provides a way of reproducing the reverberant sounds of the hall (or any other recording space). By having two or more speakers to the sides or rear of the listener, surround sound can “create" the ambiance of the original recording environment. By adding this reverberating sound, surround sound systems create a much deeper and fuller listening experience. The sounds feel more alive and it creates a “on the scene” illusion for the listener. The side/rear speakers combine with the front speakers to create a three dimensional (3D) environment which provides depth to the sound.
The impact of surround sound can be best judged by listening to concert hall recordings and live performances. As I said earlier, symphonic works recorded in a large hall depend immensely on the acoustics of the hall to add a richness and depth to the sound experience. Any music that is recorded live, will benefit significantly from the additional realism you experience from a surround sound system. Also the new digital effects being added to movies, songs, etc. require the presence of a surround system for optimal performance. Just try to watch “The Matrix” on a mono system, you will understand what I am trying to say!!!
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