For a broad search of academic citations involving "5.1 discrete audio download techniques." How To Set Up a Surround Sound System

Downloading 5.1 surround music—rather than just streaming it—offers several key advantages:

: Both support Dolby Atmos , which is the modern successor to 5.1. If you have a 5.1 receiver, these apps will usually "fold down" the Atmos mix into a perfect 5.1 output.

This is often the only way to get major artists like The Beatles (Love), Nine Inch Nails (The Downward Spiral), or Bob Marley (Legend) in surround sound.

ALAC is Apple’s proprietary lossless format. If you primarily use Apple hardware or the native Music app on Mac, multi-channel ALAC files are your best option. Where to Buy and Download 5.1 Surround Music