I have more than 125 multi-channel SACDs, most classical, and have listened
to all but a few. The surrounds on most are very good to outstanding and
truly offer an experience significantly beyond two-channel. At worse a few
are benign. That is, they offer only marginal improvement over the
two-channel layer. I would say that the surround of the Rachmaninoff 2nd
symphony (Channel Classics) is not the very best but is a very audible
improvement over the two-channel layer.

I strongly recommend that you pick up the Philips SACD multi-channel set
up/test disc. Use this disc with a sound level meter. Among other tests
and music the disc has pink noise to help you insure that all your
channels are at the *same* level at the listening position. (Make sure
that all speakers are equidistant from the listening position). Let the
individual SACD recording determine the relative sound level that comes
from the surround channels. I am confident that you will find almost all
surrounds to be very good or better.

Proper set up is very important.

Robert C. Lang