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Propeller Head Plaza Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics. |
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Propeller Head Plaza Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics. |
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In Reply to: Two speakers creating a center vocalists do not sound the same as one mono center speaker posted by Richard BassNut Greene on November 17, 2006 at 09:29:21:
"A mono center speaker is better for a center vocalist.
This was discovered in the 1930's when Bell Labs decided three speakers were the minimum for a stereo effect (left, center and right) but later no one could figure out how to put three channels on vinyl, so we got a two channel compromise instead."Is FR the reason for this conclusion or the ability to fix the location of instruments more solidly in space? The 1930s were a time when recordings rarely had sound beyond 5 khz. Stereophonic tape preceded stereophonic vinyl records by several years and 1/4 track was standard. Had 3 channel sound been significantly superior to 2 channel sound, it could have been an option although it would have cut recording time in half. Another option was 3 channel amplifiers with a derived center channel. Equipment manufacturers would have loved it because they could have sold 50% more speakers and amplfier channels but it never came close to being a standard (my HK A500 amp had a center channel line level output with a level control on the front panel.) So are you saying that as instruments are relocated progressively from extreme left or right where they are reproduced by only one speaker gradually to stage center where they are reproduced by both speakers, in a two channel sound system their spectral balance changes? Wouldn't this be obvious by switching the preamp to the monophonic mode and then turning the balance control to one extreme or the other? You should hear a difference in FR if your explanation is correct. I'd like to know if anyone tries it what conclusions they come to.
"If the sound of direct radiator speakers seems shrill, then pad down the treble output of the front tweeter, place sound absorbers at side wall reflection points and listen off-axis if there's still too much treble"
I tried exactly what you said for years and I couldn't get my speakers (AR9) to sound accurate to my satisfaction. The tweeters could be padded down -3db and -6db and so could the upper midrange. My 10 band equalizer could create a 15 db cut and I had bass and treble controls and filters on my Marantz 3800 preamp which could provide substantial additional cuts. Nothing worked to create a sound which was both tonally balanced where the harmonics seemed correct for a particular insturment and where the sound wasn't somehow unnaturally shrill...that is until I changed the hf radiating pattern as I described. Even then, it took a very long time to get it right.
"there's no need for rear tweeters firing at walls. They create early reflections off the nearby walls that can never dupicate the ambience (reverberation) in a large venue."
Well at least the very last part of your statement is something I can completely agree with. There is no way to duplicate the reverberation of a concert hall by altering your speaker systems. That's orders of magnitude more complicated.
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Follow Ups
- Re: Two speakers creating a center vocalists do not sound the same as one mono center speaker - Soundmind 17:39:42 11/17/06 (0)
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