[LAU] more than 4 channels for listening? Really?

Arnold Krille arnold at arnoldarts.de
Thu Feb 25 15:41:41 EST 2010


Hi,

On Thursday 25 February 2010 19:27:11 Bearcat M. Sandor wrote:
> I'm an audio lover that prefers smaller speakers in smaller spaces and i
> don't need/want 5-8 speakers in my listening space.  I have found that i
> prefer the effect of vocals/sound effects that are mixed in center in
> stereo speakers,  over a center channel.  It sounds more natural and
> rounded to me.
> I would think that the same thing could be done in the rear speakers of
> course and also front to back by adjusting the front-back balance of
> sounds.
> Couldn't one create the sound of a fly moving through out a room simply
> by adjusting the balance of 4 speakers?
> If so why do we need more than 4 speakers?

You want to take a look at ambisonics.
In short: Yes we need more then two/four channels. But the standard 5.1-7.1 
systems of dvd/blueray are not the way to go.

The smaller the distance between the speakers, the better the imaging of 
sources "between" them. That can be increased up to the level wave-field-
synthesis does with arrays of speakers (all independently driven).
But that needs full-range channels of equal importance. The current standard 
in movies is to use different channels for different parts of the sound 
(music/speach/ambient) which make for nice numbers of speakers, but isn't 
really using them...

> I have an audio system for which i'd like to set up 4 channels. I have 2
> Anthony Gallo Acoustic Reference 3.1s and would like to swap them out
> for 4 Stradas and 4 subs (with some extra money of course).

Sounds pricey. And sounds over-priced. You will be surprised how good a 
"simple" active alesis monitor with some drc sounds...

> If i do that and play back a 5.1 or 7.1 movie soundtrack or music disc
> what am i going to not have vs a full 5 or 7 channel set up?
> Will things down-mix properly (using pulse audio for reference)?

pa will just tell the movie player that is has four channels. Its then up to 
the movie player to do the right thing. But mplayer for example does the down-
mix right. And if not, you can configure that via a plugin...

Have fun,

Arnold
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