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Re: 2 speakers vs 4 speakers?
#28722 12/24/03 12:55 AM
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axiomite
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Hawkson, i believe in what alot of JohnK has already mentioned.
Here's my adiditional 3 cents.

Four speaker "stereo" is a bit of a flawed idea.
Stereo is 2 channel, period (i won't argue this point overly hard but there are true stereophiles out there who would consider your words true blasphemy).
The idea of taking a single forward imaged sound (2 speakers up front firing in one direction) and then playing 2 opposing speakers in the rear is not only confusing to your ear since the original 'stereo' sound was not designed for 4 speakers in such an orientation, but the sound waves themselves will have cancellations potentially giving you this stagnant sound that you perceive. Think of it as two waves of water colliding. Molecules of gases that makeup air in motion (sound waves) very much have an effect on each other and not always in a harmonious way.

The idea about using 'surround' sound with 4.x or 5.x channels, is to try and create the most realistic way of hearing an image as our ears would normally perceive sounds all around our head. If a band were playing in front of you, it should not sound as loud coming from behind your head as it does in front.
Using a full channel 4 speaker surround creates this non-realistic sound.
If you are trying to create a well imaged sound from any source, i suggest you try using the Dolby Pro Logic modes first which utilize real recorded information for the surround speakers, left and right back, and see what this does to the sound you seek.
(NOTE: For the nitpickers out there, I did not say DPL has distinctly recorded channel info for the surrounds)
Secondly, try listening to some music off a dvd soundtrack that is using DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1 to get an idea of how the surround channels should really sound in comparison to the 2 main front speakers.

Using the all channel surround mode is ok, but i personally have never found it enhances music or tv watching whatsoever. If anything, i find it distracting.

The only way i ever got to try and enjoy the full 4 speakers in surround (and yes, they were 4 direct radiating speakers, 2 M60s and 2 M22s), was to sit in the VERY middle of the room equidistant from all 4 speakers on all angles (e.g. the middle of the square).
Most listening rooms are not setup with a couch completely in the middle, with equidistance from all speakers.


"Those who preach the myths of audio are ignorant of truth."
Re: 2 speakers vs 4 speakers?
#28723 12/24/03 01:34 AM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,041
connoisseur
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Touche... But I would be playing with a preamp rather than a tube amp. Tube amps have the ... errmm.. the tube sound. The tube pre-amp is less so and just a little touch warm...which mean could be rolling off in certain frqouencies and a little noise and sparkle.
True...if it sounds better to you personally. But I thought music was always recorded with 1 or 2 mics in front. Unless the recording was made specifically recorded or digitized to use all available speakers hence it needed to have mics in all 5.1 6.1 or 7.2 locations. I like listening to music the way it was recorded.


Re: 2 speakers vs 4 speakers?
#28724 12/24/03 03:21 AM
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Ah, you didn't read my post very closely. I always listen in 2 channel-I don't have more speakers. Using DPLII, for whatever reason, sounds better than Stereo for my 2 speakers.

Also, I agree with you on listening the way it was recoreded (amount of speaker-wise).

Back to the issue at hand, Hawkson. You could hook up the 2nd set of M22s to the multiroom (SBL/SBR) posts on the H/K and configure it for multiroom. Then you'd get the full amplification using Stereo as opposed to Logic7 or 5-Stereo.

Last edited by kcarlile; 12/24/03 03:44 AM.

I am the Doctor, and THIS... is my SPOON!
Re: 2 speakers vs 4 speakers?
#28725 12/24/03 04:20 AM
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Ah!!!! ding ding ding duh!!!
sorry.....I have tried DPLII and there was sound coming from the rears too.
HAVE to READ properly. I need new contact lenses.

Re: 2 speakers vs 4 speakers?
#28726 12/24/03 04:46 AM
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Posts: 16,441
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In reply to:

I need new contact lenses.



Are the nose-grease streaks on your monitor getting to you?

Re: 2 speakers vs 4 speakers?
#28727 12/24/03 06:41 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 359
devotee
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cheseroo-what made me purchase 4 m22s for the purpose of 4 way stereo was that my 4.1 klipsch computer speakers sounds really nice when reproducing 2 channel across 4 speakers. Since i dont watch movies too often, but play music atleast 4 hours a day i figured 4 channel stereo would be the way to go

kcarlile-well i tried it and it sounds better. It is not as nice as 2 channel stereo and its a pain to get both set of speakers on equal volumes (need 2 remotes for that)

I have a couple of theoretical questions though-if i position the speakers so they are at equal heights and equal positions in the room will the soundstage come together?

Should i return the 4 m22's and get an m60 for a 18x15 room? I can return the 4 FMBs if i get an m60 too.

Last edited by Hawkson101; 12/24/03 07:21 AM.

Once You Pop You Can't Stop
Re: 2 speakers vs 4 speakers?
#28728 09/20/04 11:35 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 206
local
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This thread is old but i'll still try to put in my 2cents, I think hawkson was looking for something similar to a car stereo setup, if that was the case then the rear speakers output level will need to be reduced significantly in order to create that echo effect you normally get from concert or orchestra. I don't know if the HK525 have Time-Delay or not but this little devil play a major role in setup like this, otherwise you'll more than likely trashing the frontstage, and throwing off the imaging. An extra pair of M22ti running in the rear is overkilled, I would opt for a pair of surrounds or M3ti for the rear channel.

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