Ambiophonics, you have to try it

Discussion in 'Ambiophonics' started by Arok, Jun 26, 2017.

  1. LFF

    LFF Friend

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    Or you can pony up $600+ and use Bob Katz's K-Stereo! :facepalm:

    [​IMG]

    These ambiance tools are great for lo-fi sources, like a soundbar, old mono recordings, or a small speaker.

    I actually think K-Stereo is probably the best tool out there for this type of gimmick. As with all DSP stuff, less is certainly more. Still...it certainly is fun to play around with.

    Kenneth Wilkinson and Roy DuNann certainly never used DSPs and I don't think their stuff needs spatial enhancement.
     
  2. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    It does have lots of knobs though. Always thought of the Carver effect as a fun toy to play around with.
     
  3. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Kid gloves coming off.

    Again, this is nothing special. Can do the same from a mixing console in the studio. Pipe L channel out to another channel that has phase button inverted and combine with R channel out. Do the reverse for R.

    Whether DSP or not, same difference, although you can argue the DSP method would have no lag. Similar type idea can be expanded to two more speakers in the back. Sort of a fake surround sound. This was a old trick with car stereos.

    The width function on the Lavry DACs and the DEQ2496 I currently run for my big woofer / horn system do same thing, with the DEQ offering more and much finer controls. I generally don't bother. It's a gimmick for anything other than a soundbar.
     
    Last edited: Jun 27, 2017
  5. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    If you are doing that, just move the speakers even closer to your ears, and put material all around it.
    Move them to about 1" away from your ears, and surround them, use something soft to couple it to your ear.
    Now shrink them down, so all the sound is directed into your ear.
    Now add a headband to properly hold them near your ears.

    Its headphones.
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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  7. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    Funny, but yes ... I understand that headphones do exactly the same thing. I was actually curious to see if I could make my desktop monitors sound like headphones. Its a pretty cool effect in practice, sounds strange for sure, soundstage was a little wider but bass impact was diminished noticeably .... totally impractical and stupid looking but fun to try out just for shits and giggles ... I set it up in about 15 minutes using a mattress. I'll never try it again but it gave me something to do for an hour. I think experimentation is one of the best aspects of this hobby. Plus it's an experiment that was totally free, most of the time you have to fork over cash to try something new.
     
  8. spwath

    spwath Hijinks master cum laudle

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    I agree, sounds fun, I actually might try the same thing
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    DEQ2496 implementation here:
    2496.png

    Stereowidth = how much reverse polarity signal from opposite channel to apply
    Rotation = L to R relative level
    Asymmetry = opposite phase R and L relative level

    Shuffle = expand width effect of lower frequency (since lower frequencies are less directional)
    Frequency = frequency below which to apply shuffle effect
    Bass tim = adjustments for volume, since bass wavelengths are longer and will tend to add or cancel more easily in a room
     
  10. LFF

    LFF Friend

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    It's funny that you post the DEQ Marv.

    Alan Blumlein knew about this back in 1934.
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Right? This is dumb. Marketing a well known concept under a different name with bullshit marketing and sockpuppet testimonials.

    amlosers.jpg
     
  12. Serious

    Serious Inquisitive Frequency Response Plot

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    Leaving the DSP stuff aside, I thought putting a thick mattress between the speakers had interesting results when I tried it. Not something that I'd like permanently, but interesting to try nonetheless. Makes for a presentation somewhere in between speakers and headphones.
     
  13. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    No need to put the mattress in between. Just put one speaker in one room, and the other in the hallway. Sit at the door transition.

    Achievement unlocked.
     
  14. STC

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    I am not affiliated to Ambiophonics, although I am one the few ones fully implemented the system and do advocate them to other audiophiles for better sound for free or as little as $125 of the MiniDSP hardware. Ambiophonics.org is a non-profit institution and they have no commercial interest.
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    AES99NYC_Fig5.jpg
     
  16. STC

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    There are AES papers to support the claim. Soundbar would not work. You need two speakers.

    You need to make sure that you get at least 10dB attenuation between the two speakers when you place a barrier. You can try with small speakers as experiment and once you understand the setting then you can move on to the bigger speakers.
     
  17. STC

    STC New

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    Hi Thad, how are you? Nice to know you are here.
     
  18. Dino

    Dino Friend

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    I asked (partially) because of your introductory post:
    [​IMG]

    And thought that you had not read the Must Read for New Members post containing:

    "If you are an MOT, industry insider, blogger, reviewer, or provider of audio related software (free, commercial open source, GPL, etc.), introduce yourself as such to the membership and make this known to the moderators. Otherwise you will inevitably will be digitally tarred and feathered."
     
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Most soundbars are two speakers - just in a bar.

    [​IMG]
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Just so no one can say that I didn't at least try it...

    IMG_20170627_204329.jpg

    This ambio.one VST plug-in is pure garbage. Utter garbage. Guys, don't waste your time. Totally weird staging. Either big HOLE in the middle or THREE BLOB EFFECT. depending upon dials. Instrument localization is all fucked up. Like stretched out or diffuse instead of pin-point. Seriously, f**k this shit.

    It makes my $1000 desktop system sound like -$10,000. That is, someone would need to pay me $10,000 to listen to this crappy effect - for one week.
     

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