Walt:
In our experiment at the NSS workshop, we did not hear the sounds coming
from only four sources. We heard sounds all the way around. It is possible
that there was some emphasis in the direction of the speakers, but we were
not certain of this.
It is very important when doing a test to hide the speakers so that they do
not draw one's attention. As I've mentioned before, we have a tendency in
our brain to try to make sounds come out of speakers. This is because we've
learned that sound does in fact come out of them. That learning biases our
hearing if we see a speaker.
Lang
From: Lang Elliott <>
>
> Walt:
>
> Sounds like the magnaplanes are a whole different ball of wax. Seems like
> they certainly could fill a room with sound. And it also seems like the
> sweet spot would be large. But for the life of me, I can't imagine how
> imaging of sound sources would remain accurate as one moves all around,
> because imaging is definitely related to time arrival differences at the two
> ears, along with intensity differences, which necessitates, it seems, point
> sources. Or else my brain just isn't able to grasp what you're describing.
> My guess is that it would be an immensely eveloping experience, with a big
> sweet spot, but with poor imaging of sound sources.
> Maybe I'm wrong . . . but I guess I'll never know because I certainly can't
> afford to experiment with it.
I can't afford to experiment either. I've two very old, fairly small
magnaplanes. And don't expect to get more. In any case to do this one
right would require building a room just for it.
>From my own listening and experimenting with the magnaplanes I would
say that the imaging (in stereo) is far better than you'd expect. I've
heard a regular style surround magnaplane, and the imaging there was as
good as the source material. My original comment was that the
magnaplanes could very well be worthwhile to try with your 4 channel
surround. I've not done that, obviously, so cannot predict for sure the
outcome. I expect it would be very good, better than with standard speakers.
It could be that the area source is so enveloping that you don't need as
precise a point for good imaging. It is different, as you say a
different ball of wax. I can observe how they behave, I can't get into
the math of why.
One of the problems I'd have with your system, from my own experience,
is that I'd hear it as 4 point sources. I always hear regular speakers
that way, even more so with the current crop compared to, say, the 70's
speaker systems. And you are recording sound coming in from all
directions, so it should not be just 4 points. It's part of what got me
interested in the magnaplanes in the first place.
Walt
"Microphones are not ears,
Loudspeakers are not birds,
A listening room is not nature."
Klas Strandberg
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