[cmeisenzahl]

I'm no home theatre expert, but I don't quite get this.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6467_7-...ml?tag=nl.e722

"Want surround sound without all those speakers? Well, tough luck. True surround still requires rear-channel speakers, but if you're willing to compromise and feel less, well, surrounded, there is a growing number of solutions available at a variety of price points. Each manages to coax a moderately convincing illusion of surround sound from just one speaker (and sometimes a sub, too)."

[Doofy]

Are they talking just one speaker at the back (and proper stereo front, which I can see working), or are they talking just one speaker period (which I can't see working in a million years)?

[jebjeb]

I have listened to a number of the Yamaha YSP's in different rooms and overall, I am impressed. They work better in more conventional rooms but they do work quite well. Certainly much neater than most other setups.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate good, proper surround (I have a full 7.1 surround setup in my basement), but these are a very good partner for a LCD/Plasma as a secondary system.

I mainly liked the increased width of the sound stage in stereo mode compared to the pitifully narrow one you get from the built in speakers on a display. I reckon there is a pretty good chance I may get one of these when I move to a LCD for my living room this year.

[jebjeb]

Just noticed that there may not be too much of an understanding of how this technology works.

Each of the single "speakers" is actually 20+ smaller speakers. The Yamahas have two standard paper cone mid-range drivers flanking 21 to 41 (depending on model) small metal cone drivers (similar to the original iMac speakers) each with its own digital amp. Using DSP, the sound "beam" can be steered by using varing time delays and effects so that rather than beaming straight at you ears, it will be bounced off the side and/or rear walls making it appear that there are a greater number of speakers placed in those reflection points.

Image shows drivers


Shows how surround mode works using reflections

[demibob]

Originally Posted by jebjeb

Just noticed that there may not be too much of an understanding of how this technology works.

Each of the single "speakers" is actually 20+ smaller speakers. The Yamahas have two standard paper cone mid-range drivers flanking 21 to 41 (depending on model) small metal cone drivers (similar to the original iMac speakers) each with its own digital amp. Using DSP, the sound "beam" can be steered by using varing time delays and effects so that rather than beaming straight at you ears, it will be bounced off the side and/or rear walls making it appear that there are a greater number of speakers placed in those reflection points.

Image shows drivers


Shows how surround mode works using reflections

i read about these in the paper quite a while ago
i didnt realise you could buy them already
looks like it takes a lot of time to set up

[demibob]

^ especialy if you dont have a square tv room

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by jebjeb

Just noticed that there may not be too much of an understanding of how this technology works.

Each of the single "speakers" is actually 20+ smaller speakers.

If that's the case then that'll work, for sure (unless you've got your walls lined with Auralex product!). Since I'm in stereo production, not AV, I was thinking in terms of simple 3/4 way jobbies (even then, using technology like Roland's RSS you could do it with three "simple" speakers).

[leehotti]

So it's a bunch of them in one box. Big deal.

[as2]

These have been around for at least a year now. I was going to get one for my living room, but unfortunately I have an open plan living/dinig space so the system wasn't appropriate as I lack a wall necessary for the DSP to function properly.

[cmeisenzahl]

Great info, jebjeb! And sorry about the misquote. ;-)

[f1000]

Originally Posted by jebjeb

Just noticed that there may not be too much of an understanding of how this technology works.

Each of the single "speakers" is actually 20+ smaller speakers. The Yamahas have two standard paper cone mid-range drivers flanking 21 to 41 (depending on model) small metal cone drivers (similar to the original iMac speakers) each with its own digital amp. Using DSP, the sound "beam" can be steered by using varing time delays and effects so that rather than beaming straight at you ears, it will be bounced off the side and/or rear walls making it appear that there are a greater number of speakers placed in those reflection points.

Cool! It's a phased array of speakers.

[demibob]

Originally Posted by cmeisenzahl

Great info, thanks demibob!

for what
it was jebjeb

[f1000]

Originally Posted by Doofy

unless you've got your walls lined with Auralex product!

You could strategically mount artwork with a stiff backing to serve as acoustic reflectors.

[jebjeb]

No probs.

They are fairly quick to set up. You tell it what type of room you have and it has a crack at it itself. You can go into a full manual mode as well where you enter distances and such to different walls. It is pretty wild when you manually change some of the parametres and you can actually hear the beam on sound moving around and behind your head!

One of the rooms I heard one in had the tv and speaker in the corner of the room pointing out at 45 degrees. It worked quite well. More so in Stereo/centre mode where it forms a wide, front image but the full surround mode was not too bad.

It really needs a small sub as well. At least they are easy enough to hide.