RoyY51
08-10-2004, 06:34 PM
The Holy Grail of home theater has always been to reproduce life the way we hear it: with spacial cues emanating from all around us. However, while 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 place the action around us, they only do so on a horizontal plane. There are no systems (to my knowledge) that address vertical sound cues. Obviously, the only way to do this would be to have twice the number of speakers and twice the number of amplified channels. The speakers would be mounted in pairs, one atop the other, separated by a sufficient distance to give height information. This would, however, likely double the price of the system and price it out of the market for most people (including me).
So, consider this: since (roughly) 60 percent of all audio info is reproduced by the center channel, how about one center channel above the TV and one center channel below. Each speaker would be driven by a separate amplifier. During the majority of scenes on the screen, both channels would be receiving the same information, giving the effect that the sound is coming from the screen (as apposed to above or below, as in current HT setups). Then, when the jumbo jet screams overhead, or when subterranean mayhem occurs, the appropriate cues could be delivered to either the top or bottom center speaker, locating the sound either above or below the action on the screen. Granted, this would not be the perfect solution, but it would only entail buying one more speaker, and having one more channel of amplification.
I'm sure that one (or more) of the mega-conglomerates have already thought of, and discarded this approach, but it just seems to make sense to me. I would appreciate your comments.
So, consider this: since (roughly) 60 percent of all audio info is reproduced by the center channel, how about one center channel above the TV and one center channel below. Each speaker would be driven by a separate amplifier. During the majority of scenes on the screen, both channels would be receiving the same information, giving the effect that the sound is coming from the screen (as apposed to above or below, as in current HT setups). Then, when the jumbo jet screams overhead, or when subterranean mayhem occurs, the appropriate cues could be delivered to either the top or bottom center speaker, locating the sound either above or below the action on the screen. Granted, this would not be the perfect solution, but it would only entail buying one more speaker, and having one more channel of amplification.
I'm sure that one (or more) of the mega-conglomerates have already thought of, and discarded this approach, but it just seems to make sense to me. I would appreciate your comments.