In an ideal world,
should monitors that are used in a multichannel configuration
be similar to from those used for stereo?
Stereo is a multichannel format, only a special case
of 5-channel one (or any number of channels). If we think about
backward compatibility and the fact that 99% of music is being
sold and produced in the stereo format the answer is yes. There’s
no good practical reason why the speakers could not be similar.
With a subwoofer, though, you have to take care of proper crossover
filtering between the main speakers and the subwoofer to maintain
compatibility from 5.1 channel system all the way down to mono.
The concept of a subwoofer as a separate unit must be forgotten
and instead thought of as an integrated bass extension system
for the main speakers making them all fulfill the ‘full
bandwidth ‘ criteria.
What are your thoughts on the use of the ‘1. channel’
outside sound for picture work?
It’s so amazing how this low frequency effects (1) channel
that takes care of less than 1% of the channel capacity has
created most of the reproduction problems in a 5.1 channel system.
I think it’s a total misconception in musical recording.
The principal idea of an LFE-channel was to allow a higher modulation
of the main channels without the need for two hours of the movie
to be prepared to handle the last minute low frequency blasts
and by doing so wasting the precious headroom and bandwidth
of the main reproduction mechanism came second.
Whenever we have multiple sound sources- acoustic or electronic
– and we want them to work coherently it requires that
these sources have identical frequency and phase responses.
Unfortunately neither of these is the case with the LFE makes
it produce comb filtering interference with the main channel
signal around 100Hz., which will make the system sound sloppy
and have a lack of punch. There’s really no reason why
the main channels can’t carry all low frequency information
in musical recordings- and without artifacts. That’s why
I keep the LFE- cable disconnected in my DVD audio player.
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Ari Varla - A SELF –
DECLARED AUDIO hobbyist
What’s special about Genelec’s
approach to monitor manufacture?
Are we restricted in monitor design by
the industry’s conservatism?
Cabinet, crossover, driver or amplifier-
where are the limitations?
Are end-user expectations of low-end
unrealistic for the small sizes of cabinet that most are actually
listening on?
The digital monitor is as much of a misnomer
as the digital microphone, but what are the real advantages
and where could it lead?
In an ideal world, should monitors that are used in a multichannel
configuration be similar to from those used for stereo? |
