Xdevo1973
Active Member
I just took the plunge and ordered one from their website as they actually had three available. I hope that it is worth it!
I just took the plunge and ordered one from their website as they actually had three available. I hope that it is worth it!
From the website...Does anyone know if Surround Masters will be available from the company or have they discontinued production? There are no factory blem items available on the website and no mention of new product coming soon. Thanks.
Currently listening to Queen's Sheer Heart Attack SHM-CD for the first time through the SM, could almost swear it's a discrete mix.
From the website...
ATTENTION! The current version of the Surround Master case has been sunset. New stock is no longer available – however we are selling a limited number of factory second / less-than-perfect models with a discount of $100 off the original price.
And I know your question is an honest one. I don't understand it either. I mean, I wish I could hear one of these. Maybe they simply blow away any processing an AVR can do. I have no clue. If they can, then I'd be very curious....Why would someone use something like this versus an up mixer within their AVR?
My impression is that they actually decode matrixed signals as opposed to just futzing with phase. If that is incorrect then I would have no interest either.And I know your question is an honest one. I don't understand it either. I mean, I wish I could hear one of these. Maybe they simply blow away any processing an AVR can do. I have no clue. If they can, then I'd be very curious....
good question, Perp!
fwiw i've not directly compared the output 'stems' of PLII "decodes" with the same material I've run thru the Surround Master in Involve mode, so my POVs far from scientific and may suffer from placebo-itis!
with that in mind, I'd say some stuff seems more immersive thru PLII (it may or may not be, just what I think i'm hearing) but above all I find the SM handy for those external 2-ch sources that I don't/can't run thru an AVR (e.g. vinyl) plus I've yet to find a mode on any of my AVRs that can do SQ properly, so that's an advantage to me of the SM unit over any AVR surround modes I've yet to try, though I can see that won't be important to too many people here & elsewhere.
as a matter of course these days I run quite a bit of material thru the SM, some of it comes out of the speakers with surprising results.. to me it is not a one size fits all thing, some stuff doesn't do anything to write home about but when it does it can be very surroundy cool indeed!
Not yet, but I must try it (have to locate the disc first...)did you try "Mustapha" from Queen's Jazz album thru the Surround Master's Involve mode yet? its absolutely incredible!
Songs in the key of life sounds great on SMjust to add, I've noticed there are songs (and sometimes complete albums) which sound really nice and "surround-y" no matter whether they're processed thru PLII or the SM, including the Doobies' Takin It To The Streets, 10CC's Deceptive Bends, Queen's Jazz, Fleetwood Mac's Tango In The Night, Van Halen's 1984, David Lee Roth's Skyscraper, Kansas (several albums), Stevie Wonder (Talking Book thru Songs In The Key Of Life) and some others I can't remember off the top of my head
On the topic of Queen, my favourite Queen album, A day at the races, sounds pretty good on the SM too.Not yet, but I must try it (have to locate the disc first...)
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