jeffmackwood
Member
Folks,
On another site I posted what follows here, as part of a discussion about expanded soundstage with stereo recordings using a two-speaker stereo set up. Immediately afterwards I thought that what I posted might make for an interesting thread discussion on this site. I did a site search here and could only find one thread that made any mention - in a few posts - of the Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram Generator. (Note to mods: if this is not the right place to start this thread, please feel free to move it.)
Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram Generator.
Read about it here (page 33) and here (page 20).
Short of using a multichannel set-up, using either "native" or processed "surround" sound, in my experience the Carver is the only way that I've ever been able to experience greatly expanded depth, height and (especially) width from a two-channel system.
As those reviews I linked to say, it is very much dependent on source material, but with some material the effect can be startling. (What those reviews might also not emphasize enough, is how important it is to follow the placement / layout instructions in the C-9 owner's manual. The effect is very much dependent on physical positioning of speakers and listening position etc. and the net effect does drop off considerably the more you deviate. In one of the two C-9 systems that I'm running - in a stereo system in my main HT - everything is as "perfect" as can be, and when listening I can certainly tell that it is.)
In general, with two stereo speakers only, and without using something like the C-9 or other processing (like DPL-IIx Music), increasing the width and depth seem to be the two parameters that are easiest to do, especially width. But height? Not so easy. (Note that I'm talking about soundstage, which to me is not the same as simply sound. A floor-to-ceiling-sized speaker will give you sound that fills what can be the entire height of the room in front of you, but a (relatively) small set of bookshelf speakers on stands could provide much better (I know that's a subjective term) height soundstage. Regardless, my experience is that expanding the soundstage's height is much more elusive than width and depth.)
And that's where the Carver C-9 comes in. Again limited to source material, it can provide height cues that you would never expect to hear. So far my best example is Jean-Michel Jarre's Oxygene, Parts I and II in particular. Perhaps it's the totally-artificial nature of the recording itself (as opposed to, say, an orchestra on stage), but it can provide an Atmos-like experience from two stereo speakers. It's uncanny.
Do any other members currently use a Carver C-9 and if so, what stereo recordings have resulted in a surround-like effect (and how would you describe the change in soundstage width, depth and height)?
Jeff
On another site I posted what follows here, as part of a discussion about expanded soundstage with stereo recordings using a two-speaker stereo set up. Immediately afterwards I thought that what I posted might make for an interesting thread discussion on this site. I did a site search here and could only find one thread that made any mention - in a few posts - of the Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram Generator. (Note to mods: if this is not the right place to start this thread, please feel free to move it.)
Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram Generator.
Read about it here (page 33) and here (page 20).
Short of using a multichannel set-up, using either "native" or processed "surround" sound, in my experience the Carver is the only way that I've ever been able to experience greatly expanded depth, height and (especially) width from a two-channel system.
As those reviews I linked to say, it is very much dependent on source material, but with some material the effect can be startling. (What those reviews might also not emphasize enough, is how important it is to follow the placement / layout instructions in the C-9 owner's manual. The effect is very much dependent on physical positioning of speakers and listening position etc. and the net effect does drop off considerably the more you deviate. In one of the two C-9 systems that I'm running - in a stereo system in my main HT - everything is as "perfect" as can be, and when listening I can certainly tell that it is.)
In general, with two stereo speakers only, and without using something like the C-9 or other processing (like DPL-IIx Music), increasing the width and depth seem to be the two parameters that are easiest to do, especially width. But height? Not so easy. (Note that I'm talking about soundstage, which to me is not the same as simply sound. A floor-to-ceiling-sized speaker will give you sound that fills what can be the entire height of the room in front of you, but a (relatively) small set of bookshelf speakers on stands could provide much better (I know that's a subjective term) height soundstage. Regardless, my experience is that expanding the soundstage's height is much more elusive than width and depth.)
And that's where the Carver C-9 comes in. Again limited to source material, it can provide height cues that you would never expect to hear. So far my best example is Jean-Michel Jarre's Oxygene, Parts I and II in particular. Perhaps it's the totally-artificial nature of the recording itself (as opposed to, say, an orchestra on stage), but it can provide an Atmos-like experience from two stereo speakers. It's uncanny.
Do any other members currently use a Carver C-9 and if so, what stereo recordings have resulted in a surround-like effect (and how would you describe the change in soundstage width, depth and height)?
Jeff
As I mentioned, I have two units in play. The other one is in a living room stereo system that uses a pair of Totem Sttaf speakers. There, mostly because of the room, the effect is not as dramatic. Never unpleasant; but sometimes nothing to get very excited about.
