Ambiophonics --- WOW this is amazing!!

[UncleFegg]

Just give it a go, Ambiophonics that is, easy to set-up and test. It's a simple bit of software. Sounds very lush to me

No description will do this justice, you have to take a listen and make your mind up. I've got 40 years of music to hear in a whole new way.

Stick on "Dark Side of the Moon" and close your eyes. Takes a while to understand what you are hearing. I love it.

[Spyes]

Edit - I had a question on here, but found the answer with a bit of Googling....!

[charlieblue]

First tried Ambio setup in Spring 2011. To test the method, I did an a/b comparison where
a: speakers at 2,5m equilateral triangle ie 60 degrees
b: speakers dead ahead at 10 degrees.
Played 2-3 tracks from about a dozen CD's, all types of music, took me a day to listen to 3 tracks*12 CDs *2 times the speaker setup. And, to help my receding memory, I was quick to change between speaker positions. To be able to verify, I took notes on listening impressions of what instruments where listenable at what position in the room: I drew the room and speakers on a notepad, then made marks of what/where I listened to ie the doublebass, or an accordeon, or a tuba etc.
For Ambio, I used a 6" thick barrier made with sheets of pyramid foam, no algorithms for me.

Results were Ambio beat stereo every time. In stereo, instruments were close together depthwise though nicely spread left to right. In Ambio, instruments were much further apart front to back, and a bit further apart left to right. On a few occasions, with Ambio I listened to instruments that with stereo I could not tell were there. Springsteen sounded articulate rather than mumbling lyrics away (which is no small feat )

At first I did not achieve 180 soundstage with ambio, but would easily go 90-100 degrees. Still, even with the barrier ~2' away from me, on Craig Armstrong's "The space between us" at the beggining of Track 7, I heard a cricket at 9 o'clock. I later found out that soundstage limited (!) to 100degrees was due to my using a short barrier. Once I moved closer to the barrier the sound did extend close to 180 degrees wide.

Bass was extended lower, which made my bass-shy speakers more pleasant to listen to.

Sheer palpability of instruments was breathtaking. On Dark Side, I could count the number of clocks going off at various depth levels. They started at speaker level and were spread back to more that 10', and I was smiling: hey there's one, wait, there's another one, woa that's the big floor clock way back to the left...

Only problem I have is that using pyramid foam with speakers close together is killing the high frequencies for me. I have planned to try a thinner reflective barrier in place of the absorbtive one I now use. Need some time and tools to cut a few plywood sheets to make one.

But, now that I have tried Ambio it will be impossible for me to go back to stereo.

All I can say to all you music lovers out there is GO AMBIO, you'll love it!

Hats off for Mr.Glasgal

[jake]

And also like the Carver, expect limited inconsistant results, probably better with some recordings than others, and probably better with some equipment than others, which is why everyone I know loved playing with them for a while and then putting them on the shelf.

[ATHERMOS]

Enough is enough. I would like to use Ambiophonics for analogue sources,in that case don't tell me that the signal from the line out of the amplifier should be routed to the computer and digitised and then played back from the computer using the program!!!

[Spyes]

Enough is enough. I would like to use Ambiophonics for analogue sources,in that case don't tell me that the signal from the line out of the amplifier should be routed to the computer and digitised and then played back from the computer using the program!!!

Put your speakers at about 20-degree separation angle, and get some sort of 'wall' to put between the speakers, something sound-proof preferably (like pyramid foam).

[mawari]

Enough is enough. I would like to use Ambiophonics for analogue sources,in that case don't tell me that the signal from the line out of the amplifier should be routed to the computer and digitised and then played back from the computer using the program!!!

It's not ambiophonics ( aside: my computer keeps trying to autocorrect this word to "biophysics" ) but I have an Onkyo amp that offers "5 channel stereo". I only use it with 4 speakers, but the effect is superb. I'm almost embarrassed to admit it. Unlike all the other DSP modes it offers, it sounds natural, but just wider. Very useful to have for casual or group listening. <- Transparent attempt to retain my audiophile credibility

I'll try this ambiophonics on my computer setup ...

Paul

[charlieblue]

And also like the Carver, expect limited inconsistant results, probably better with some recordings than others, and probably better with some equipment than others

Not all recordings have good 3D info put into them. I played Iron Maiden and got a rather flat 2D sound, which is somewhat expected from a rock band recording. Live Motorhead lps were bearly listenable. However, when Schifrin's Tango soundtrack played the soundstage burst open. Other example on the Matrix-I OST, only 1 out of the 13 bands featured would give any signs of imaging. So yes, I would not expect amazing results on every recording, but I do find at least an improvement on every track I play.

Likewise, not all equipment is similar in openness and soundstage. But if you stricktly compare stereo to ambio speaker setup, same music same system, the latter wins.

which is why everyone I know loved playing with them for a while and then putting them on the shelf.

Many reasons to discard ambio. It is a rather new concept, so if experimenting is not one's forte then... Or, the actual ambio setup may not be to one's taste: not eneryone can live with a x-foot long y-inches wide barier sticking out from the main speakers. I can imagine the spouse going wild at the idea alone... Even if software is used instead of a dividing barier, not everyone is likely to stay put, rather than wander about in/outside the room, when listening to music. Remember, ambio works on the center axis, give or take a few intches L to R.