|
Surround sound system
We are now entering the Third Age of reproduced sound. The monophonic era
was the First Age, which lasted from the Edison's invention of the
phonograph in 1877 until the 1950s. During those times, the goal was
simply to reproduce the timbre of the original sound. No attempts were
made to reproduce directional properties or spatial realism.
The stereo era was the Second Age. It was based on the
inventions from the 1930s, reached the public in the mid-'50s, and has
provided great listening pleasure for four decades. Stereo improved the
reproduction of timbre and added two dimensions of space: the left - right
spread of performers across a stage and a set of acoustic cues that allow
listeners to perceive a front-to-back dimension.
In two-channel stereo, this realism is based on fragile
sonic cues. In most ordinary two-speaker stereo systems, these subtle cues
can easily be lost, causing the playback to sound flat and uninvolved.
Multi channel surround systems, on the other hand, can provide this
involving presence in a way that is robust, reliable and consistent.
The purpose of this seminar is to explore the advances
and technologies of surround sound in the consumer market
|