Matrix EX and ES sound; do you need a 6th channel?

I think that EX-ES matrix sound(also known as the center back sound channel) was a fabulous addition to the two rear channels in the current descrete surround systems we are using. The problem is the addition of a sixth or seventh speaker to obtain this sound, the problem being space and where to put those speakers. For instance, my surround speakers are up near the ceiling at the back of my room facing each other. If I added a sixth speaker, it would be over my head. If that sixth speaker should ever fall, it would fall on my head and I would be DEAD. It is another thing alltogether when your surround speakers are not against the back wall. Then you will probably have the room to add the sixth and seventh speaker.

Going back to my room, I noticed that I could hear sounds right over my head from the surround speakers. A test tone from the THX OPtimzier found on the Star Wars and other select dvds on one of the tests on that disc will show that you can hear the center back sound in phantom mode. So far, it has worked very well for me.

My brother had a set-up in his computer room with two NHT superzeros in the rear on stands. The two speakers were slightly towed in. I could not hear any center back sound at all. However, I have played around with speakers of various designs. One design I thought might synthesize the center back surround channel. I simply used a doorstop on each speaker and had them tilt slightly inward. The center back surround channel came out in all its glory. I know that it was working great because regular prologic rear sound collapsed dead center. It is possible that this would not be the case with the current additions of Dolby Pro-Logic 2 and similar two to five channel made into descrete type sound.

There are some receivers that have a VIRTUAL mode to reproduce the sixth channel. I cannot vouch how well this could work. The Pioneer 514 and 515 receivers have this mode. Yamaha's htr 5730 and 5830 also have this mode as well.

HD-DVD MACHINES: A Audio Question

Toshiba has announced one of these machines for sale of which a few dealers are taking advanced orders. There are some new audio features that these machines can decode other than DTS and Dolby Digital. They are DTS-HD audio and Dolby Digital Plus just to name a few. The question is where will this audio be outputted? Through the typical coaxial-optical output? Well if a disc contains this fancy audio, there are no receivers out there to decode it at this time. Are some of those receivers that can take upgrades be upgraded to decode those new codecs. OR is this going to be another SACD-DVD-Audio game where the machine will only output these "identical to the master" audio tracks through 5.1 analog output audio cables. If that is so, what is somebody owns a SACD or DVD-audio player at this time and elects to buy one of these new machines and only has one 5.1 channel input on his receiver. Does that mean that you would now need a switching box for muliple choice audio tracks between two machines? 'Seems like that to me. O' maybe all new receivers should have two 5.1 analogue inputs. This whole audio business has gotten out of hand all over "copying" issues. If DVD-Audio and SACD audio was outputed through a coax or optical cable as it should have been, it might have become more successful.

I also thought about something else. Some of the movies that will be released in HD-DVD that also may contain the newer DTS and Dolby multichannel tracks might cause a problem with those movies encoded with matrix EX and ES center back surround channels in addition to the DTS-ES descrete channel if these audio tracks are analogue outputted. The receiver's decoder for these tracts do not have the opportunity to decode anything when analogue inputs are used, I TTTHHHHIIIIINNNNNKKKKKK.

What size speaker should the satellites have in a satellite system

I think it was BOSE that created the first sub-satellite system but I could be wrong. A satellite speaker is a small speaker that handles the freqencies of audio from 81hz,100hz and perhaps 101-120hz. A subwoofer attached to the satellite system would handle low freqencies below 81hz,100hz and101-120hz.

With the exception of the BOSE system, most satellites have been running as a two way system with a tweeter and a 4 inch woofer. I have noticed an increase of satellites with speakers that are two way types with 3 to 31/2 inch woofers. I really do not know how well these may play in a large room. In addition, their freqency response would not leave me happy if they are above 100 hz for the lowest freaquency. If they are above 100 hz, then it likens the possibility of being able to tell where your subwoofer is in the system which is what you are trying to avoid. Recently, I heard some Mirage Omnistats with the Mirage S-12 subwoofer. I tried a crossover setting on a Marantz receiver at 80 and 100hz. A test report on the Mirage Omnistats exclaimed that they would play best at 80 cycles since they could reproduce some mid-bass. That report was dead-on. 80hz was the best setting.

My system is a budget system using two-way 4 inch Minimus 7 speakers. I like two-way 4 inch speakers. They do work well. Years ago, I had a pair of Minimus speakers that had a 5 inch woofer. I believe that a satellite system with 5 or 5 l/4 inch speakers would have more gusto. Would I use larger speakers as a satellite?

When I was a kid, I noticed that the magic diameter number for a speaker to start producing its own proper bass response was 6 inches. If I had a satellite system with 6 to 6 1/2 inch woofers, I would want a receiver that gave me the option of crossovers below 80hz. I would only want the sub to produce the lowest bass notes strictly as a fill in. IMHO any speaker less than 6 inches cannot produce its own proper bass response on its own. A 80 to 100 hz receiver setting should do, but in a lifetime, it is impossible to experiment with different types of speaker sizes because one does not have the time nor money to be able to experiment in this way.

If you are purchasing satellite systems with speakers whose woofer is below 4 inches in size, be sure you purchase from a place that will give a money back guarantee. If you like what you hear, and you paid a good price, you should keep the system.

What home theater is not

It is not for people who do not know how to create a proper stereo and stereo surround sound field. Some years back, I was in a home that had the tv to the left of the main front left channel speaker. The whole surround system in essence was to the right of the tv. That is what I call DUMB.

I know somebody who just bought some fancy speakers. The two rear surrounds are not placed properly, yet the party is bragging how great the system is, but says mine is annoying. The trouble is that his systems surround sound is totally lacking in its soundfield. Mine is not. This is one of these people who knows there is a sky above their heads but sees the blue sky as purple.