Smyth Research Realiser A16
Oct 25, 2021 at 10:15 PM Post #12,616 of 15,998
It occurs to me that A16 SE notion is conceptually very similar to what I used to do for myself decades ago, when I was making cassette tape recordings on my home audio system for use in my car. Lots of vintage analog equipment involved, but my goal was to provide in-my-car duplication of the then-novel "Carver sonic hologram" approach to deliver a 3D-like audio sensation. Again, the idea was to use two speakers with the listener seated in a "sweet spot of a properly shaped room". And through what presumably were based on partial crosstalk techniques feeding signals from both channels to the opposite channel with appropriate delays and other [analog-only, since that's what existed in those days] signal processing, the audible result of the resulting sound waves to the listener was to receive a sensation of "volume and space" and 3D-like "all around sound", rather than just the underlying L/R stereo coming from the two speakers.

I wanted to produce that same auditory effect... in my car! My approach was to actually record the binaural output of the Carver processing on my stereo cassettes, and play it back in my car. Presumably it would hopefuly sound in my car like it did in my home. Why not?

Home production included recording on a Nakamichi CR-7A cassette deck (of which I still have TWO) that includes both Dolby-B and Dolby-C noise resudtion, passing first through a Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram Creator to do the processing. In even older days, before acquiring all of the "Nakamichi Separates" system components in 1986, I also used a separate DBX 224 noise reduction system (competitor for Dolby-A), which required a corresponding car-based physical DBX "expanding" playback unit (that I had installed back then inside the glove box of my car) but which I just cannot recall the make/model of right now.

The playback end of this was in my car, which was typical 80's-vintage after-market high-end audio specialist super-upgraded. They used to have a special huge car audio section OUTSIDE in the parking lot at CES in Las Vegas every year that car audio enthusiasts would flock to (including me!). My system centered on a Nakamich TD-1200ii in the dashboard, with tri-amplified power (lots of space taken up in the trunk where the three amps and customized crossovers were bolted to the back-panel) along with 4 woofers on the rear deck behind the rear seats, mid-range speakers around the rear and front compartments and in the doors and down in the running board near the floor, and Foster ribbon tweeters on left/right of the dashboard along with a very good center speaker on the dash as well. It really did sound terrific.

Most importantly, the playback of the stereo recording of what got produced out of the Carver C-9 (intended for playback via two L/R stereo loudspeakers in a room) through my 2-channel multi-speaker high-end car stereo audio system really DID produce a very clearly discerned 3D-like sensation. I believe the sound effect produced by the smaller closed compartment of the car's cabin actually made the overall "hologram" sensation even stronger than in a large rectangular-solid listening room with just the two speakers. There really was a discernible "sound field, in front of me on the dashboard". I thought I could hear "where the horns were coming from", etc., i.e. from either the left or right side of that "stage". I do actually believe this is the direct result of whatever Carver had done in their analog processing between the content of the two channels, to provide a somewhat enhanced "placement" of certain frequencies, and thus created an enhanced stereo effect of the underlying source which became more noticeable as a more pronounced L/R location effect.

Anyway, I LOVED how my cassette recordings sounded when played back in my car. It was like the performer/singer was "on stage" in front of me on the dashboard, surrounded by the musicians. And those Foster ribbon tweeters were unmatched.
 
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Oct 26, 2021 at 4:39 AM Post #12,617 of 15,998
Of those who sent payments for DTS: X decoding to Smyth Research yesterday, is there anyone who has already received the permissions file? I'm afraid that the file can be quite large, and it might be blocked by my Internet provider's server, especially since it has a .BIN extension.
 
Oct 26, 2021 at 4:49 AM Post #12,618 of 15,998
Of those who sent payments for DTS: X decoding to Smyth Research yesterday, is there anyone who has already received the permissions file? I'm afraid that the file can be quite large, and it might be blocked by my Internet provider's server, especially since it has a .BIN extension.
Not received it yet.
 
Oct 26, 2021 at 5:22 AM Post #12,619 of 15,998
Me either. Paid it straight away. Not a word yet. Doubt the file would be big though. Why would it be? It’s just a unlock code, right?

Intrigued about the future of dts x and if pro becomes available. It’s the only format (I think) that supports below channels. So audio coming from below. It’s amazing ability of the a16 that you can place speakers anywhere and only use them when a format supports it.

Anyway, maybe James got swamped by upgrade emails… at least I hope they make some money!!
 
Oct 26, 2021 at 6:47 AM Post #12,620 of 15,998
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Intrigued about the future of dts x and if pro becomes available. It’s the only format (I think) that supports below channels. So audio coming from below. It’s amazing ability of the a16 that you can place speakers anywhere and only use them when a format supports it.
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Thanks @Thomasphoenix98 and @mrmac for your answers.

I’ve found that “Ambisonics is a full-sphere surround sound format: in addition to the horizontal plane, it covers sound sources above and below the listener.”
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambisonics#Introduction
 
Oct 26, 2021 at 7:04 AM Post #12,621 of 15,998
Of those who sent payments for DTS: X decoding to Smyth Research yesterday, is there anyone who has already received the permissions file? I'm afraid that the file can be quite large, and it might be blocked by my Internet provider's server, especially since it has a .BIN extension.
Have not received mine either. I’m hoping today, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it will be another day or two.

Edit: see below
 
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Oct 26, 2021 at 7:08 AM Post #12,622 of 15,998
I hate to double post, but 3 minutes after my previous message I received the file from James. Maybe I have some sort of magic and spoke it into existence? Lol

@GeorgeA the file I was sent is 1 kb so it should not be blocked due to file size.
 
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Oct 26, 2021 at 8:15 AM Post #12,626 of 15,998
Got mine installed. Like others have said, it’s a 5-10 minute process. Fired up a movie with a DTS track and did see the DTS:X logo displayed so all seems good for me.
 
Oct 26, 2021 at 9:31 AM Post #12,628 of 15,998
I’ve also received the permissions file and succeeded to complete the DTS:X activation. I’m going to build a 7.1.4h DTS:X listening room.
DTS_X activated.jpg
 
Oct 26, 2021 at 10:49 AM Post #12,629 of 15,998
It's delightful! Harry Potter, Gladiator, Jurassic Park, Terminator 2. DTS-X has a very unique and pleasing soundscape and the surrounds and tops are aggressive.
 
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