13.1 Surround Sound Coming to a Home near you?

An anonymous reader writes "Need to see the anatomy of a codec? Dolby Digital plus is starting to make inroads in the audio world and this article gives you the technical insight into the Enhanced AC-3 codec. Will consumers soon be getting the full 13.1 audio system that we hear in movie theaters?"

Comments

Re:Why?

[the_unknown_soldier]

Because ears gain perception based on direction. The more directions a sound can come from, the more immersive the experience for the end user. Thats why when The latest action is at the cinema you **feel** it, yet when playing it on your PSP you watch it.

that said, anything over 7.1 Is a bit of overkill

yes, but can you do an Omnitheater sound check?

[SuperBanana]

Sound tech 1:"Okay everyone, sound check!"

Sound tech 2:"Cue Leonard Nimoy"

Sound tech 3(quietly):"Leonard Nimoy!? Why?"

(LN):"Because he grew up a few blocks from here!"

It's small part of the Boston Museum of Science's Omnitheater sound check, and they even put lights on each channel's speakers behind the screen so you can see them as each channel is "checked". Then they do a driver through Boston traffic with an omnimax camera on the bumper of a car. And speed it up at least 2x. Even the most die-hard Boston taxi driver will grip his seat :-) Oh, and yes, Nimoy narrates the whole intro.

Then you do a helicopter trip over parts of New England, coming into a harbor in Maine...then on the docks. Ahhh, peaceful, quiet, much better you think.

"Hey CHaaaalie. They folks whanaaah seeah lobstah!" And then you get presented with a live lobster...full screen width, up close and personal, an inch or two from the lens, complete with squishy/squeeky noises :-)

Re:We don't need more speakers.

[MikeBabcock]

That's not true and any audio engineer knows it.

Accurate 360 degree reproduction of sound requires at least 5 or 6 speakers at semi-equal dispertions around you, with one centered directly in front and preferably one directly behind, at equal distances from the listener.

Its been tested over and over.

That doesn't account for overhead or under-foot sound either, or the fact that seperate sub-woofers should be used for low-frequencies.

Personally speaking, I wish I had the additional center-stereo channels to bring dialog closer to the screen as done in some theatre recordings instead of my 5.1 system since my front stereos are quite far apart (to allow for proper seperation for all in the room). The center is useful here, but the additional inside-stereo speakers would help.

Re:Wow

[cayenne8]

"lol I was thinking the same thing. I don't even want to know how much his cabling cost and the funny/sad part is you can get vastly superior cables for less $$$."

Yup....I switched all my speaker wire to CAT5 plenum cable a couple of years ago...just opened up the wire ends...stripped the individual wires inside, and twisted all the stripped wires together for negative, and all the solid colored wires for positive.

I did one speaker at a time...and could definitely tell the difference....but, get the plenum coated CAT5...something about the dielectric property or shielding? I did this a year or two ago...can't remember all I read about it...but, it works.