Thinking outside the (speaker) box...

B

bluegrassphile

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...I've often wondered how a traditional high end 2 channel system would sound if you added 2 more speakers in the relative same position, side by side with the other speakers. Instead of having the traditional 2 speaker stereo you had 4 speakers facing you in the same stereo configuration as the other two...2 speakers per side vs 1 speaker per side?

The first audiophile system that I owned was in the late '70s and was based around a Sansui AU 20000, 170 watt per side integrated amp (killer sounding amp BTW) and 4 JBL L-166 Horizons...one in each corner of the room. It did fill the room with sound to a greater degree vs the traditional 1 speaker per side/corner configuration. It's not exactly realistic from a concert simulating aspect. But I thought it sounded good. I know it may not be the "correct" way of doing things. And I know that just because it's thinking outside the box it may not be desirable. Has anyone else tried the configurations described above?

Theoretically speaking, one set of speakers might have strengths where the others do not and vice versa. They actually complement each other's strengths and minimizes weaknesses, giving a more full sound. I would surmise a system such as, say, 2 Revel F-228s and 2 Harbeth SHL 5+ speakers, one of each per side facing the listener. Completely different approaches to speaker design and very different sounding. Fun to think about, no? Am I too far outside the box? The only thing that keeps me from experimenting are the monetary limitations. I would suspect one of the first questions that would arise is..."Why"? What say you? I might end up saying..."Why not"? I don't really know.
 
No.

Two different brands have two different efficiency so you may not even hear one pair. Then you have frequency overlap and cancellation.

Just no. If it was good, someone would be doing it. Have you ever seen anyone use two different speakers for stereo? Then, why would it work for more speakers?

In the 70's there was a thing with stacking a certain Advent model, I have never heard them, in theory it could work, I still wonder about imaging.

If wanting multiple speakers get a surround sound preamp and attempt to do it correctly. At least the sound is directed and allows room EQ. There is a nitch who are really into multi channel music and at least one company I'm aware of who makes extremely high quality recordings on Blu-ray, I'm thinking AIX or something like that. But the titles are limited and not your mainstream.

In addition, optimum surround sound uses all same brand for timbre matching. If the timbre isn't matched it effects blending and if any panning of sound, mostly in movie soundtracks.
 
Mr Peabody said:
No.

Two different brands have two different efficiency so you may not even hear one pair. Then you have frequency overlap and cancellation.

Just no. If it was good, someone would be doing it. Have you ever seen anyone use two different speakers for stereo? Then, why would it work for more speakers?

In the 70's there was a thing with stacking a certain Advent model, I have never heard them, in theory it could work, I still wonder about imaging.

If wanting multiple speakers get a surround sound preamp and attempt to do it correctly. At least the sound is directed and allows room EQ. There is a nitch who are really into multi channel music and at least one company I'm aware of who makes extremely high quality recordings on Blu-ray, I'm thinking AIX or something like that. But the titles are limited and not your mainstream.

In addition, optimum surround sound uses all same brand for timbre matching. If the timbre isn't matched it effects blending and if any panning of sound, mostly in movie soundtracks.
Click to expand...


I didn't think about frequency cancellation. I am thinking there could be phase issues too. LOL, remembering back to that '70s system I had, I could have spent a lot more money on speakers had I just gone with two instead of the four I chose. Oh well...a little late now.
 
Mr Peabody said:
No.

Two different brands have two different efficiency so you may not even hear one pair. Then you have frequency overlap and cancellation.

Just no. If it was good, someone would be doing it. Have you ever seen anyone use two different speakers for stereo? Then, why would it work for more speakers?

In the 70's there was a thing with stacking a certain Advent model, I have never heard them, in theory it could work, I still wonder about imaging.

If wanting multiple speakers get a surround sound preamp and attempt to do it correctly. At least the sound is directed and allows room EQ. There is a nitch who are really into multi channel music and at least one company I'm aware of who makes extremely high quality recordings on Blu-ray, I'm thinking AIX or something like that. But the titles are limited and not your mainstream.

In addition, optimum surround sound uses all same brand for timbre matching. If the timbre isn't matched it effects blending and if any panning of sound, mostly in movie soundtracks.
Click to expand...

I had stacked Large Advents. Top pair was upside down. The result was excellent. Some people stacked Quads as well. Never heard of side by side doubling up.
 
Dizzie said:
I had stacked Large Advents. Top pair was upside down. The result was excellent. Some people stacked Quads as well. Never heard of side by side doubling up.
Click to expand...


Yeah, this is still big among the Vintage crowd over at another forum.

I say just get one pair of killer speakers.
 
imo a Sansui AU 20000 with 4 JBL's might sound better than 99% of the systems on the high end in munich at a fraction of the price. :rolleyes:
 
Was looking for a woofer module to augment my newly acquired Falcon LS3/5a’s. So I contacted Falcon for a recommendation. They commented that no subwoofer or bass module was up to the task. To their liking anyway. But they did say a second pair stacked would help considerably. And I did see “The Clue” (Sjofn hifi) speaker stacked at a couple of audio shows. So this kind of original “Advent” stacking is fairly commonplace. In all cases with the same speaker model. Don’t know if I buy any of it though. Limitations of a speaker don’t go away by doubling the amount. This is like two wrongs making a right. The stacked “The Clue” speakers sounded louder and more dynamic. But “better”, not so sure.
 
JA measured it at 76hz at -6db with his methods but with room reinforcements you might get better. If below 80 hz though you should be o.k. with a fast sealed sub. I'm partial to Rythmik's servo subs but you might prefer REL or one of the others. You might want to call Brian Ding at Rythmik in Austin and talk to him and see what he thinks or Danny Ritchie at GR Research about his Open Baffle based subs.
 
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