General Forum

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Jandyt — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:28:45 GMT

I'll probably agree with you after I've heard it, but I can't go through my life not knowing.

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Alex — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:22:16 GMT

Jandyt:
Yeah, but don't forget, Alex that this is from the seventies! Quite innovative in it's time. To make four speakers from a stereo signal is an achievement.
Off to Maplins next week to get about a mile of speaker cable!

True, but IMO more of a novelty innovation than a truly useful innovation.

It isn't quite 'four speakers' though, the rear speaker signal is mono - the two speakers always reproduce the same sound.

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Jandyt — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:12:15 GMT

Yeah, but don't forget, Alex that this is from the seventies! Quite innovative in it's time. To make four speakers from a stereo signal is an achievement.
Off to Maplins next week to get about a mile of speaker cable!

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Alex — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:07:41 GMT

Jandyt:
OK, short version!
In real life, when listening to your orchestra and your wonderful tuba playing, I would hear the sound from your tuba but also the reflected sounds from the wall in the concert hall.
Ambio takes the left and right signal away from each other and sends what's left to the side speakers, an early version of surround sound.
I would hear what comes off the walls I think!

Sadly this is rarely the case. Most good classical recordings are designed to take up about 70% of the soundstage between your speakers, with only 30% of that (around 15% either side) being dedicated to 'room' reflections. This means, in terms of left/right difference, around 30% of the sound from the rear speakers will be room reflections, the rest will be sound which would normally come from in front of you.

I remember playing with the ambio feature in my BeoMaster 4000 and found it novel at first, but after a while I just felt there was no point - the rear speakers added so little, when they would be doing so much more in a good surround sound setup.

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Jandyt — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:07:05 GMT

Don't see the point in climbing Everest either!
It's there Tom! Got to use it.

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Tom — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:05:36 GMT

Jandyt:
I would hear what comes off the walls I think!

thanks, Andy. I can't really imagine what ambio sounds like, but I don't really see the point of this system...

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Jandyt — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:04:56 GMT

Alex:

the rear speakers add much sonically -they're often too quiet.

Perhaps I could use 35s at the side, and 30s at the front, no?

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Jandyt — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:03:10 GMT

Medogsfat:

Jandyt:
Yeah, Craig might be visiting on the King Street weekend. Must make him feel at home!
Is he bringing the ferret?
Chris.

Carol's a bunnie, not a ferret!

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Jandyt — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:01:09 GMT

OK, short version!
In real life, when listening to your orchestra and your wonderful tuba playing, I would hear the sound from your tuba but also the reflected sounds from the wall in the concert hall.
Ambio takes the left and right signal away from each other and sends what's left to the side speakers, an early version of surround sound.

I would hear what comes off the walls I think!

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Alex — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:59:12 GMT

I agree with Chris! You need a new home, either one of the larger variety or of the type full of men who have their clothes put on for them in the morning.

RE the ambio system - I don't like it. I find the rear speakers often sound 'warbled' with digital sources, even CD. MP3s etc... are appalling and I don't find the rear speakers add much sonically -they're often too quiet.

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Tom — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:59:11 GMT

Jandyt:
How long have you got Tom?

I have all the time you need to explain...

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Medogsfat — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:58:12 GMT

Jandyt:
Yeah, Craig might be visiting on the King Street weekend. Must make him feel at home!

Is he bringing the ferret?

Chris.

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Jandyt — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:56:05 GMT

How long have you got Tom?

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Tom — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:55:06 GMT

Sorry Andy, but what is ambio?

Re: Ambio.......... Does anybody use it?

Jandyt — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:54:35 GMT

Yeah, Craig might be visiting on the King Street weekend. Must make him feel at home!