Multi-Channel Audio Musings 31May23

I have been contemplating building a center channel and possibly surrounds for the Nest Theater. Music reproduction (vs surround effects for TV & movies) remains the key consideration and any scheme must enhance, not compromise, the fidelity of listening to tunes. Research has been underway for a couple of months and I have finally decided on how to proceed. More on those decisions and that build-out later, but let's start with some history and context.

My Multi-Channel History

I was there, @ Lehigh in the early 70s, when my summer jobs led to bigger audio system purchases and my building of a very early multi-channel system using SQ/QS matrix (I used the Marantz 4100 Quad) stuff. These matrix schemes attempted to derive back L/R channels from the main channels' signals, or with properly "encoded" LPs, get discrete material directly from the vinyl for the rears. I did install some stellar Bose 901 fronts and Bose 501 rears for this system ~ all this was contained in my smallish frat room single with the 901s suspended from the ceiling. It rocked the socks off and the 901s' reflected sound exposed me early to signal processing needs for correction. However, early multi-channel systems were psycho-acoustically unfit to serve. I used it for several years but did prefer highly attenuated rears in this system... I ultimately "upgraded" to 2 channel for decades.

I didn't return to multi-channel sound until the early 90's when I built out a full 5.1 home theater in Phoenix;  then the objective was to play movie soundtracks with Dolby Digital or DTS DVDs and it works very well to this day for this purpose (but now of course we are streaming) ~ I never felt the need to move to 7.1 or 9.2 or other schemes beyond this but my receiver/amplifier can support up to 7.2 too. I do play music on this system and will use the Integra Research RD7 to extract some Dolby Pro Logic II center and surrounds signals from 2 channel material and it's good. Though, I often switch to just stereo + sub to be sure of the front soundfield. The keen Integra Research limited edition electronics are complimented with similarly limited release Paradigm Research transducers all around. Good system and integration but not much custom except for the TV cabinet install.

Heading Back To The Future

The Nest Theater is currently a pure 2.1 system based on custom high efficiency speakers driven by a puny 8 watt SET amp. It is awesome for music and the room and all sources are optimized for that. Adding more speakers for multi-channel sound must carry that same ethic and deliver great, well integrated, and improved sound. How do I get reasonable center channel material which compliments the mains and doesn't disrupt the front soundfield? After:

• reading how Paul Klipsch experimented in the late 50's and concluded a center channel was indeed an improvement;
• researching Ambisonics, from Michael Gerzon in the early 90's;
• assessing Dave Griesinger's work on surround sound derivation from late 80's to 2000 with Lexicon/Harmon;
• hearing Michael Barton's Trifield implementation for Meridian (even Dolby acquired a Trifield company before releasing Atmos recently); and
  
• reviewing my own Blodgett theater gear which implements ever-improving Dolby multi-channel derivations, especially Dolby Pro Logic II(x)(z);

there is little audiophile consensus on the efficacy of a center channel for music playback. Heck, no live venue I've recently been at uses center speaker banks, and no rear, speakers... though the Grateful Dead era "wall of sound" systems surely did, and movie theaters definitely do. How should I proceed back to the future?

Lahey @ Lost Lake Lounge And Lax 27May23

After the lacrosse games and finishing chores I headed to an Alex Lahey concert at the Lost Lake Lounge in Denver. I stopped for dinner and then a beer @ Cerberus right next door before the show. First up was Lizz Anne, a Nashville indie rocker. She was decent but the mix was loud and not too vocals forward. Her drummer, Ally, did a nice love song as part of the opening act. Unfortunately the same mix prevailed during Alex Lahey's portion of the show, and my vantage point was no bargain either. So, while I knew and enjoyed the songs, I left very early for me and headed back to COS.

 

I did capture "They Won't Let Me In" at the show ~ It's from her latest album "Yes Is Always The Answer." The album is decent though not her best IMO. Here's the video and while I did not have pro recording gear of course, see if you agree about the sound being "vocally subdued" by comparing to the track referenced after the live video.

"They Won't Let Me In" is track 9 on album "Yes Is Always The Answer."

The NCAA D1 men's lacrosse semi-finals were today. Notre Dame shook their 0-2 season deficit to Virginia and bested them in OT 13-12. Duke bested Penn State in the other OT game to win 16-15. I didn't do a Sweeter 16 LaxBuddy bracket game this year but if I had Haine, who always picks the golden domes, would be doing well.

Nest Theater Part Twenty Three ~ Blackout Shades 26May23

We've been using the Nest Theater TV for more viewing when in Summit. It is a much better 4K/HDR set than the main floor's and is also much larger; the main floor has so many uncovered windows that the glare and "side eye shine" is bad, except at night. We previously had light colored shades that pass a lot of light in the Nest Theater room and I've surely noticed that the glare on the 77" Sony is bad during daytime due to this. Enter Select Blinds, a highly rated online supplier of a huge line of window coverings. I measured, purchased, and installed 4 large double 1/2" diamond cell blackout shades with top down & bottom up opening for <$1,000. Amazing. It seems like deep space during daytime down in the Nest Theater now. We'll have to see if they last and operate well but so far so good. We chose a nice blue matching the dampening rugs for the back door but the three others match the walls basically. We chose top down - bottom up style as we had before; I didn't like the scheme to attach plastic tensioners to the window frames to hold the control cords in place so I stuffed an eraser in each of the six to allow them to just dangle ~ there won't be any kids down here anyway. A good day and a job well done deserves a Nollie, a tasty New Zealand based hazy from ORB.

Nice 11 Mile 'Bow On The Run Before Thunder 26May23

I went to Summit Co to install new blackout shades at the Nest today. I went the back way to stop to fish the S Platte on the way. I was only in 11 Mile Canyon at the Tunnels section for about a hour as thunder & lightning rolled in about 12:30pm ~ sooner than I'd hoped. Despite the brief outing I did catch a nice 20" 'bow right at the tunnels pool, along with several other 'bows on the quick pass using the RFT3. Mayflies ruled again on this mid-day outing. I clamored back up the canyon wall to my car and mostly got out of South Park before rain.

Final Stashes & First Tunnels Try On SPlatte 19May23

Breck announced it's closing this WE so I headed to Summit and over to Breck a couple times for some spring skiing in the alpine. I got to lap Whale's Tail last time (just a pic of the run above me) but today Imperial was closed and I could not get there. I skied the Peak 7 bowls and Pk 6 today ~ it was fine but Breck made the right decision to close. On one run I was on a narrow ribbon of snow for 1/4 mile. I skied in shorts today ~ I love the spring skiing in Colorado.

After several runs on the cool stuff that was still open, I loaded into the car and headed to COS "the back way" so I'd pass Tomahawk on the Middle Fk of the S Platte and the 11 Mile Canyon section of the S Platte. There was snow & sleet over Hoosier Pass and South Park was pretty rainy so I passed right by Tomahawk ~ the rain subsided closer to Lake George so I turned up to give 11 Mile a try. I haven't yet this season fished "the tunnels section" of the river and with arrival late at 2pm, I stopped there. I caught gobs of fish in a brief outing but as expected there were more browns and all the fish were 14'-17" vs the larger ones closer to the damn. Flows had dropped a smidge but still >100cfs and the weather was overcast, and then turned to rain. As I arrived a great BWO spinner fall was occurring but I don't often fish those and went deep nymphing with a mayfly rig. The Perdigon lead fly caught 60% of the fish! It was a blast with the RFT3 and I made a full pass in ~2hrs with ~20 fish. I am sporting new Simms G3 waders, which supposedly are more rugged; they are a nicer fit than the Patagonia (which do not leak but are now backups) but they need to prove mettle.

High & Turbid On Ark River Headwaters 17May23

I hopped Fremont Pass into Laske Co for a pre-runoff try on the Arkansas River Headwaters section, Hayden Meadows. It was a smidge crowded so I thought maybe more folks had info than I. Nope; the river was fast and stained in the headwaters. I used heavy flashy bugs like Perdigon, WIred Up Ice, Rainbow Warrior and purple RS2. I caught several 12"-14" German browns over 2.5 hrs of fishing ~ but I left before 1pm for Summit again. Each bug caught one small brown like that shown... mostly at the tail of riffles. Far from epic day except the selfie between Elbert & Massive in the valley, with the RFT3.

Back in Summit I stopped at Officers but that's already flowing too hard so I traded rigs and hit the in-town section of the Blue. I saw no fish around the Outlet Mall or at the Cop Hole and just one fish near the bridge near Sauce... at which four guys were casting. Sheesh - I headed to Bakers for tacos and tasty pineapple infusion on the Red's Gold ale. Breck is closing this Sunday so I might stay through that for more runs and more fish.

Flows Normal In 11 Mile 16May23

'Bows on the run were hefty today ~ I say it's the flows; the 120 cfs flushes out or exposes some larger fish. River was in good shape. I rolled out a smidge late so arrived at the top bridge ~9:30am; I dropped in quickly with 55° outside and a long line midge midge rig on RFT3 led by a black ice Perdigon jig; 1st in the weir structures... I caught some there on Pop Tops and larva of same coloration ~ but many saw the rig and moved. I caught many more as I moved upstream ~ there weren't that many folks at the campground section but there were 35 cars on the way out at 1:30pm (to beat any precipitation). I used midges till I observed a mayfly at noon and then fishing go even better on the RS2 and Destiny's Child imitations. I was fortunate to land a nice, but injured, 21" lady 'bow right next to a guy who could take the pic. The fight was pretty long on the 3 wt, which at times was bent entirely in half.

3 Wt Fun During 11 Mile Canyon Outing 10May23

I headed out to Lk George and turned up 11 Mile Canyon for a fly fishing outing on the S Platte. It is a gorgeous spot and it was in the mid 50°s with still thin ~80cfs flows today; there were 45 cars parked in the canyon (several were climbers though) as I departed at 1pm, to beat any pending precip. I hit the water at 9:45 above the last bridge and used midge rigs all morning, as I didn't see mayflies, though my top weight bug was a mayfly imitation. Despite the flows and crowds, I landed lots of fish, but nothing over 18"; one brown trout and the rest were 'bows. It was a midge morning with Blue Oyster Cult and olive Pop Top taking the bulk of the fish ~ mid-day as I spied a mayfly, the grey RS2 and Destiny's Child did score some fish. The Rodfather RFT3 was excellent ~ so light and fast and shorter than most; it could do no wrong in these waters and was deadly accurate to 40ft... love it. I could see the fish easily still; flows need to be kicked up. Given the crowds I could not fish the excellent highest spot on this tailwater - other good spots too were over-occupied. Anyway, grrr, just a regular Wednesday.