You might think the future of surround audio lies in sophisticated DSP-driven
single-box soundbars or even
crazy wireless headphones, but Audyssey Labs knows the truth: what you really need is more speakers. Up to 11 of 'em, to be exact, as part of the company's new Dynamic Surround Expansion system. Like the 9.1 channel Dolby Pro Logic IIz, DSX focuses more on the audio in front of you, since that's what your ears are tuned to differentiate the best -- in addition to the left, right, and center channels, DSX includes two speakers mounted up high at a 45-degree angle, and two speakers placed farther out to each side to create width. Add in the two surround back channels from a traditional 7.1 rig and presto -- you're up to 11. Yep, that's a lot of speakers, especially if your loved ones already think a standard 5.1 system is an eyesore. On the other hand --
11 freaking speakers. DSX-enabled receivers are expected to arrive by summer, just in time to close the shades and spend all day indoors watching movies.
[Via
Sound and Vision; thanks Will]
posted Apr 30th 2009 4:11PM
Unless I missed something I only see 9 speakers
It shows only 9 speakers, but the article says up to 11 speakers...
CC
www.highdefjunkies.com
Right, there are two more possible rear surround speakers. Also, the article says that either set of the DSX speakers are optional but the LW and RW speakers are most important.
Maybe they're not showing the rears. I can't imagine any surround system without speakers behind the listening position. That would defeat the purpose. As wonderful as this all sounds, I can really see this as a tough sell to anyone trying to rig a couple of subs and eleven speakers past the ole' ladies! I could do it, but not without serious opposition and the yappin' that would go with it.
K guys, you can see the two rear speakers, they're just white, as opposed to the red ones, which are the ones added by the DSX soundtrack. Add in the extra 2 rear speakers you'd have to have to enjoy 7.1 tracks, and you have 11, that's what they're saying.
I'd LOVE it if these things came onboard in a big way, but let's face it, they won't. 5.1 is good enough for most people, even a lot of audiophiles like myself. I have a pretty extensive blu ray collection, but until the 6 Star Trek movies come out, they'll all have 5.1 channels, save for Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, which is a good movie, but not known for it's stunning audio. At this point the rear surrounds that I paid good money for are going to waste as it is. Point is that although this is a great idea, since I for one have always thought the extra 2 rear speakers were pretty pointless, it won't gain traction unless you get sountracks on blu rays which are designed for DSX, and most blu rays are content with 5.1, even the really cool ones, except for the Star Trek movies, which are gonna be AWESOME.
I've had a few bluray disc that were 7.1 and I can tell you that I was very dissapointed with the end result. It was very useless in my opinion.
I really liked having a whole bunch of speakers in the house (makes my HT look very sophisticated). Reality is, 5.1, for normal homes, is more than enough.
I thought n.2 was the rage now
Most people can't even find the space for 7.1 let alone 11.1. Although I'd love to hear it.
cc
www.highdefjunkies.com
Yea I only see 9 speakers as well, someone can't produce a proper diagram?
Heads up....RANT!:
This is too much, 5.1 is good enough, 7.1 was pushing it...this is just too much. So how long do we ignorant monkeys keep going? I MIGHT hook up 7.1....one day...but now I am more than happy with 5.1. Do we all need to be greedy like people who drive gold plated cars in Dubai? More money more burdens. This is just a small part of a bigger problem, making things we don't need rather than improving upon things we do need or already exist 11.1 is not an improvement, it's and expansion. I would rather rent a cottage for a week or a boat, rather than burden myself with owning and having to use them all the time, and maintain them. Who needs all that crap anyway? Who needs that many speakers? Is you life complete now that you have all this crap?
I have 5.1 because as TV's have become better over the years, speakers in TV's have not, they have gotten worse, thin TV's mean no room for air to move for the speakers. 5.1 and I am sticking with it. Take your 11.1 and shove it up your....
Well, it's more speakers, isn't it? It's not 7.1 You see, most blokes, you know, will be listening to 7.1. You're on 7.1 here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on 7.1 on your receiver. Where can you go from there? Where?
Does that make it sound any better?
(pause)
These go to eleven.