Surround sound - explanatory notes

General information

The following section is not concerned directly wit

h the

operation of your K6, but is rather intended to explain

some of the terms which arise in connection with su

r

roundsystems.Itisintendedtohelpyouunderstan

dand

exploitthefacilitiesandcapabilitiesofyour

K6tothefull.

Asweallknow,anormalstereorecordinghastwoc han

nels leftandright.Whenstereomaterialisrepr oduced inyourlisteningroom,theentiresoundeventtake splace onanimaginarystagewhichcoversthespacebetwee n thetwoloudspeakers.

Thelistenerisabletolocatespecificsoundevent

 

sover

thewidthofthestage;withgoodrecordingsthere

 

isalso

a slight impression of depth, i.e. behind the speak

 

ers.

Nevertheless, normal stereophonic reproduction alwa

ys

leavesthelistenerisolatedfromtheevent.

 

 

 

Asaresultitisimpossibletorecreatetheexcite

mentofa

live atmosphere, as in a real concert hall, since t

 

he

acoustics of the concert hall are crucially influen

 

ced by

soundreflectionsfromthesideandbackwalls,the

 

floor,

theceiling,andfromobjectsinsidethehall.

 

 

 

The reflected sound comes from any number of direc

 

tions not just from the front. If a sound event i

 

s to be

reproduced with real fidelity, it therefore follows

 

that a

proportionofthesoundmustemanatefromalldirec

 

tions

in the room, that the 'reflections' must be timed a

 

 

ccu

rately, and that they must be generated at a realis

 

tic

level.

 

 

 

Reproducing television sound via a conventional ste

reo

systemisproblematic,becauseitisoftenimpossib

 

leto

locatedialogueonthescreenitself.

 

 

 

Afurtherpointisthatexoticsoundeffectshaveb

 

eenin

useinthecinema since the 1950's, using proper mu

 

lti

channelsound systems. These effects are often cruc

ial

totheoverallimpactofafilm,buttheycannotbe

 

repro

ducedathomewithaconventionalstereosoundsyst

 

em.

Overthelastfewyearssurroundtechnologieshave

 

been

developedwhichmakeitpossibletoexperienceall

 

these

effectswithinthelistener'sownfourwalls,with

theresult

that a far greater simulation of reality is possibl

 

e than

withconventionalstereo.

 

 

 

Foraneffectivesurroundsystemwealwaysrecommen

d

theinstallationofacenterloudspeaker,whichis

installed

below or directly above the TV set. This loudspeake

r

helps greatly in locating particular sound events (

 

espe

ciallydialogue)ontheTVscreenitself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Types of reproduction

The K6 makes available a range of different types of reproduction: multi-channel mode, mono/stereo mode and sound fields.

The surround receiver 'remembers' the setting for e

ach

input, and reverts to the mode of operation which w

as

lastusedwhenyouswitchfromoneinputtoanother

.

 

 

Multi-channel mode (surround)

Mode of operation for the reproduction of multicha

nnel

programmes (e.g. DOLBYPro Logic, DOLBYDIGITAL, dts,etc.).

Adigitalmultichannelsignalisdetectedbyitsencoding method,andthe K6automaticallysetsthecorrectloud

speaker assignment. The current reproduction mode i

s

displayedonthefrontpanelscreen.

 

 

 

For analogueinputsignals thecorrectmodeofopera

 

 

tioncannotbedetectedautomaticallybythedecode

r.

 

In this case the decoder always reverts to Dolby Pr

 

o

Logicdecoding.Ifthesignalisactuallyinadiff

erentform

(stereo,mono seebelow),thenthemodemustbes

 

et

manuallyinsteadofsurroundmode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dolby Pro Logic II Surround

Inthisprocessseveralindependentsignalchannels

are

recorded using two channels and a special encoding

process.Sincethisprocessonlyrequirestworecord

ing

channels, it is compatible with many picture / soun

d

systems which are already widely in use (CD, video

 

recorder,TVetc.).

 

 

Theinformationisdecodedatplaybacktimeandrep

ro

ducedinthelisteningroomviafour(left,right,

2xsur

round) loudspeakers, although five speakers (with a

n

additional front center speaker) are preferable. Do

lby

Surroundencodedmaterialiscurrentlyavailablemai

nly

inthefilmandvideoarena,recordedonvideocass

 

ettes

and DVDs, but many television programmes are now

beingproducedandtransmittedusingDolbySurround

.

 

 

 

Dolby Digital

Dolby Digital is a digital

 

 

 

multichannel

surround

 

 

 

system

which

was

 

 

 

developed specifically for

 

 

 

spatialsoundreproduction

 

 

 

in connection with cinema

 

 

 

films. The process utilises

 

 

 

five

separate

 

sound

 

 

 

channels:

three

front

 

 

 

channels

(left,

 

center,

 

 

 

right)

and

two

surround

 

 

 

channels.

A

 

sixth

 

 

 

independent bass

effect

 

 

 

channel is also present,

 

 

 

catering for low frequency effects (

LFE). That is why

suchsystemsaresaidtooffer

5.1channels.

 

In comparison with Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Digital pr

o

videstwoindependentsurroundchannelswhichprovi

de

genuinespatialstereosound,offeringthesamerea

listic

stereoreproductionasprovidedbythefrontchanne

ls.

TheintegralDolbyDigitaldecoderprovidesthemea

nsof

obtainingagenuinedigitalDolbystereocinemapre

sen

tation in your own living room. The discrete digita

l re

cordingprocessandthefiveplaybackchannelsguar

an

tee a very wide dynamic range and accurate spatial

orientation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thedynamicrangeisthedifferenceinvolumebetwe

en

the quietest and loudest passages of a recording. T

he

original soundtrack of a film generally features an

ex

tremelywidedynamicrangewhichthe

K6canreproduce

infull.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9

Operation

Page 9
Image 9
T+A Elektroakustik K 6 user manual Surround sound explanatory notes

K 6 specifications

T+A Elektroakustik K 6 represents the pinnacle of high-end audio technology, designed for audiophiles who demand the best in sound quality and craftsmanship. As a thoughtfully engineered loudspeaker, the K 6 brings together cutting-edge materials and advanced engineering techniques to deliver an unparalleled listening experience.

One of the standout features of the K 6 is its impressive frequency response range. The speaker is adept at reproducing both deep bass and delicate high frequencies with remarkable clarity. This is achieved through the use of a sophisticated driver configuration that includes a high-performance woofer and a precision tweeter. The woofer is designed to handle low frequencies efficiently, providing deep, resonant bass that fills the room without overwhelming the higher notes.

The K 6 incorporates T+A’s proprietary technologies, including their innovative Woofers and the large, coated diaphragm tweeter. These components work in harmony to minimize distortion, ensuring that each note is reproduced with stunning accuracy. The integration of a dedicated mid-range driver is another key characteristic, allowing for a seamless transition between low and high frequencies. This results in an exceptionally balanced sound profile, making the K 6 suitable for a wide range of music genres.

In addition to its impressive audio performance, the K 6 is also distinguished by its elegant design. The cabinet is meticulously crafted from high-quality materials, featuring a robust construction that not only contributes to the aesthetic appeal but also enhances acoustic performance. The speaker is available in various finishes, allowing it to seamlessly blend with any home décor while making a bold statement as a centerpiece of an audio setup.

T+A’s commitment to innovation is evident in the K 6’s inclusion of advanced connectivity options. The speaker is equipped with both wired and wireless capabilities, allowing users to easily integrate it into their existing audio systems. This flexibility ensures that the K 6 can accommodate various sources and formats, making it a versatile choice for modern audiophiles.

Overall, the T+A Elektroakustik K 6 stands as a testament to the brand's dedication to quality and performance. With its premium materials, advanced technologies, and stunning acoustic capabilities, the K 6 is not just a speaker but an investment in a superior listening experience. Whether for casual listening or critical listening sessions, the K 6 is designed to meet and exceed the expectations of discerning music lovers.