DIGITAL SOUND FIELD PROCESSING (DSP)

Understanding sound fields

A sound field is defined as the “characteristic sound reflections of a particular space”. In concert halls and other music venues, we hear early reflections and reverberations as well as the direct sound produced by the artist(s). The variations in the early reflections and other reverberations among the different music venues is what gives each venue its special and recognizable sound quality.

YAMAHA sent teams of sound engineers all around the world to measure the sound reflections of famous concert halls and music venues, and collect detailed sound field information such as the direction, strength, range, and delay time of those reflections. Then we stored this enormous amount of data in the ROM chips of this unit.

■Recreating a sound field

Recreating the sound field of a concert hall or an opera house requires localizing the virtual sound sources in your listening room. The traditional stereo system that uses only two speakers is not capable of recreating a realistic sound field. YAMAHA’s DSP requires four effect speakers to recreate sound fields based on the measured sound field data. The processor controls the strength and delay time of the signals output from the four effect speakers to localize the virtual sound sources and fully encompass the listener.

HiFi DSP programs

The following list gives you a brief description of the sound fields produced by each of the sound field programs. Keep in mind that most of these are precise digital recreations of actual acoustic environments.

No.
Program
Features

 

 

 

1

CONCERT HALL

A large round concert hall with a rich surround effect. Pronounced reflections from all directions

 

(except China

emphasize the extension of sounds. The sound field has a great deal of presence, and your virtual

 

model)

seat is near the center, close to the stage.

 

HALL IN CHINA

A large, extremely famous concert hall in China with approx. 650 seats on the first floor and

 

(China model only)

approx. 500 seats on the second floor. The clear sound field of this gorgeous and majestic hall is

 

 

suited especially for classic music. Your virtual seat is near the center on the first floor.

 

 

 

2

JAZZ CLUB

This is the sound field at stage front in “The Bottom Line”, a famous New York jazz club, that

 

 

seats up to 300 people. Its wide left to right seating arrangement offers a real and vibrant sound.

 

 

 

3

ROCK CONCERT

The ideal program for lively, dynamic rock music. The data for this program was recorded at LA’s

 

 

“hottest” rock club. The listener’s virtual seat is at the center-left of the hall.

 

 

 

4

ENTERTAINMENT/

This program recreates the acoustic environment of a lively disco in the heart of a big city. The

 

Disco

sound is dense and highly concentrated. It is also characterized by a high-energy, “immediate”

 

 

sound.

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT/

Using this program increases the listening position range. This is a sound field suitable for

 

5ch Stereo

background music at parties, etc.

 

 

 

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