question about surround sound speakers

[chipbgt]

I didnt know where to post this so I put it here....I have a pair of cambridge soundworks speakers and the subwhoofer....if I were to plug two more comp speakers in with these two, what seperates this from surround sound speakers? this may seem like a simple question, but hey, im not an expert. Also, is there any way to make this sound system into surround sound? or do I have to buy an all new subwhoofer? thanks for your help!

[Bleeding Edge]

http://www.dolby.com/tech/

Adding two additional satellite speakers will not result in "surround sound". You would still only have the left and right channels but with more speakers. Dolby Pro-Logic is 5.1 (the sub is the .1 the "sixth" channel) channels composed of Left, Right and Center, and, the Rear L and R channels. The better implementation (not that pro-logic is bad) to Dolby Pro-Logic is the Dolby Digital or AC3 standard. This separates the sounds better and gives the rear channels the full frequency range of the fronts. The newest standard being offered in audio/video components along with Dolby Digital is DTS.

The easiest way to get the "surround sound" effect is to buy computer speakers with the pro-logic chip built into the sub-woofer's amp. There's a few out there. Cambridge and Altec Lansing.

There are sound cards that use their own methods of the "surround" effect. SoundBlaster has Enviromental Audio and Aureal has the A3D sounds. Aureal does a believable job of achieving 3D positional sound with games that support it.

A better sounding solution is hook up a home A/V receiver or amp, with Dolby Pro-Logic/Digital processing to the line-in of your soundcard. Many of these have preset DSP modes that "color" the sounds to duplicate different environments. Such as a stadium, jazz club, opera house....

Even if the source isn't recorded in "surround sound", pro-logic/digital will still try and separate the channels. It does a not too bad of a job either.

Search the link above at Dolby Labs' site for info.

I went the somewhat less-is-better approach for now. The SB Live with it's EA sound is complimented by Altec-Lansing Pro-Logic satellite/sub combo. The rear effects are enhanced with the addition of the SoundWorks speakers. The A-L speakers do a good job of seperating the center channel with just the L and R speakers, the center channel is heard as if coming directly from the front center of the monitor screen. Not bad.

[Bleeding Edge]

Is this what's called connecting the speakers "out of phase"?

I do something like this for the sub on the home audio system. The woofers on the mains are bi-amplified and go down to 29Hz. The sub cuts in around 100Hz and takes it down to 18Hz. Having the phase reversed sounds better for some reason...

~edit
Check this links for speaker placement http://www.dolby.com/ht/sound/sound3.html and the main page link at http://www.dolby.com/ht/sound/sound.html you can apply some of the things mention there to your computer setup.

[This message has been edited by Bleeding Edge (edited 10-02-99).]

[chipbgt]

thanks guys, i wasnt expecting this much good info :-)

[Roy]

If you want some very effective pseudo-surround, take any ol' speaker and figure out a way to hook it up to the "hot" (+) terminals of your existing L and R speakers. This delivers a L-R signal which is the essence of stereo (without it all you have is L+R which is mono). Put the added unit somewhere behind you and enjoy.

This also works very effectively for any stereo system. /forum/smile.gif