In 1988 Bob Katz wrote an article for Stereophile titled, “Extraction vs Generation,” in which the DSP-1 is highlighted. It offered both ambience synthesis and ambience recovery. If you knew how to fiddle with it, which is what Bob describes in his piece, you could get it to output mostly recovered ambience.
Schiit Audio has a surround synthesizer gadget.
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himey
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How does it compare to Oppo's DTS NEO:6 mode?
johnnyangel
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That’s an excellent question. Unfortunately I can’t say I ever used the Oppo‘s NEO:6 mode much so I can’t compare knowledgeably. Since it was there “for free” and certainly gave me surround effect, I would’ve used it more, but I didn’t like that you have to have a screen active and go into the setup program to toggle it on and off. (Unless, of course, there actually is a way to do it from the remote that I was too dumb to ever find.)
Also, like some other Oppo owners, I’m just slightly paranoid about keeping mine going (I know that’s dumb since I’m 67 and the 105D is likely to outlive me, plus I have a 103 in reserve). It does tend to run warm and it’s relatively power-consumptive so it’s nice to only have to power it up when I really need to, for SACDs, multichannel FLACs, etc.
Also, like some other Oppo owners, I’m just slightly paranoid about keeping mine going (I know that’s dumb since I’m 67 and the 105D is likely to outlive me, plus I have a 103 in reserve). It does tend to run warm and it’s relatively power-consumptive so it’s nice to only have to power it up when I really need to, for SACDs, multichannel FLACs, etc.
himey
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This is where the app comes in handy along with tweaking the channel levels.
johnnyangel
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Topic drift here, but yes, I’m aware of the app. Problem is, it crashes most of the time on up-to-date versions of iOS, which are my preference. I wonder if Magnetar or any of the vendors of Oppo/Mediatek clones have any updates that would work.
I still prefer the Syn for the power- and device- saving reasons mentioned above. And my Parasound preamp can adjust levels conveniently from its remote!
I still prefer the Syn for the power- and device- saving reasons mentioned above. And my Parasound preamp can adjust levels conveniently from its remote!
I've owned a Syn for a couple of weeks now - it hasn't seen much use yet, but I can say that I'm really enjoying the sound-field it sets up. Are there any user/owners who can comment on these question?:
- has it been determined just what matrix scheme is employed?
- does the Width control affect only the front channels or does its also control matrixing?*
- does the Surround control adjust for level only, or does it control L-R matrixing?*
Contrary to a comment above, my experience is that the rears are stereo.
* Thanks to Sonik Wiz for these questions (see post # 89)
- has it been determined just what matrix scheme is employed?
- does the Width control affect only the front channels or does its also control matrixing?*
- does the Surround control adjust for level only, or does it control L-R matrixing?*
Contrary to a comment above, my experience is that the rears are stereo.
* Thanks to Sonik Wiz for these questions (see post # 89)
It's not that Involve has anything against HDMI; it's more the royalty fee, per unit, they'd have to pay to include that technology, and the fact that it would raise the price of a SM v. 4, if that model included HDMI. That, along with the A to D converter needed, would drive up the price of the unit.
(found this recently, it could be useful to help determine what the decoding scheme is and what the adjustments do)
Kirk Bayne
The impression I got, after reading their literature on the SYN, that it was nothing more than an enhanced, non-passive version of a Dynaquad-type processor. If anyone from "S" wants to refute me on this, please, let's hear your side of this.
Truly a great test record. I've used it many times to verify proper system set-up. There's a great version of the theme from "Shaft" on it, too!
I believe your left and right channels were reversed on this when you posted it.
Yes they are, I just sent a feedback comment to YouTube to please swap L and R.
Kirk Bayne
Kirk Bayne
Question: Has anyone yet definitively determined just which matrix system is utilized in the Syn? Thanks: JR
johnnyangel
Member
It seems as though overall the Syn landed with a thud here, with no discussion for over a year -- and the consensus apparently being that one "ought to have" an Evolve Surround Master instead. Maybe the Syn isn't doing well in the market either; I note that Schiit has cut the price from $399 to $299.
I'm still glad to have mine, whose analog outputs are connected to a Parasound P7. Most of my surround listening is from SACD, a streamer, or files played through my Oppo 105D, but it still is nice to have upmixing from two-channel sources. I prefer the results from the Syn to the Oppo's DTS Neo:6 mode.
Of course, I'm aware that instead of using the Syn, I could have plumbed a pre/pro or even thrift-store surround receiver into the system. But, "been there, done that." The Syn's simplicity, small size, and relatively low power are virtues I'm glad to have.
I'm still glad to have mine, whose analog outputs are connected to a Parasound P7. Most of my surround listening is from SACD, a streamer, or files played through my Oppo 105D, but it still is nice to have upmixing from two-channel sources. I prefer the results from the Syn to the Oppo's DTS Neo:6 mode.
Of course, I'm aware that instead of using the Syn, I could have plumbed a pre/pro or even thrift-store surround receiver into the system. But, "been there, done that." The Syn's simplicity, small size, and relatively low power are virtues I'm glad to have.
Have you messed around much with the "Width" and "Presence" controls on the Syn? If so, what can you tell us about them?
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