SDA effect

How can I test to see if SDA effect is working?

Best Answer

  • codycatalist
    codycatalist Posts: 2,662
    Answer ✓
    Use your balance knob if you have one. Turn the knob all the way to the right and the left speaker should only be playing from the outside MW. Repeat for the other speaker.
    Just a dude doing dude-ly things

    "Temptation is the manifestation of desire which equals necessity." - Mikey081057
    " I have always had a champange taste with a beer budget" - Rick88
    "Just because the thread is getting views don't mean much .. I like a good train wreck doesn't mean i want to be in one..." - pitdogg2
    "Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know." - heiney9
    "Audiophiles are the male equivalent of cat ladies." - Audiokarma Member
«134

Answers

  • FestYboy
    FestYboy Posts: 3,861
    Another thing I noticed: if you sit directly in front of one speaker, you will hear a nearly full stereo sound from just one speaker. At least that's what I hear with my SRS 2s with the dimensional tweet.
  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,100
    F1nut wrote: »
    It's not an effect, it's cross talk cancellation.
    Cross-talk cancellation is the effect created by having out-of-phase information from the opposite channel played from about the same distance as our ears are separated, outside the "stereo" information presented by each stereo speaker cabinet.

    Of course it's an effect. If it wasn't, it wouldn't have been patentable.

  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    Schurkey wrote: »
    F1nut wrote: »
    It's not an effect, it's cross talk cancellation.
    Cross-talk cancellation is the effect created by having out-of-phase information from the opposite channel played from about the same distance as our ears are separated, outside the "stereo" information presented by each stereo speaker cabinet.

    Of course it's an effect. If it wasn't, it wouldn't have been patentable.

    It creates a "Headphone" effect, or quite similar, if you sit exactly in the center.

    It is an arguable idea, as it assumes a particular recording style, that is rarely used.
  • DarqueKnight
    DarqueKnight Posts: 6,760
    Schurkey wrote: »
    Of course it's an effect. If it wasn't, it wouldn't have been patentable.

    The basic definition of "effect" (noun) is "a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause."

    In that regard, a light bulb shining as a result of flipping a light switch to the on position could correctly be called "the light switch effect".

    In the context of audio and video applications, the term "effect" typically means something artificial added to a signal, for example "sound effects", "special effects", "visual effects".

    Comb filtering is an unfortunate effect of rendering a naturally occurring point source of sound from two sources. Crosstalk cancellation, in the context of stereo reproduction, would more accurately be called a signal correction, or corrective process, rather than an "effect".

    Rather than asking "is the SDA effect working", it would have been more contextually correct to ask "is the SDA working". Some automobile engines run so smoothly and some car interiors are so well insulated that is is difficult to tell whether the engine is running or not. You wouldn't ask "is the engine effect working?". You would ask is the engine running?".

    Proud and loyal citizen of the Digital Domain and Solid State Country!
  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    F1nut wrote: »
    It's not an effect, it's cross talk cancellation. It's easy to test just disconnect the SDA cable. The sound stage will collapse. Reconnect the cable and it will expand.

    Stereo is an effect.
    Cross talk cancellation is an effect.
    There is a "Headphone" effect.

    They are all artificially heard in our heads, but not REAL.
    That is why they are called EFFECTS.

    A real world sound source is REAL

    Everything else is artificially created images. Effect.

    Stereo is a "Stereo effect"
    SDA is a "cross cancellation effect"




  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    edited March 2019
    .
    Post edited by K_M on
  • motorhead43026
    motorhead43026 Posts: 3,892
    edited March 2019
    And we have the K_M effect.
    2 channel: Anthem 225 Integrated amp; Parasound Ztuner; TechnicsTT SL1350; Vincent PHO-8 phono pre; Marantz CD6005 spinner; Polk SDA2BTL's; LAT International speaker cables, ZU Mission IC's and power cables all into a PS Audio Dectet Power center.

    Other; M10 series II, M7C's, Hafler XL600 amp, RB-980BX, Parasound HCA-1500 amp , P5 preamp, all in storage. All vintage Polk have had crossover rebuilds and tweeter upgrades.

    The best way to predict the future is to invent it.

    It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact.

    Imagine making politics your entire personality.
  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 24,420
    K_M wrote: »
    F1nut wrote: »
    It's not an effect, it's cross talk cancellation. It's easy to test just disconnect the SDA cable. The sound stage will collapse. Reconnect the cable and it will expand.

    Stereo is an effect.
    Cross talk cancellation is an effect.
    There is a "Headphone" effect.

    They are all artificially heard in our heads, but not REAL.
    That is why they are called EFFECTS.

    A real world sound source is REAL

    Everything else is artificially created images. Effect.

    Stereo is a "Stereo effect"
    SDA is a "cross cancellation effect"




    According to your analogy then sound itself would be an "effect"

  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    edited March 2019
    .
    Post edited by K_M on
  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,100
    edited March 2019
    And K_M's drivel does not EFFECT me at all.
    Perhaps not...but it does seem to affect you.

  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    Maybe I need to ask this in a different manner: Is the SDA engine running? Lol

    SDA uses a crosstalk cancellation effect.
    They are trying to say that the Terms SDA "Stereo dimensional array" is not an effect, which is true, it refers to what the speaker uses to create the actual crosstalk cancellation effect.

    The tail wagging the dog.
  • Schurkey
    Schurkey Posts: 2,100
    Schurkey wrote: »
    Of course it's an effect. If it wasn't, it wouldn't have been patentable.

    The basic definition of "effect" (noun) is "a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause."
    This is exactly my point. If one devises a method of crosstalk cancellation, and that method works...the result or consequence of that action is to effectively cancel the crosstalk when that method is in use or functional.

    If that crosstalk cancellation method goes by a certain trade-name, we could readily call this the..."SDA Effect".

  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    lvbx7rtw4oya.gif
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
  • westmassguy
    westmassguy Posts: 6,850
    Home Theater/2 Channel:
    Front: SDA-2ATL forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/143984/my-2as-finally-finished-almost/p1
    Center: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/150760/my-center-channel-project/p1
    Surrounds & Rears: Custom Built forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/151647/my-surround-project/p1
    Sonicaps, Mills, RDO-194s-198s, Dynamat, Hurricane Nuts, Blackhole5
    Pioneer Elite VSX-72TXV, Carver PM-600, SVS PB2-Plus Subwoofer

    dhsspeakerservice.com/
  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    edited March 2019
    Schurkey wrote: »
    Schurkey wrote: »
    Of course it's an effect. If it wasn't, it wouldn't have been patentable.

    The basic definition of "effect" (noun) is "a change which is a result or consequence of an action or other cause."
    This is exactly my point. If one devises a method of crosstalk cancellation, and that method works...the result or consequence of that action is to effectively cancel the crosstalk when that method is in use or functional.

    If that crosstalk cancellation method goes by a certain trade-name, we could readily call this the..."SDA Effect".

    Again, I went back many years on the forum and pretty much that is how it is referred
    The "SDA Effect".... and no one back then argued it was not an "Effect"

    What changed? ...Seems semantics and a need to argue over nothing.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,874
    edited March 2019
    ... and of course, Bob Carver did essentially the same thing at line level via the "Sonic Holography [Effect]" :)
    https://www.bobcarvercorp.com/about-us

    t2xn2pasical.png
    (borrowed image, needless to say)
    Sonic Holography
    "Sonic Holography", as described was first incorporated in the Carver C4000 preamplifier. It enhances stereo imaging by introducing a delayed and equalized signal from the right channel at the left loudspeaker to cancel the signal from the right loudspeaker at the listener's left ear (and vice versa).
    In the real world, a sound produces a two sound arrivals, one for our left ear and one for our right. Stereo speakers produce FOUR sound arrivals. Each ear gets a delayed second arrival that muddies the sound stage. Through special processing circuitry, Sonic Holography cancel the second arrival, restoring clarity and realism.
  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    edited March 2019
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    ... and of course, Bob Carver did essentially the same thing at line level via the "Sonic Holography [Effect]" :)
    https://www.bobcarvercorp.com/about-us


    (borrowed image, needless to say)
    Sonic Holography
    "Sonic Holography", as described was first incorporated in the Carver C4000 preamplifier. It enhances stereo imaging by introducing a delayed and equalized signal from the right channel at the left loudspeaker to cancel the signal from the right loudspeaker at the listener's left ear (and vice versa).
    In the real world, a sound produces a two sound arrivals, one for our left ear and one for our right. Stereo speakers produce FOUR sound arrivals. Each ear gets a delayed second arrival that muddies the sound stage. Through special processing circuitry, Sonic Holography cancel the second arrival, restoring clarity and realism.

    There was also the "Hafler Circuit/Effect" that is essentially what SDA is as far as wiring, but was meant for rear surround speakers, instead of crosstalk cancellation.

    We have used the hafler set up in one system and love it. Very simple, but very effective.
  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 4,598
    So how does the SDA 'effect' change technically when you position a set of CRS+ vertical? Sonically, the soundstage narrows from my experimenting.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,874
    edited March 2019
    David Hafler's "Dynaquad" effect ;) extracts the out of phase information to (re) create ambience.

    Simple but effective; not the same thing as SDA/Sonic Holography.

    Hafler/Dynaco QD-1

    dtqey6kngjd1.png
    come to think of it, there's a QD-1 box sittin' not six feet from me even as I type this.

    Generic "Hafler" wiring.

    s79oq5pn2ujt.png

    (in practice, some level adjustment of the 'ambience' channel is a value-add)
  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    David Hafler's "Dynaquad" effect ;) extracts the out of phase information to (re) create ambience.

    Simple but effective; not the same thing as SDA/Sonic Holography.


    Generic "Hafler" wiring.

    s79oq5pn2ujt.png

    (in practice, some level adjustment of the 'ambience' channel is a value-add)

    The generic hafler wiring is essentially how the Dimensional speakers are wired in SDA, and if you want to try it as we did, simply bring the "rear" speakers of the hafler set up to the front and position them next to the normal stereo speakers and it sounds for all intents just like SDA or very close.
  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 4,598
    K_M wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    David Hafler's "Dynaquad" effect ;) extracts the out of phase information to (re) create ambience.

    Simple but effective; not the same thing as SDA/Sonic Holography.


    Generic "Hafler" wiring.

    s79oq5pn2ujt.png

    (in practice, some level adjustment of the 'ambience' channel is a value-add)

    The generic hafler wiring is essentially how the Dimensional speakers are wired in SDA, and if you want to try it as we did, simply bring the "rear" speakers of the hafler set up to the front and position them next to the normal stereo speakers and it sounds for all intents just like SDA or very close.

    How would the out-of-phase signal be produced in this set-up?
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    edited March 2019
    xschop wrote: »
    K_M wrote: »
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    David Hafler's "Dynaquad" effect ;) extracts the out of phase information to (re) create ambience.

    Simple but effective; not the same thing as SDA/Sonic Holography.


    Generic "Hafler" wiring.

    s79oq5pn2ujt.png

    (in practice, some level adjustment of the 'ambience' channel is a value-add)

    The generic hafler wiring is essentially how the Dimensional speakers are wired in SDA, and if you want to try it as we did, simply bring the "rear" speakers of the hafler set up to the front and position them next to the normal stereo speakers and it sounds for all intents just like SDA or very close.

    How would the out-of-phase signal be produced in this set-up?

    SDA is not out of phase, it is the "Difference signal" L-R and R-L

    The sda cable, is what connects the left and right dimensional speakers together and they are then both hooked up across the two positive terminals.

    Just like in the "Generic Hafler" circuit.
    Anything not common or on both the left and right, gets sent to the "rear" hafler speakers as they are joined at their negatives.

  • gmcman
    gmcman Posts: 1,731
    K_M wrote: »
    It creates a "Headphone" effect, or quite similar, if you sit exactly in the center.

    I don't understand this.

    Headphones receive their signal from the source, preamp, or a seperate headphone amp. The crosstalk has not been cancelled or at least, minimized. Each ear would receive the same signal as the speaker BEFORE any crosstalk cancellation.

    SDA speakers create a far more realistic presentation than headphones.

    The singer may appear in the center with headphones, but IMO, SDA and headphones are not similiar.

  • xschop
    xschop Posts: 4,598
    edited March 2019
    IIRC, the later CRS+ crossovers attenuated the SDA drivers up to 1k Hz to be more efficient at the crosstalk cancellation "effect". They also used the sub-bass inductors to keep the bass signal of SDA drivers "in-phase" with stereo drivers.
    Don't take experimental gene therapies from known eugenicists.
  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    xschop wrote: »
    IIRC, the later CRS+ crossovers attenuated the SDA drivers up to 1k Hz to be more efficient at the crosstalk cancellation "effect". They also used the sub-bass inductors to keep the bass signal of SDA drivers "in-phase" with stereo drivers.

    Yes inductors are used on most all SDA's not so much to keep bass "in phase", but all bass is lost when connected across positive terminals, AND bass usually being mostly equal in both channels of "most" recordings.

    So the SDA wiring effectively removes all bass since is is shared on both channels (usually) but the inductors "fix" that.
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 32,874
    Some folks take sort of the opposite approach with headphones to minimize the "hole in the middle of one's head" effect. :)
    https://www.head-fi.org/threads/what-is-crossfeed.233288/
  • K_M
    K_M Posts: 1,627
    gmcman wrote: »
    K_M wrote: »
    It creates a "Headphone" effect, or quite similar, if you sit exactly in the center.

    I don't understand this.

    Headphones receive their signal from the source, preamp, or a seperate headphone amp. The crosstalk has not been cancelled or at least, minimized. Each ear would receive the same signal as the speaker BEFORE any crosstalk cancellation.

    SDA speakers create a far more realistic presentation than headphones.

    The singer may appear in the center with headphones, but IMO, SDA and headphones are not similiar.

    Crosstalk cancellation is what SDA does, and what your head does when wearing headphones.

    Realistic is another thing.
    That would depend on what the intent of the original recording was.
    If it was mixed on headphones, then headphones would be ideal.

    Most recordings are mixed to sound "right" on stereo speakers.