Binaural Recording and SDAs, a natural match?

Larry Chanin · June 2005

Hi,

I also posted this in the 2-channel forum at the end of an old thread started by Ken Swauger entitled Binaural recording. I thought perhaps there might be more interest in the Vintage Speaker forum where a lot of SDAer's hang out.

Today I received the Polk Audio Home Audio Performance on-line newsletter, and they had a link to a web site called the Binaural Source. After I followed the link, which discussed Binaural Recordings, it occurred to me that Binaural recordings, which are designed to be played over stereo headphones rather than conventional speakers, might be perfect for playing over SDA speakers.

Here's an excerpt from that material that got me thinking about SDA's:

So does that mean binaural recordings are totally useless for ordinary listening on loudspeakers?

...The ultimate experience of binaural recordings via just a pair of speakers can be had with the three Lexicon digital surround processors, the CP-1, CP-3 and the latest models DC-1 and 2. All include a proprietary Binaural Panorama circuit, which among other things cancels out the left speaker sound reaching your right ear and vice versa. The result, within a narrow "sweet spot," is really the best avenue to experiencing 100% of the "you are there-ness" of binaural using speakers instead of headphones! Those who have difficulty with frontal location of sounds and/or locating the sounds outside of their head also find the Lexicon processing solution with speakers to be the most advanced way to listen to binaural recordings. For more info: http://www.lexicon.com

Now I have a Lexicon processor, and I know that the Lexicon's Panorama effect is an electronic version of Interaural Crosstalk Cancellation. I also know that Polk's SDA effect is an other approach to Interaural Crosstalk Cancellation.

So it stands to reason that Binaural Recordings would be perfect program material to be played on SDA speakers.

Have any of you two channel enthusiasts tried playing Binaural Recordings on your SDA's? If so, can you share your experiences?

Thanks.

Larry

F1nut · June 2005

Interesting read, I'd love to try it.

Larry Chanin · June 2005

Originally posted by F1nut
Interesting read, I'd love to try it.

Hi F1,

Yes, unfortunately, The Binaural Source, which appears to have been the biggest retailer of Binaural Recordings, is in the process of selling it's business.

I did a few Google searches to see what was commercially available, but it's quite limited. There are a lot of amateurs making recording of wildlife and environmental sounds, trips in the car, etc. There's also a few biofeedback recordings that claim to cure headaches, give you inner peace, etc., you get the picture.:rolleyes:

I found a classical recording at Tower Records, which I may get, but the $30 price tag for a CD is giving me a bit of sticker shock.:eek:

Larry

Larry Chanin · July 2005

Originally posted by F1nut
Interesting read, I'd love to try it.

Hi Jesse,

I just received my classical Binaural recording. Now, I'm not very well versed in 2-channel listening, but this recording has perhaps one of the widest soundfields I've ever heard.

If you'd like to try for yourself, try this link to a binaural MP3 file.

Times Square

Even better if you have the Monsters Inc. DVD, they have a neat demonstration on disc #2 with the features. Select the Music and Sound door, then Binaural Recording. The Binaural Video with John Goodman and Billy Crystal is very cool on SDAs!!

Larry

F1nut · July 2005

Larry,

I don't have anything to play MP3's on and I don't do HT. Could you provide me with the info from Tower, so that I can order one?

Jesse

dorokusai · July 2005

I have a couple nature binaurals from a long time ago and they are pretty neat. I listened to Connie Champagne in binaural and it was really good....this was on headphones naturally

Have fun!

Larry Chanin · July 2005

Originally posted by F1nut
Larry,

I don't have anything to play MP3's on and I don't do HT. Could you provide me with the info from Tower, so that I can order one?

Jesse

Hi Jesse,

Here's two classical CD's. The first is the one I just got.

Stravinsky: Rite of Spring; Rachmaninov / Mester, Pasadena

Strauss, Saint-Saens / Mester, Olivera, Pasadena Symphony

Now if I just could just figure out what I did with my old stereo headphones it would be interesting to compare the full effect to the effect with the SDAs.

Larry

Larry Chanin · July 2005

Originally posted by dorokusai
I have a couple nature binaurals from a long time ago and they are pretty neat. I listened to Connie Champagne in binaural and it was really good....this was on headphones naturally

Have fun!

Hi Mark,

Is there any way in which you could play them on your 2-channel setup with your SDA CRS's?

I'd be interested in your observations.

As you probably know, up until now I've been almost exclusively a home theater enthusiast. As a result I've got my SDA-1C's 13 feet apart on either side of my screen. For most program material the soundstage is between the mains, but with this binaural recording some of the violins, flutes and reed instruments sounded to me as if they were coming outside the boundary of the room.

Larry

dorokusai · July 2005

Originally posted by Larry Chanin
Is there any way in which you could play them on your 2-channel setup with your SDA CRS's?

I would if I didn't have them torn apart for an overhaul. I probably won't have them back up and running until Polkfest.

BobMcG · July 2005

Originally posted by Larry Chanin
Here's two classical CD's. The first is the one I just got.

Stravinsky: Rite of Spring; Rachmaninov / Mester, Pasadena

Strauss, Saint-Saens / Mester, Olivera, Pasadena Symphony
Larry

Hey Larry, what is the indicator that these are binaurals? I'm not sure what to look for and I don't see it mentioned on the Tower order page for these.

Larry Chanin · July 2005

Originally posted by BobMcG
Hey Larry, what is the indicator that these are binaurals? I'm not sure what to look for and I don't see it mentioned on the Tower order page for these.

Hi Bob,

I see your point, but the cover art on the two CD's clearly show a binaural dummy head. You didn't think those were crash dummies did you?;)

Seriously, I got the lead to these CD's by reading the classical recomendations at the Binuaral Source. As I mentioned they don't sell them anymore, but by Goggling I was able to find two of the referenced recordings at Tower Records.

Larry

BobMcG · July 2005

Gotcha, Thanks Larry.

Larry Chanin · July 2005

Hi Guys,

Well, I received my second binaural recording today. It was the Strauss classical selection I referenced earlier.

The wrap-around sound effect, at least in the initial opening, was quite startling to me. The opening thread of music was what has become familiar to everyone as the theme from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The trumpets in that opening sounded to me like they were coming from either side of me, maybe even a little behind me. The effect was so pronounced that I had to go back to my digital surround processor to make sure that I had it in 2-channel and not in surround mode.

Too bad I there's such a limited selection of these type of high quality recordings.

Larry

Binaural Recording and SDAs, a natural match?

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