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4 speakers/two channel

In my system, i run four speakers --- two in front and two in back -- driven as two channels. I drive the back speakers (Vandersteen 1c's) through the pre-out of my main integrated amp (an Ayon Spirit 2) into a McIntosh integrated. The main speakers (PBN Montana EPS2's)are driven by the Ayon. This way, i can tailor the volume of both sets of speakers.

With the four speakers in 2-channel, the stereo image is 16 feet wide (going from 3.5 ft to the left of the left speaker to 3.5 feet to the right of the right speaker). When I shut down the back speakers the image collapse to ca. 9 ft wide. With all 4 speakers playing, the front speakers disappear (you just get a wall of sound.. w/o hearing directly the back speakers either). When I shut down the back speakers, and only the front speakers are playing, I stare at the speakers as I see precisely where the sound emanates. 4 speakers and you get an instrumentalist at size X, with the distance between instrumentalists at Y --- go to two speakers those numbers go to 0.6 X and o.6 Y. Fullness, body, palpable presence all are dramatically better with 4 speakers.

Once you go to the 4 speaker/2 channel mode (done right) --- the difference is staggering. Listening to the two speakers sounds like a veritable miniature toy in comparison.

Has anyone else tried this?
robsker
kiwi2
19 posts
 
Likewise I have had people tell me that "I shouldn't do that with 2ch music"... until they have come to my place and listened to my system, that is. For a start they wouldn't know all speakers are playing until I switch it back to the front speakers only. As they say, the stage is still up front with all speakers playing... but the separation of each individual instrument and vocals is much much better.

I often laugh when reading a review of a very high-end set of speakers, in which the reviewer is raving about the soundstageing and imaging of said $$$ speakers. If such a wide soundstage and 3D imaging is so desirable in music playback, then why aren't more people embracing surround sound playback..??? Why so hung up on tradition..???
klaudio
113 posts
 
I simply drive a powered sub from the pre-out on the int amp that drives the back speakers. It really doesn't matter which int amp you use the pe-out from. Using the pre out, the volume is not fixed and raises and lowers
with the regular volume.

When I originally did this it seemed easier to blend in with the rear speakers. I also get compliments how the bass blends in with the music. As all two channel guys know..........subs are hard to blend in right for music listening. Not a movie. I use Mcintosh int amps and a Sunfire sub.

I have used two different int amps from different
companies. Make sure your sources go to the best int amp or a pre amp. This is where your sonic signature comes from.
leemaze
329 posts
 
Which set of speakers is louder - the rear or the front?
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,360 posts
 
Back in the quad days, we decided that using 4 average sounding loudspeakers was not as good as using 2 very good loudspeakers and the total cost was the same. I understand the room filling phenomena of using rear speakers but it doesn't last long when you upgrade your front speakers and your rear speakers can't keep up. Don't get me wrong, more drivers does offer this room filling sound. 
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