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2+2+2 Multichannel

I just bought two DVD-A discs put out by a German Audiophile recording outfit called MDGD. They use the six available channels differently.

They use the Left and Right, Front and Rear channels in the usual way. But then they call for two additional front speakers, located above and outside the regular front speakers. These are driven by the Center and Subwoofer channels. It is all supposed to produce a "3-dimensional" sound field, with no particular "sweet spot" for listener location.

I have not yet had the time to jury-rig this setup. The printed material that came with the discs does not provide much in the way of description of this 2+2+2 scheme. Does anyone out there have any info?
eldartford
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,662 posts
 
Try their website. They have a white paper on the setups.
eldartford OP
4,262 posts
 
Kr4...Couldn't find a website. Help!
flex
292 posts
 
Eldartford,
I've heard the 2+2+2 setup several times in Europe, and it has sounded very good in the large convention rooms I've heard it in. Your description is accurate; the two front height channels have been set up about 8-10 feet above the front mains, using smaller bookshelf sized speakers. There are some who think height channels are most effective in large high-ceiling rooms but less effective in domestic rooms. If you try it, please post your results, it would be very interesting.

This is the reference on the MDG site. Click on the menu item for 2+2+2 room setup. I saw only the German version; if there isn't a translator on the URL and you can't readit, you can copy it and run it through a translator.

Good luck.
http://www.mdg.de/frame2.htm
eldartford OP
4,262 posts
 
Flex...Thankyou...I have enough amps and small but decent speakers to try this out. Alas, my room does not have a high ceiling. Someday I will build a large room with cathedral ceiling where my Magneplanar speakers can be suspended well off the floor: a setup that I have always liked.

If this kind of 6-channel speaker configuration were to become common my bigest problem would be figuring out how to switch back and forth between normal 5.1 multichannel and 2+2+2.
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