tjassoc,
I believe a reasonable facsimile for speakers acting as resonators is that of percussion instruments in a symphony. Timpani, bass drums, snares, xylophone, glockenspiel, and anything else that can vibrate in sympathy with the music is heavily dampened with felt pads and "pillows" except during use because they will all vibrate as they are excited by their resonate frequencies. Only the instruments required for an evenings performance are put on stage. Even in clubs and rock concerts, drummers disengage their snares during quiet passages. One of the greatest technological advances in the invention of the modern piano was when a physical felt dampener was installed so that it released with a key depression or the sustain pedal was pushed. Try playing music in a room with a grand piano having it's sustain pedal held down. All of these examples can provide easily audible empirical tests for hearing these resonances.
Speakers are generally boxes with membranes covering at least one opening. True there is much dampening so the effect is lessened but that does not make it disappear completely. Rather than ringing in sympathy, I believe speakers are much more likely to absorb high frequencies and re-radiate (albeit with a time delay) lower frequencies. As I stated in my earlier post and others have reiterated, it results in a loss of highs, reduction of detail and a general "smearing" of sound, it could also enhance room modes. These effects would be cumulative. If I understand Dolby's advertisements, Atmos can accommodate up to 24 surround and 10 overhead speakers and 2 subwoofers for a total of 36 in a home system! Keep in mind that many audiophiles feel that even the vibration caused by power supplies can denigrate performance (see Stillpoints, Sort Kones, HRS shelving, Critical Mass Shelving and a host of other available accessories)
For a person who is publicly reviewing premium equipment having all of these speakers in one's listening room could easily result in a bias towards overly bright, forward and somewhat hard sounding equipment over a more balanced, neutral sound. And I believe this is important information for WC to consider as he is planning his room. What are his goals, and what tradeoffs is he willing to make? And most importantly, chose the tradeoffs consciously. I am confident a 2 channel system will sound better in the same room with 13 other speakers vs. 36 or 9 vs. 36 and that most ideal would be only the 2 active ones.
As WC and myself share the common experience of having our 2 channel and HT sharing the same location, I try and limit the HT to make the smallest impact because while I want HT, I really want great 2 channel music.
I believe a reasonable facsimile for speakers acting as resonators is that of percussion instruments in a symphony. Timpani, bass drums, snares, xylophone, glockenspiel, and anything else that can vibrate in sympathy with the music is heavily dampened with felt pads and "pillows" except during use because they will all vibrate as they are excited by their resonate frequencies. Only the instruments required for an evenings performance are put on stage. Even in clubs and rock concerts, drummers disengage their snares during quiet passages. One of the greatest technological advances in the invention of the modern piano was when a physical felt dampener was installed so that it released with a key depression or the sustain pedal was pushed. Try playing music in a room with a grand piano having it's sustain pedal held down. All of these examples can provide easily audible empirical tests for hearing these resonances.
Speakers are generally boxes with membranes covering at least one opening. True there is much dampening so the effect is lessened but that does not make it disappear completely. Rather than ringing in sympathy, I believe speakers are much more likely to absorb high frequencies and re-radiate (albeit with a time delay) lower frequencies. As I stated in my earlier post and others have reiterated, it results in a loss of highs, reduction of detail and a general "smearing" of sound, it could also enhance room modes. These effects would be cumulative. If I understand Dolby's advertisements, Atmos can accommodate up to 24 surround and 10 overhead speakers and 2 subwoofers for a total of 36 in a home system! Keep in mind that many audiophiles feel that even the vibration caused by power supplies can denigrate performance (see Stillpoints, Sort Kones, HRS shelving, Critical Mass Shelving and a host of other available accessories)
For a person who is publicly reviewing premium equipment having all of these speakers in one's listening room could easily result in a bias towards overly bright, forward and somewhat hard sounding equipment over a more balanced, neutral sound. And I believe this is important information for WC to consider as he is planning his room. What are his goals, and what tradeoffs is he willing to make? And most importantly, chose the tradeoffs consciously. I am confident a 2 channel system will sound better in the same room with 13 other speakers vs. 36 or 9 vs. 36 and that most ideal would be only the 2 active ones.
As WC and myself share the common experience of having our 2 channel and HT sharing the same location, I try and limit the HT to make the smallest impact because while I want HT, I really want great 2 channel music.