Print PDF
Favorite
Email
This instructable describes how I converted stereo into surround sound using my decoder and two satellite speakers. The goal is to extend "home theater" surround sound experience to any place with quality and simplicity. Works great with all stereo equipment including TVs.
You will need the following items to convert stereo into surround sound:
1 Surround Sound Decoder Kit
2 Satellite speakers (4 - 8 Ohm, about 3 Watt nominal power). Almost any type of speaker works: Computer speakers, satellite speakers, small speakers, big speakers, etc.
Cables to connect satellite speakers
Pliers, cutters, and heat gun to strip and terminate cables
You will need the following items to convert stereo into surround sound:
1 Surround Sound Decoder Kit
2 Satellite speakers (4 - 8 Ohm, about 3 Watt nominal power). Almost any type of speaker works: Computer speakers, satellite speakers, small speakers, big speakers, etc.
Cables to connect satellite speakers
Pliers, cutters, and heat gun to strip and terminate cables
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1Choose place for satellite speakers and prepare cables
The satellite speakers should create a trapezoid, rectangle or square shape with the front speakers. Two short cables are needed to connect amplifier output with the decoder and two long cables are needed to connect satellite speakers to decoder.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
Others following this discussion: run a Google search for "abc passive decoder", "passive abc decoder", or "abc decoder circuit". The quotes are needed for it to search for the phrase (rather than just containing all three on the same page).
I still can't find any, which leads me further to believe that this is simply a Hafler circuit (or some variant thereof) in a box, and thus incapable of "decoding" anything apart from the difference of the left and right channels.
To RRC: So, how do I make a sound play on the one of the rear speakers, but not any of the other three, via this Instructable?
Hafler circuit is incapable of decoding more than left/right difference since it does not have weighting.
You can get discrete sound from rear speaker by proper encoding. Encoding method is beyond this instructable.
I have shared simple quality surround sound from stereo method, this instructable is good for someone handy to connect wires, while another instructable is good for someone willing to build from schematic.
My apologies... I didn't make myself clear. "Spurious free dynamic range" is a valid term when dealing with the fidelity of an analog to digital conversion (not DAC as RRC suggests). It has absolutely nothing to do with this particular circuit. There is nothing "digital" about it, and using the term here is a smoke screen.
DAC also has linearity issues, output signal contains steps producing very rich spectrum falling into audible region. Steps unfortunately is not equal creating even more harmonics (spurs).
This is a basic concept of digital audio processing, study it to understand or just enjoy.
It acts as 180 degree surround sound for regular stereo and x.1 formats.
1. What do you mean by the appropriate "recording"?
2. What encoding does this device "decode"?
2. There is the set of formulas for encoding and decoding.
As I mentioned before appropriate recording (incoding) will create two rear discrete sound sources. Any surround sound system creates 360 degree only with matched incoding/decoding.
Proposed system creates 3 stereo zones covering 180 degree for regular stereo and x.1 source formats.
Since your device is passive, my guess is that it's simply a Hafler circuit, no?
For others following this discussion, look here and here. If I understand correctly, RRC's box is simply a pre-wired Hafler circuit (or a variant thereof). Essentially, it would me the "rear" channels are just the difference of the left and right stereo ("front") channels.
In general each surround sound system has signals from the front speakers in the rear speakers to simulate reflections from the walls.
I'm using ABC since 1982, ABC decoder schematic is presented in my instructables "Surround Sound from 3.5mm stereo".
Hafler's circuit suffers from having non-weighted channels difference in rear speakers (reflected from the wall signal cannot have the same level as original signal).