Flaws in audio at listening position – stereo channel time coherence

Flaws in audio at listening position – stereo channel time coherence

Theory explanation TestHiFi App, sound test, audio test, hifi test,

Impact on listening 

What can I do? When … an audio system 

 Theory explanation   TestHiFi App, sound test, audio test, hifi test,

Explanation of TestHiFi’s measurement output data and the theory about the TestHiFi criteria.

Measurement data explanation:

TestHiFi measures in three positions average, to increase listening subjective, psychoacoustic relevance. It measures standard industry criteria. The measurement data shows you detailed identified weaknesses of the received sound at listening position. 

The channel time coherence related criteria results indicate identified difference in distance between stereo channels sound source and the listening position.

Critical setups with too much difference in distance between left channel to listening position and right channel to listening position are incapable of providing correct stereo sound stage experience. 

The differences in time between left and right channel rather indicate system setup incapabilities, than room acoustic effects. 

The indicated result shows the time difference between left and right channel in centi meter. Negative values indicate longer distance to left channel source than to right channel source.

Theory:

Stereo, a method of sound reproduction

We described stereo effects to some extend already in the criteria stereo capability and Frequency response channel correlation.

Stereo is a method of sound reproduction that creates an illusion of multi-directional audible perspective. Stereo is usually achieved by using two or more independent audio channels through a configuration of two or more loudspeakers. This allows to create the impression of sound heard from various directions, like in natural hearing.

True stereo

Stereo sound systems can be “true” or “natural” stereo in which a live sound is captured, with any natural reverberation or ambience present, by an array of microphones. To recreate the live sound as closely as possible, multiple loudspeakers reproduce the signal.

Artificial stereo

Reproducing a single-channel (mono) sound over multiple loudspeakers is “artificial” or “pan-pot” stereo. Varying the relative amplitude of the signal sent to each speaker suggests an artificial direction (relative to the listener). The control which is used to vary this relative amplitude of the signal is known as a “pan-pot” (panoramic potentiometer).

Two-channel stereo recording

Simultaneous recording with two microphones, strategically placed relative to the sound source, is a two-channel stereo recording. The two recorded channels will be similar. Each channel will have distinct time-of-arrival and sound-pressure-level information. The listener’s brain uses those subtle differences in timing and sound level to triangulate the positions of the instruments. Stereo recordings played on monaural systems often come with a significant loss of fidelity. Both microphone record the wavefront at a slightly different time. Those wavefronts are out of phase, when playing back both on the same speaker. Constructive and destructive interference, cancelation can occur.

Difference between left and right channel time

Setups with too much channel time difference cannot provide correct stereo effects. Time differences rather indicate setup influence to the sound at listening position.

Impact on listening   

Stereo sound attempts to create an illusion of location for various sound sources (voices, instruments, etc.). Each of our ears hears the sound of a stereo recording from both speakers, of course.

Stereo enables to localize instruments

Stereo sound provides the ability to localize each instruments position in space. Only carefully installed system with appropreate distance between the channels and the listerner allow for hearing a virtual sound stage. Such systems take into account speakers placement and room acoustics. All-in-one boombox units and the like many playback systems, are incapable of recreating a realistic stereo image.

 

Stereo systems setup with significant difference in distances between channels to the listening position also are less capable of reproducing a virtual sound stage or of imaging a particular instrument to its position in a virtual sound stage.

What can I do? When … an audio system   

What can I do when either buying, setting up or listening to an audio system?

… buying …

Choose your system in accordance with your listening preference

Potential systems with one channel only or summed up left and right channel such systems are incapable of providing stereo or stage effects. Those are systems with one speaker case only or systems which have two speakers or speaker sets physically built close together.

Select a sound system with a left and right speaker system, that allows for individual positioning in the listening room.

… setting up …

Out Of Phase Stereo (OOPS) is an audio technique which manipulates the phase of a stereo audio track, to isolate or remove certain components of the stereo mix. It works on the principle of phase cancellation. Two identical, inverted waveforms will “cancel the other out“. OOPS effects can occur with speakers and amplifiers wrongly connected.

A setup using a equilateral triangle is most helpful method to prevent such effects.

… listening to …

A balance control at the audio system can be used to adjust the stereo level difference. Somwhat comparably, digital sound processors provide a control option to adjust the time difference between the stereo channels.

The best solution to enjoy stereo reproduction is the equilateral triangle with both speakers at appropriate, similar, hight from the floor.

(This measurement criteria relates to measurement at listening position- future version of TestHiFi)