Will…

You asked me to put up what I think are the recordings I find the “hole” in the mix. Hole is not the correct word, more like “smeared” from one speaker to the other.

The speakers are Diva 4.1s. Not the greatest, but certainly not Bose. Also have an SVS 20-39PCi sub. I still have the Denon 3802 I bought when I could not wait on the 950 any longer.

I have Boston’s “Greatest Hits”. Most of the track on this CD exhibit what I would consider a smearing of either vocal or guitars. Typically, the percussion and vocals are focused and I can place them at some point across the soundstage. But the guitars tend to come from both speakers. Since I am a novice, I was inquiring as to whether this observation is the way the music is mixed, the equipment/room or my ears. My only real contact with anyone who would know how the music should sound is via internet forums.

On Boston: “Higher Power”, “Piece of Mind” the guitar is across both speakers and smears across the soundstage. The vocal and percussion are localized. On “Cool the Engines” the cymbals are up towards the ceiling and the vocals are sometimes smeared across both speakers.

Trying to cover other music, Faith Hill’s “There You’ll Be”, there are two different mixes of “Breathe”. In the Tin Tin Out Radio Mix, the lead in guitar is pinpointed in the center, while the other has the guitar coming from both speakers and is not pinpointed. I am assuming that this is the way the music was mixed and what was intended.

With classical music I do not have this observation. I listened to Tchaikovsky, Beethoven and some John Williams. But for me, classical music does not need the instruments to be localized.

Some recordings seem to be better mixed and the instruments do localize: Diana Krall (I have this one for the cover), James Taylor’s greatest hits and Doobie Bros “What Were Once Vices”.

After the session I did learn something. I have a small sweet spot in my room for “critical” listening. It really is only 1 to 2 people wide. Especially for multichannel music.

Since I went this far I might as well go on…

I bought a Panasonic RP-82 mainly for the video capability. After I had it for a while, I decided to invest in some cheap interconnects and go ahead and buy some DVD-A music to take advantage of the DVD-A outputs.

I am up to 4 DVD-A discs so far.

Eagles – “Hotel California”
Deep Purple – “Machine Head”
Foreigner – “Foreigner 4”
Yes – “Fragile”

I suppose I consider myself a 2-channel guy. But this foray into DVD-A is very interesting.

After some multichannel listening, I have a new appreciation for this medium. I sure felt drawn into the music and really enjoyed the experience. My only complaint is the way certain instruments are mixed into the rear speakers. It is disconcerting to me to hear, for example, a guitar evenly playing out of the two rear speakers. It could just be my set up of direct radiating surrounds with one mounted up close to the ceiling or the recording. But it is distracting to me.

I listed the 4 in order of preference, with the Eagles the most “rear distracting”. In the “Hotel California” track there are wonderful lead in effects only to be interrupted by a misplaced guitar in the left rear. Or “Life in the Fast Lane”, there seems to be misplaced guitars in the L & R surrounds in the opening, then the instruments seem to place themselves nicely. The track of “Wasted Time (Reprise)” could be the best with some room filling strings and fabulous bass from cellos. It just seemed to me that the rears get too much action, especially with the guitars.

Deep Purple was another example for me for music I have heard on 8-track, cassette and CD. I got the feeling that the mix was from the perspective of the listener being the drummer. Especially in “Space Truckin’”. There were a couple of videos. Long hair and silk shirts! Far out!

Foreigner 4 was great fun. The surrounds seemed more integrated and the instruments well placed. “Juke Box Hero” had a mix where the bass moved around the room! Fantastic effect and it seemed natural. I listened to that cut several times. Normally I don’t like effects like that, but it really blew me away.

“Fragile” was fun as well. In “Roundabout” there is a nice organ effect and the vocals blend into the surrounds. The cut “Canes & Brahams” was nothing but fun. This could be a great test for your speakers.

Other than what seems to me to be misplaced guitars, multichannel music has been a real hoot.

Thanks for letting me ramble...


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No matter where you go, there you are.

mj