Hi, I am new here. I regard Audioholics as a solid source when it comes to information about audio and hi-fi, and it also seems to attract knowledgeable forum participants. I am therefore hoping to get some more clarity on my topic here, which is atmos speakers and «hot-spotting».
I'm considering buying a 5.1.2 / 5.2.2 surround speaker setup, and I'm looking towards Audiovectors QR series.
I've heard advices of avoiding the use of atmos speakers all-together in cases where the ceiling height is much less than 10 feet / 3 meters (including Gene DellaSala, and also Dolby, if I remember correctly) because it results in focused, direct surround sounds, which can be a distraction («hot-spotting», as I understand it). My ceiling height is 7.9 feet (240 cm).
I am thinking of Audiovector QR Wall as atmos speakers. A crucial reason for why I am considering these, besides having appropriate dimensions (depth of 3.7 inches (9.5 cm)), is that this speaker has a so called diffuse mode. This is made possible with the use of an extra set of tweeters. The diffuse mode can be switched on and off.
There is not a lot of information about this. Audiovector has not done it’s marketing job in this regard. My guess, from my understanding of diffused field of sound, is that this is made with surround in mind, in cases where the space is sparse. I would therefore think this in theory could accommodate the problem with low ceiling heights (or normal ceiling heights, as we call it, here in Norway) when used as atmos speakers.
Wikipedia defines diffuse sound field as a sound field where soundwaves are traveling in all directions with equal probability. «In a diffuse field the sound at each of a listeners' ears is so completely different that it is impossible for the brain to work out where the sound has come from. A diffuse source located in front of the listener will be hard to localize and can be used to carry the surround signals.»
Can anyone give me some general remarks about what you think about this solution? I know Gene DellaSala have touched upon this topic in his article «Dipole vs Bipole vs Monopole: Which Surround Speaker is Best?», but unfortunately I didn’t get much wiser in regards to hot-spotting and atmos. I have heard, from first hand experience with this speaker and it's diffuse mode, from a YouTube channel representing a foreign Hi-fi magazine, is that it is making the sound feel like it is much further back then it is. This approach, of using a diffuse mode, isn't something I have seen in other speakers, though.
So, is there a good chance this could work out? Does anyone here know about Audiovector's diffuse mode solution from earlier times (I've been told that Audiovector has used this before), or has anyone here seen or heard a solution like this in other speakers, or just having thoughts about this in general?
I would be very happy for feedback.
Picture of the speaker below:
More information:
http://audiovector.com/qr-wall.html