And the Winner Is...
PRICE/PERFORMANCE RATIO
A digital audio projector accomplishes its magic
using a powerful DSP chip and an array of small, individually ampli-
fied speakers. As we’ve learned, Yamaha’s YSP-800 uses 23 drivers
powered by 23 separate amps, and Yamaha recommends—and
we consider it an absolute a necessity—that the system be paired
with a powered subwoofer. This increased complexity is reflected in
the price of the system.
HRTF systems also rely on a strong DSP, but they don’t require
as many loudspeakers. In fact, the SurroundWorks 200 uses just
three drivers in its main speaker unit, and it comes with a perfectly
matched powered subwoofer. This lower component cost enabled
Cambridge SoundWorks to build an all-in-one home-theater system
that costs less than a YSP-800 plus subwoofer. WINNER: HRTFHEAD RELATED TRANSFER FUNCTION:
Cambridge SoundWorks SurroundWorks 200,
$1,000, http://www.cambridgesoundworks.comhead 2 head TWO TECHNOLOGIES ENTER, ONE TECHNOLOGY LEAVES
I
f you’d have told us six months ago that we’d be waxing enthu-
siastic over any virtual surround-sound system, we would have
politely suggested a visit to your local psychotherapist. But based
on our experience with head-related transfer functions as imple-
mented in Cambridge SoundWorks’ SurroundWorks 200, and with
digital audio projection as executed by Yamaha’s YSP-800, we’re of
a very different mindset.
We’re not quite ready to give up on discrete 5.1-, 6.1-, or 7.1-chan-
nel speaker arrays, but Cambridge SoundWorks and Yamaha have
finally made us believers in virtual surround sound. Yes folks, it’s a tie:
If you find wiring up surround speakers too impossible or impractical(please, just say “no” to wireless), HRTFs and DAP really do offer an
effective alternative.
It’s important to note, however, that not all virtual surround-sound
systems are created equal. Yamaha is the only company offering a rea-
sonably priced digital audio projector today, but other companies are
sure to follow if Yamaha gains traction (and many of these are sure to
sound like crap). There are already a number of devices on the market
that promise to deliver effective virtual surround sound through the use
of HRTF technology, but the SurroundWorks 200 joins Sony’s phenom-
enal MDR-DS8000 headphones (reviewed in the January 2006 issue)
as the only ones we’ve heard that aren’t bunk.MOVIES AND GAMES
The HRTFs in the SurroundWorks
200 did an absolutely amazing job of fooling our
ears—as long as we didn’t turn our heads. And
that’s the insurmountable problem with head-
related transfer functions: they rely on your head
being in a predictable position.
With a digital audio projector, turning your
head results in an appropriate change in percep-
tion. If the sound bounces off the rear wall to your
right, for example, and you turn your head to the
left, the delay before the sound reaches your right
ear drum will increase slightly—just as it should.
But here’s an important caveat: Because neither
of these systems has six analog audio inputs,
connecting either to an analog PC soundcard
will require a digital encoder, such as Creative’s
Home Theater DTS-610. WINNER: DAPround^3
VERSATILITY
This round reflects more on these specific HRTF and DAP solu-
tions than it does on the technologies in general. The SurroundWorks 200 comes
complete with an A/V preamplifier, an AM/FM tuner, and a progressive-scan DVD
player. It can decode Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, and Dolby Pro Logic II (music and
movie modes). It can play DVD-Audio discs, but not SuperAudio CDs.
The YSP-800 is an amplifier and speaker system only. It will decode Dolby
Digital 5.1, Dolby Pro Logic, Dolby Pro Logic II (music, movie, and game
modes), DTS 5.1, and DTS Neo:6 (music and cinema modes). It cannot be
paired with a DVD-Audio or SuperAudio CD player. While HRTF technology can
be implemented in both loudspeakers and headphones, DAP is a speaker-only
technology. WINNER: HRTFround^4
round^5
APRIL 2006 MA XIMUMPC 17