Surround-Recording of the Year 2007

"Breakthrough ...

...into a new dimension"

boasts the German music magazine FONOFORUM, while the audio magazine STEREO adds:
"With his plans for three-dimensional reproduction of music on six channels, Werner Dabringhaus could revolutionize DVD Audio before it has even established itself ..."

On the threshold of home multi-channel reproduction via DVD (or Super Audio CD) MDG has amazed the high-end world with a new, bafflingly simple sound formula:

MONO is historical!

STEREO is good:
it guarantees an excellent box seat in the concert hall.

Surround 5.1 is better:
it broadens the horizontal perspective.

2+2+2 recording is fascinating.
It is the system for a truly three-dimensional listening perspective.

The current state of audio reproduction is still the CD with twin-channel stereo sound and two speakers. Notwithstanding all technical innovation, there is still only one good listening point (at the corner of the isosceles triangle) — the next best being immediately in front or behind (usually not very practical) — with all the dropouts and distortions everywhere else that constantly get on the nerves of professional listeners. And yet — given the ideal listening position — it can give a fascinating depiction of sound in depth as well as breadth: an audiophile box seat with ... two dimensions.


Surround System 5.1

Cinema and video audiences are now familiar with the 5.1 "surround sound" system to reproduce environmental sounds and acoustic effects. 5.1 enhances normal stereo by adding an additional speaker centrally in front of and two further speakers behind the listener. This five-speaker configuration (5-) is augmented by a subwoofer (-.1) located at any point in the listening room and serving only to relieve the main speakers of the loud and dramatic sound effects commonly encountered in films. While surround reproduction broadens the horizontal perspective, the sound retains the two-dimensional image of stereophony.


The 5.1 surround format makes a lot of sense for cinema use, and DVD Video has triggered its use for home cinema reproduction. True, we need the centre speaker and subwoofer to reproduce movie film soundtracks. But classical music very rarely features detonations or earthquakes — so the subwoofer channel is superfluous, because it will be of very little use for music reproduction. The centre speaker is not strictly necessary either, because home stereo reproduction already has the potential for optimum representation of each and every sound between and behind the speakers.

From this point of view, 5.1 is a purpose-made system with only limited application to music reproduction, nor is its sound quality particularly "classical". And sound reproduction, as with quadrophony, still remains two-dimensional.


Note: our sound world is not flat ...

However, the human ear has keen directional sensors that perceive sound not only from side to side, but above and below. The reflection of even the subtlest sounds from ceiling and floor will reliably tell us how large a room we are in. And at a concert, we naturally hear the orchestral brass sounding from a higher platform, with the choir behind them and the organ in a gallery further above ...


Three-dimensional portrayal of sound is thus an important step forward and in fact an absolute prerequisite in the quest for natural music reproduction at home.


These requirements are fulfilled by our 2+2+2 recording technique, which makes amazingly simple use of the six sound channels provided for DVD Audio. The entire listening area enjoys natural-sounding three-dimensional sound transporting you straight to the recording location. And you will discover that our sound world really is not a flat surface.


The 2+2+2 process allows a system offering the natural three-dimensional sound reproduction of music within a three-dimensional sound environment while using only 6 speakers and an important side effect: the listener is no longer anchored to a "sweet spot" but enjoys an amazing sense of three-dimensional space and a logical, natural and stable three-dimensional sonic portrayal of instruments from almost all points within (and to some extent even outside) the area delineated by the speakers.


Loudspeaker configuration with 2+2+2 recording

The principle is as simple as it is effective: two speakers are placed front right and left as with stereo (2...), two right and left behind the listener (...+2...), while the third dimension is created by two further speakers (...+2) positioned vertically above the two front units. Their height is half that of the base width (the distance between the two front floor-mounted speakers).


If you have a high-quality stereo system, the additional speakers can be substantially smaller. As with the 5.1 surround system, all 6 speakers must be at the same distance from the listening point, be set at the same reproduction level and balanced against one another before first being taken into service. When playing back recordings with the 2+2+2 logo, however, the listener will enjoy truly lifelike, natural three-dimensional reproduction all over the listening area.


Alternative configuration

1. If it is not possible to place the main speakers on the narrow side of the listening room (thereby losing reflection from the side walls), the upper auxiliary speakers can be placed to the side, outside the stereo base at their virtual locations — but directed at the listening point. This will retain three-dimensional reproduction with only modest loss of spatial sense.
2. If the upper speakers (mounted above the primary speakers) are pointed straight at the listener, the resulting sound reproduction is three-dimensional but with a greatly diminished spatial effect.
3. If the rear speakers cannot be placed at the back at the desired distance from the listening point, they can also be indirectly mounted using reflections from rear wall, side wall and/or ceiling.
4. The rear speakers may also be placed to the side of the listener — utilizing rear wall reflection.
5. The rear speakers are not unduly position-sensitive — the delay circuit found in many control units can be used to compensate for over-close positioning.

2+2+2 Recording is downward-compatibly with 5.1

Every DVD-Audio in 2+2+2 Recording can be played on the following players:

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