I have tried the Bluetooth wireless Jambox with the iPad 2 running
Hotto's Ambiophonic RACE app. I have also used the app with the iLuv iPad
docking station. You can see pictures of both on the Ambiophonic website. You
should try this for yourselves since my opinion is naturally biased. Both
speaker systems produced a full width stage and positioning was relatively
non-critical compared to using these speakers for plain stereo.
The little Jambox has two one inch speakers four inches apart. Fortunately the
RACE parameters are fully adjustable even for this kind of narrow spacing (+/-
5 degrees or so) and for the first time I needed (and was able) to use a delay
setting of 45.4 microseconds and an attenuation of 1.9 dB. There may even be
better settings which you can research. Of course you need to be within
about a meter or less with such closely speakers so you are always listening in
the near field to these very very directional speakers which may explain why
the results are so gratifying.
Since the Jambox and others coming are Bluetooth wireless, it is conceivable
that a family or bunch of home theater enthusiasts could all hold their own
Jamboxes and enjoy the full width stage with the clarity and depth that XTC
brings while they all watch same large screen 3D TV. (The iPad does have an
HDMI output if you want the normal surround digital audio rather than
Bluetooth.) I still need to see whether it is actually possible to drive two
or more Jamboxes with the single iPad Bluetooth source. But if this is really
a popular application I am sure a Bluetooth hub can be designed and a
wire daisy chain is also feasible. A major criticism of Ambiophonics and
Ambisonics is their inability to provide the same stage for a roomful of people
seated at random. IMAX years ago solved this problem in a similar fashion
by providing off the ear speakers for each viewer. The Jambox costs about the
same as some of the switching 3D glasses
being sold.
The iLuv has larger speakers and better bass and you can get further away
from it but it is not wireless at the moment. I am awaiting a pair of
Soundmatters to see if they will also work well this way but eventually there
will be too many of these for me to try them all.
Using two Jamboxes, one front and one rear, one could have
full-horizontal-plane surround, but for that you need something besides the
present App like two miniambios, TacT, etc. although again the iPad HDMI output
can provide the raw digitally encoded surround tracks extracted from downloaded
movies and video.
Ralph Glasgal
www.ambiophonics.org
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