ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Looking a B&O ambio box, hoping that someone can help.
John
Perth WA
What is that?
Brengen & Ophalen
For info, see here, here and here. Some of the links (to threads in the archived forums) and pictures are not working, though.
Basically: connects into a two-speaker stereo system and let's you add two rear- channels to form an ambiophonic "4-channel" sound system. Worth a try (if you have enough speakers) - interesting experiment at least!
Back in the day Dynaco, of ST70 tube amp fame, made a similar box, I used to have one. Small box with spkr terminals on it and a volume knob and toggle switch in the front for on, off, and calibrate. All of these implement what was originally an approach that Hafler came up with I think, anyway it used to be called Hafler Dynaquad. And in fact it's the same approach the original Dolby Pro Logic used to derive the rear channels, L-R, only Dolby added a 20 ms delay as well.
In this day of digital surround and hall ambience synthesis it's easy to kind of look down on this approach, but it can provide a very satisfying enhancement to straight stereo. A lot depends on the particular recording, how much out of phase info is in the recording. Simply miked two mic orchestral recordings in real concert halls seem to work best, it also works best when the volume of the rear channels is not set too high. The most common mistake in setting these up is that people want to really hear the rears, when what works best is the subtle, almost inaudible feeling of space you get at lower volumes.
I used to use a home built one, then one of the Dynaco units, for years before the home theater surround craze hit. Not on every recording, but I enjoyed it a lot.
Jeff
I'm afraid I'm recovering from the BeoVirus.
This?
Jacques
Or this ! And I have must have one too (or three), somewhere...
Was not aware that it is called an Ambio box
I use one and find the differences quite subtle. Depending on the type of music played it does make an interesting contrast.
Surprised you don't use one Leslie - especially as you have some to spare!
Dave.
That's the whole blo.dy thing with me Dave, I'm a collector and a refurbisher but not a user
Interesting replies to my post, but does anybody have an ambio box for sale?
Leslie replied that he had a couple of them.
Martin
And the one I showed you is for sale: it's an ad and I could buy it and send it to you! But you must be ready to pay for shipping to Aussie, not cheap I guess.
Thank you for your kind offer to buy the ambio box and send it. I'll think about it, postage should not be very expensive. The ambio box is about 15x5x5 cm and weighs very little less than 250g.
Kindest regards
Leslie
Thank you sending the link I think Eur79 is a little expensive. How much do you want for one of your ambio boxes?
I just had a look a my old price lists and saw that I paid the grand amount of Uk pounds 7.90 in 1974 for my ambio box.
Regards