Holographic imaging

My system has had the most three dimensional image in two configurations. The first was with a VAC Phi 110/110 amp and a Lamm LL2 Deluxe preamp. The second was with a Supratek Cortese preamp and Belles 150A Reference monoblocks.

In both cases, the image was spookily three dimensional, and I have yet to replicate this effect with any other combination of tubes or solid state.

However, I have had system configurations which were (are) more neutral and with less coloration, and that still have a very transparent image. The difference is the image does not have the forward/backward imaging that was so interesting in the two combinations mentioned above.

So, IMO, tubes have everything to do with a three dimensional (holographic) image, but the image may not be accurate.

Mapman,

Yes, I have an old Carver C-9 Sonic Hologram Generator that was made to do the same trick. It injects some out of phase info into the signals (as I understand it) that is supposed to eliminate interaural cross-talk, i.e., it's designed such that each of your ears hears only one speaker or the other... like wearing headphones, but out into the room.

The resulting "holography" varies with the source material. You will definitely hear sounds and instruments coming from all over, way beyond the speakers. Whether the resulting effect is "accurate" is another question, bit it's definitely compelling with the right source material.

Newbee,

The "holography" you describe is consistent with speaker configuration parameters that I found worked best with Carver sonic holography. It works better with more directional box designs, particularly when approximating a point source.

It worked best with my Dynaudio and Triangle monitors. It also worked well with Maggies I owned for many years but these were trickier to get set up right for best effect. I could never get it to work well at all with larger B&W floor standers I owned.

It does nothing useful for the Ohms which are pseudo-omni directional as you describe.

These are totally transparent and with well produced recordings, the musicians are located precisely and in various locations within the huge soundstage and with considerable variation in depth of location as well.

I don't understand how the dispersion patterns of omnis is a problem in this regard. Doesn't the principle of triangulation come into play with sound? Doesn't sound reaching your ears from multiple directions inherently make it easier to determine location in 3 dinensions?

3d glasses used to view images in 3-d use this principle to work.

How can sound reaching your ears from 2 speakers produce any information on their own regarding depth?

Also , how does it work that you can locate a guy in a room playing violin say? The sound eminates in a largely omnidirectional manner and reaches your ears more like the way it does with omnis. Its not beaming directly at you alone like most speakers.

I think omnis have a unique type of 3 dimensionality. Holography is probably technically a different thing but similar in effect.

I'm still not sure holography is the same thing as transparency, which can be achieved with a variety of speaker designs as well, but I think the effects and benefits are similar as well.

Here's one of the more interesting accounts of how depth and image in sound reproduction works that I've read.

http://www.morrisonaudio.com/morrison_donsview.htmth

Sorry, here's the working url:

http://www.morrisonaudio.com/morrison_donsview.htm