According to the company, unlike virtual surround systems, which employ psycho-acoustic techniques to simulate a surround sound effect, the Digital Sound Projector (dSP) produces genuine surround sound from a single loudspeaker. Using patented digital technology, derived from research in the fields of SONAR and RADAR design, the Digital Sound Projector produces multiple steerable sound beams that are ‘bounced’ off the walls and ceiling towards the listening area. The current version of the Digital Sound Projector uses 254 tiny, individually driven transducers in a precisely arranged array. The Projector’s computers deliver a unique signal to each transducer, whose emissions combine to form a ‘focal point’ for each channel. The effect is akin to having a separate big focusable transducer for each channel, all at the same place, but pointing in different, controllable directions
. Huge computing power allows the user to manipulate the multiple channels of sound according to taste. A simple, menu driven, user interface enables the listener to easily adjust key parameters. The trajectory of each sound beam can be easily altered to suit different room geometries and layouts. Equalization and volume control can be adjusted on each separate channel to suit listener preferences. The focal point of the sound beam can also be adjusted to control dispersion.
All of the processing and amplification electronics are contained within the Digital Sound Projector, which can be free standing, wall mounted or built-in according to need. The technology is capable of accommodating all existing and future sound formats and any number of channels - the latest version offers multi-channel digital decoding for Dolby Digital and DTS and can reproduce up to eight channels of sound. Three optical S/P-DIF inputs are provided, as well as two auxiliary analogue stereo inputs. Dolby Prologic II processing is provided for stereo sources.
(Ruth Rossington)
