A Surround Speaker With Exceptional Sound
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Ambient [Dipole] Surround Speaker
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There are people on both the originating and the enjoying ends of Home
Theater sound who believe that the two speakers used for the side/rear
"surround envelope" ought to create a soundfield in which diffusion of the
surround effect is far more prominent than localization of directional
effects. This diffusion-over-localization approach has special pertinence
for conventional Dolby "Pro-Logic" surround sound, in which the side/rear
channel is monophonic rather than stereophonic — carrying no left-right
cues to localize in the first place. And even in the fully stereophonic
surround mode of "Dolby Digital" (AC-3) releases, a substantial number of
people like diffuse rather than precisely localized sound from the side/rear
speakers.
Conventional speakers designed for those who favor diffuse-field sound on
the surround channel use a "dipole" design, in which speakers placed to the
side of listeners radiate not directly at the listening area but to the
front and back of it via identical drivers that operate out of phase
with each other to produce a "null" directly to their sides. But when Paul
Barton focused on designing dipole speakers for diffuse-field sound, he
did not feel comfortable with the bass dissipation that could ensue from
having woofers operating out of phase with each other. He felt, first of
all, that even though there is not significant bass on the mono surround
channel, there is too great a sonic weight loss (and power loss) from
operating dipoles out of phase across the entire range. And he also
questioned the ultimate usefulness of the design for those who might decide
to move up to (or choose from the outset) Dolby Digital, with its wide-range
stereophonic surround channels. Paul does not like designs that have
potential obsolescence built in.
So the surround speaker Paul designed is a "quasi-dipole" system that
works out of phase at mid/high frequencies but in phase as you go down
the frequency scale. This gives a fine combination of diffuse but nicely
weighty sound on Pro-Logic recordings and impressive results on AC-3. It is
an elegant design that sounds as good in the listening as it does on paper.
Our diffuse-field surround is designed to deliver open, spacious,
well-defined sound.from positions on the wall to the sides or rear of the
Home Theater listening area. It is a solid but unobtrusive speaker that
comes in a choice of white or black, and is easy to mount with the brackets
we supply.
The Ambient I
The smaller Ambient I uses two 4-1/2-inch woofers in each enclosure and two
10 mm poly-flare tweeters in each. Its frequency range is
weighty for a surround speaker, going down to 80 Hz, and its sensitivity is high — making it easy to produce satisfying amounts of sound from
moderate-powered equipment. It is at its best in smaller rooms, where diffusion makes for a larger sonic spread, and its small dimensions and light weight make it an easy
fit in areas where larger surrounds might be too much.
The Ambient system design creates a convincing "surround bubble" and the
spaciousness needed for satisfying Home Theater ambiance. Whether your
choice for the surround effect in your living room is is the Ambient or one of
our direct radiators (people happily use everything from our Alpha Mites to
our Stratus Minis — and sometimes beyond — as direct-radiating surrounds),
you will experience the uncolored, lifelike accuracy on which the PSB
reputation rests. You will also find such a close timbral match among all
our wide-range speakers that you never have to worry about source-shift or
other distractions. With the Ambient as with our other speakers, Home
Theater is the moving, high-impact experience it can be in your living room.
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| Specifications: Ambient I |
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| Frequency Range | 80-20,000 Hz |
| Frequency Response (on axis; 0°) | Null at 90° |
| Sound Power Response | 85-10,000Hz ±3dB |
| Low Frequency Cutoff (-10 dB) | 70 Hz |
| Nominal Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Minimum Impedance | 6 ohms |
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88 dB
90 dB |
| Power Handling | 75 Watts Program |
| Power Range2 | 10 W - 50 W |
| Tweeter | .4" (10 mm) Poly-flare
dome/Ferrofluid |
| Woofer | 2 x 4.50" (114 mm),
polypropylene |
| Crossover1 | 3000 Hz B3 |
| Design Type | Quasi Dipole |
| Cabinet Dim. (W x H x D) | 8.75" x 8.50" x 6.25"
(223 x 216 x 159 mm) |
| Net Weight, each | 6 lbs (2.7 Kg) |
| Shipping Weight | 13 lbs/pair (5.9 Kg) |
| Finish | Black Oak or White |
| Features | Mounting Hardware Incl. |
| U.S. Suggested Price | $349/pair |
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