Professor Edgar Choueiri is Director of Princeton’s Electric Propulsion and Plasma Dynamics Laboratory and the 3D Audio and Applied Acoustics.
Info on BACCH https://www.theoretica.us
Twitter: @AudiophiliacMan
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#BACCH #spatialaudio #audiophile
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amazing
Sounds like an audio novelty gimmick. He should sell whoopee cushions too.
Q Sound?
A fascinating video, thanks Steve.
I heard the processor demonstrated by the Professor at AXPONA in April via the Janszen Active speakers, which I once owned and used in my present listening room. I sat in several spots, including the optimum one. The effect is VERY strong on Chesky CDs recorded binaurally. It was disastrous on Reference Recordings Rutter Requiem, detrimental on three-omni-mike recordings like Telarc, so-so on other discs. The professor refused to demo it with other Chesky discs which he did not have a part in recording. Generally, I'd say that on programs the professor says benefit most from the proccess–the Chesky binaural series he was involved in–the subjective result is more surreal/funhouse than real. One NEVER hears the kind of spatial effects live that this system extracts from Chesky Binaural recordings.
The speakers shown in the video are probably Sanders hybrid electrostatics, but they look very odd. The woofer grill covers are off and turned backwards/inside out. The panel has something right behind it besides the curtains. I have these speakers in my room with the back wave heavily damped. Believe me, in my room, as I have them set up and heard from the nearfield, these speakers don't need any help in the staging/imaging department.
While the "box" hardware is very expensive, if you already have a Mac computer, the BACCH$mac software for Mac computers is "only" $6,000 or so.
I've used several crosstalk cancellation systems in the past and always eventually abandoned them due to (1) the tonal colorations they necessarily introduced and (2) the "phasey" tugging at your ears effect they also produced. Where BACCH excels is providing the spatial effects of crosstalk cancellation totally without these problems. However, BACCH's downsides are $$$ and the quite variable results from recording to recording, where the recordings the designer deems "best" produce such strong effects that no one could honestly say the effects are realistic.
Dear Edgar, buying your BACCH-system was the best investment in my audio gear. Enjoy it every day! I truly recommend it to every audiophile.
wow
As a counterpoint, a segment on mono would be interesting. This is great. I wish the interview was longer and more detailed.
Fascinating interview. My simple mind however wonders how this tech can assemble a 3D image from recordings that preceded and didn’t use a similar tech during recording. Wouldn’t you need the recording and playback to utilize the tech for the desired result?
Delightful interview. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
I had, literally, the pleasure of hearing the Bacch system at High End 22 in Munich….absolutely and by far the most realistic musically reproduction I ever heard…really amazing. I could also talk to Dr. Choueiri, who was very kind of explaining the technology and concepts behind the Bacch, allowing me to record our conversation. An audiophile friend from Brazil reached Dr. Choueiri based on my report of the show, and acquired the Bacch processor ! Needless to say He is very satisfied with the amazing performance…certainly is in my wish list…
Yes I want to be able to distinguish the spaciousness of each instrument and player exactly the same as it was in the recordings down to the inch.. idk this just seems kinda silly like when is enough enough of when does it go to far. I’m just being rude don’t pay any attention to me. I bet it’s cool to be able to notice appreciate afford and have the experience and want to strive for something like
This.
So, just to get this straight, those that swear by the superiority of analog, are going to employ a digital filter to improve their listening experience?
I think that's the technology that Polk Audio uses in their Legend 800 series speakers.
Awesome!
My Bose auto stereo has an AMBIENCE option or feature that really adds dimension and space .
Very informative
Wow. The Professor is riveting. Fascinating gentleman
This is facinating Steve!
Would you say this is a blend of Q-Sound (from 1970's) and today's home theater Atmos, but using only two speakers?
Q-Sound was amazing (Madonna) but never really caught on – I think it was ahead of its time.
We live in a 3D world now. – Cheers!
Didn't Smyth Research already build something like this for the A8 Realiser? It also measured the HRTF of your head/ears. I crowdfunded the A16 16 channel version.. still waiting for it 🙁
So Steve, what do you really think? Is something like BACCH the future of audiophile recordings and listening? How does it compare to some of the other attempts people mention in the comments?
Great, Great explanation. Thanks Steve
what speaker is he using? is that an electrostat?
Very cool to hear from a great influence on spatial sound. In 72 the first system I bought with my first wage was a Dynatron Quadrophonic record player, tuner and 4 speakers. The sound they reproduced even with stereo 2 channel recordings has influenced my listening experiences ever since. I was thrilled when you mentioned Fox Talbot who makes an appearance in my family tree. To this day I still seek out spatial, dispersed sound. Here's to the future success of 3D reproduced sound.
3D ….riiight…..
Most people haven’t set the speakers to the correct positioning to get current decent soundstage and imaging..ffs 🤦♂️
Would be nice to see the price come down on this so he can better penetrate the market with this software product. In would think it would reach a lot more audiophiles if it were price at $2-3 K. Would probably make more money as well. As it stands now it's a niche of a niche product. It has not been reviewed in any formal sense to see exactly what it's doing. Just some testimonials from a handful of folks, and a $6k price tag.
I've been an audiophile for over 45 years and bought a lot of things, but given where this product stands (been on the market for 5 years now and almost no one has it, and it's been thinly reviewed by puff piece reviewers) I would definitely hesitate to bite on this, though it's promise is indeed seductive.
I'm persuadable, but I definitely would need a lot more to go on than something like this interview.
Kudos to you sir. A software version that doesn't colour the signal is ground breaking. Can't wait to hear this through my headphones.
Interaural crosstalk cancellation was the basis for Carvers Sonic Holography preamp. You can pick one up for a few hundred bucks on eBay. Nothing new here.
Very interesting video, thanks!
Hey Edgar do you remember me Sami Debs we grew up together back home!
Steve are you now convinced to advice to use DSP as a possible solution for roommodes.
That thoughtful man is there at Princeton for a reason while I am not. That explains why I did not understand everything of what he said.
Where can I here some samples?
@SteveGuttenberg you got a scammer on the channel
Hey everybody, beware there is a fake Steve Guttenberg offering free gifts! DON’T fall for it!!!
OMG this was basically a desert island disc situation and the kid had only the meanest hard-bop, the ensemble was led by an addict, & the session was recorded by Rudy van Gelder – correct?
Wow, very interesting .