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Review 5 of 11 Summary:
First of all it really does work. I bought this new around 1985 and have no intention of parting with it. Intuitively, the affect doesn't seem possible. First off it enhances the imaging in the area between the speakers, but it also can spead the imaging to the outside of the speakers - sometimes far outside. Note this is NOT the same as just inducing a broad diffusion of the sound field like Bose 901- at it's best it is very precise imaging of individual instruments and performers. Personally, I find the effect better sounding and more effective than any surround processing derived from an unencoded 2-channel source.
Speaker positioning: Although it is true that there are specific requirements for the speaker set up, I have found that less than perfect placements can work pretty well although you don't the the maximum effect. I have also found that they are not that much different from the requirements for good imaging. To the extent they differ thehr are no more difficult to achieve than the more normal placement. The most important thing is to minimize side and rear reflections. In lieu of exact placement, absorbant treatment behind the speakers will work. My best results have come from using a pair of otherwise unremarkable satellites. On the otherhand I'm now using it successfuly with a pair a Magnepan - I had not expected this combination to work due to the Maggie's dipolar nature! The position required from the listener is important, while you can't walk around the room and expect the effect to still be there you do have a little bit of lattitute and the unit does provide a setting that gives a little more leeway.
Source material: The most dramatic effects seem to come pop music mixed down from several tracks. The result is probably nothing like the engineer had in mind, but I have always found it at least as enjoyable as the unprocessed stereo. With symphonic music the initial results usually seem less dramatic- you don't, for instance, hear each violin in it's own space, but with a bit of time listening you ralize that what the C-9 lets you hear is the reflections from the walls. It is not as encompassing as DD5.1 or DTS recorded symphony but it is much more pleasing (to me) than the typical "Hall" option you get with from DSP processor.
With some sources the C-9 does absolutly nothing. My limited technical understanding is that the process relies in phase differences between channels and on the degree of sereo separation between the channels. There must be some but not too much. This is probably why pop music with complex mixing gives the most dramatic but somewhat unpredictable results.
In summary, I have never hear the C-9 do anything bad to the music. The worst case is that it doesn't do anything. C-9's appear from time to time on Ebay; usually dirt cheap $40-$60. You do need a way to patch it in to the analog line level (NOT DIGITAL!) signal path. Tape monitor loop or pre-outs on a reciever or between preamp and power amp. (Between the analog out of a CD or DVD player and a reciever should work, too.) By the way, the C-9 cicuitry is currently bult into the the Sunfire HT tuner-preamp if you are in the market for something of that caliber.
Strengths:
Creates a sound stage from 2-channel stereo that no other device I know of can duplicate. Worst case scenario is that it does no harm. Weaknesses:
No longer in production. Requires somewhat specific speaker positioning. Similar Products Used:
Nothing like it.
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4.45 of 5
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