[grsimmon]

Not sure what circle to put this in, but here goes:

I'm a long time music lover and "gear enthusiast" and I have always lived happily with 2 channel stereo recordings on cd. I've recently become more interested in pursuing 3 channel listening by adding a center channel.  But how?   Yes I know one way is to pursue all my titles on SACD,  and someday I hope to do so.  But for now most of my titles are on redbook CD.

I know there is (or at least was) a preamp from McCormack that could take 2 channel and output 3-5 channels, I think it's MAP-1 preamp with their "ambience retrieval."   It's all analog,  no digital conversion/processing.  Conrad-Johnson had a similar unit that was tube based.

Are there other analog-based solutions out there?

If not,  what kind of digital processing / processor / preamp (?) would I need to use to feed a 3 channel amp?  I've heard people mention DTS but I have no idea what that is or if it would work.  Or do the new-fangled Oppos have a "downmix"  feature that would accomplish what I'm after? etc. etc.

Thanks for any answers and suggestions!

[G Georgopoulos]

to do it the analog way,get a two way mixer,the output of the mixer is your third channel...

[Rocket_Ronny]

This is the best way to go to 3 channel audio that I know of.

http://www.sst.audio/trinaural/

Personally, I don't know why you would want to do so, as a well set up 2 channel offers spectacular results. Have not heard the trinaural system so I don't know what I am missing. Happily ignorant.

Rocket_Ronny

[raindance]

I did some experimenting years ago to create an ambience channel by taking the out of phase component from the front and amplifying it and sending it to a rear speaker. On some recordings the results were interesting. On others,  not so much.

The signal comes from the speaker positive outputs and has to be padded down and fed to an amp with a volume control to adjust the "effect".

On certain recordings,  where an instrument was captured with phase inversion on one channel,  a whole new instrument shows up,  but it's behind you. On other recordings you get a lot of room reverb effect.

[FullRangeMan]

Not sure what circle to put this in, but here goes:

I'm a long time music lover and "gear enthusiast" and I have always lived happily with 2 channel stereo recordings on cd. I've recently become more interested in pursuing 3 channel listening by adding a center channel.  But how?   Yes I know one way is to pursue all my titles on SACD,  and someday I hope to do so.  But for now most of my titles are on redbook CD.

I know there is (or at least was) a preamp from McCormack that could take 2 channel and output 3-5 channels, I think it's MAP-1 preamp with their "ambience retrieval."   It's all analog,  no digital conversion/processing.  Conrad-Johnson had a similar unit that was tube based.

Are there other analog-based solutions out there?

If not,  what kind of digital processing / processor / preamp (?) would I need to use to feed a 3 channel amp?  I've heard people mention DTS but I have no idea what that is or if it would work.  Or do the new-fangled Oppos have a "downmix"  feature that would accomplish what I'm after? etc. etc.

Thanks for any answers and suggestions!

You can do it in an 2 channel power amp or in a preamp.
Let say it is in the preamp:
You will need 1 mono power amp, 1 loudspeaker and 1 IC.

You should connect both outputs Left+Right in this 3º power amp + speaker cable to the 3º speaker.
Easy.

OBS.: If the preamp have sub output better yet.

[mresseguie]

In my HT system in our family room in Oregon I sometimes used the 'all stereo' function on my HT processor. I typically did it for parties or when my wife requested it. The center channel is more efficient, so there was a noticeable boost in whole room sound. I found it pleasant, but we were not attempting any sort of critical listening.