Here’s what I remember abut SH. We get our localization of sound from the difference between sound going directly to our ear and going around our head and face and arriving at the other ear. That means 1) a time delay and 2) changes in frequency response caused by the shape of our heads and faces. Carver figured out how to invert the phase and time delay of that “wraparound“ signal, and inject it into the audio. BTW, I’ve tried comparing the Carver in bypass mode (no SH) to the straight signal in my system. I couldn’t discern any difference. I’ve been using mine for 15 years or more. Great vid!
Thanks so much for taking the time to share. I think I showed that having the C9 in the bypass mode barely effected the signal, which is what you observed as well. It is very noticeable when it works.
Great review and explanation. I enjoy the SH on my C-1. There is an LP that was sold with C-4000s that demonstrates the SH effect for those without the gear. Very compelling. Keep up the great work.
There is a digitized recording of the tracks of that LP on Thecarversite.com website. They also had a small "record" in either Audio or Stereo review that you could remove and play that demonstrated the effect. As always, I appreciate the comment and hope you receive your ET30 soon if you have not...
@@vintageaudioreview Thanks. I bought the LP with a. C-4000. I haven’t seen the speaker switch, but I’m sure it’s on the way. Thanks for your generosity.
I probably should have read from the owner's manual what Narrow vs Wide, for example, was supposed to- sorry about that but thanks for letting me know!
The C-9 is reported to be the highest volume product ever produced by Bob Carver, and also, the highest revenue generating product, ever - which is testament to the volume sold at $299 each.
Very interesting review. I didn't notice the effect much on my C-11, but I think the C-9 has a more complex circuit vs C-11/C-1. it is dependant on room shape, and speaker/listener positioning. There's a guide in the Carver literature.
Thanks for the comment and the C9 did give a few more SH options, unlike some of the the other preamps that only had and SH on button. Very dependent on music and speaker placement and room. I have that guide printed on one of the shirts that I wear in some of my videos...
Hi thank you very much for this review of a very amazing product I am confused I have always read that low crosstalk should improve soundstage And then this unit appears with high crosstalk and spectacular imaging Even holographic ! I surrender Too difficult for me to understand
Thanks so much for the question and I get the confusion. The difference is that the channels are being put in out of phase in the hopes that they will cancel out at the opposite ear. My analyzer does not take into account the phase differences, just the amplitude of the signals. Hope this helps a bit.
@@vintageaudioreview hi thank you very much for your kind reply A great 3d soundstage is the holy grail for many me included It is a very fascinating sensation kind regards gino
Hi Scott. Thanks for checking out SH effects. I'm a big Bob Carver fan and have been using SH for over 20 years. With phase coherent speakers it seems to greatly bring out the effect. I recently added a tube output DAC which on it's own adds a lot of depth to reproduction. With SH on top it is really interesting. From what I saw in the changing frequency response between a single channel driven and two channels driven, would that mean the frequency response is constantly changing while stereo music is playing? Also if a sine wave was reproduced on both channels, but offset somewhat to one side, wouldn't that greatly change the harmonic distortion measurement if out of phase signals were injected on into one of that channels measured?
Hi Thomas. I am glad you are happy with a tube DAC, but am not a big believer in tube sound vs solid state from my own experiences, but am glad you are happy with it. I think the frequency response is pretty fixed, as is the phase shifting at that frequency, because this is an analog device. The THD is pretty decent, but that is with both channels driven- it is possible it would change with one channel being larger than the other by say 3 dB- maybe I will look at that at some point.... Thanks for commenting!!
Is it meant to 'synthesize' a sound-stage when that information is missing in the recording itself, or is it meant to amplify otherwise 'occult' or inaudible information when using equipment or a set-up (speaker placement or room correction) that is not up to the challenge of mining it from the grooves or code? I have an analog system that 'throws' profound sound-stage beyond the wall boundaries when it is present, and reveals interesting effect when soundstage has been...lost, sacrificed, or martyred to some other sonic satisfaction. Mono recordings are eerily life like in scale, or present a gigantic, seamless and monolithic wall-of-sound that is, if only at first very cool.
Thanks for the thoughtful commentary. I can't comment on mono listening much except when I am just comparing the tone of one speaker to another. I would say that Sonic Holography is based on science and helps create a wider soundstage, or image if you prefer. Some may call it gimmicky. It does not work with all material, but the effect is noticeable when it does.
Seen a few around over the years pretty cheap.. Never bothered with them though! As i have a few C1's around already! (C1's HAVE the Holo in it "+" "+"
@@vintageaudioreview Yep agreed! I ALMOST/was willing to, bought a Phase Linear 400 " BOBS ProtoType" off Ebay one time! Welllll i emailed Bobs Co! They got Bob to look and he said.. NOPE, not MINE (maybe not those exact words but..)! The 400 is sentmental as it was my First "Real" amp and so it would be great to get one back and to ACTUALLY have Bobs orig proto 1 . I told them as much too! They were not happy about the listing i gathered and then.. the listing VANISHED! 🤣
@@vintageaudioreview Yea it was nice! Blew it up on New years doing a party and had to scramble to get a back up going in time for the countdown! :( I was young and needed cash and sold it as broken.. Decades later.. i regret it of course and so totally would have bought his "orig" one, and send it in for him to sign no less! IF it was legit, i would have paid! I guess the guy thought i wouldnt just.. ASK HIM, he is still around you know! Nice man! LOL
@@cumulusvapes7 I was watching an amp design video from Bob Cordell on TH-cam just the other day and he joked about the PL400's being tweeter killers when they blew.....
Here’s what I remember abut SH. We get our localization of sound from the difference between sound going directly to our ear and going around our head and face and arriving at the other ear. That means 1) a time delay and 2) changes in frequency response caused by the shape of our heads and faces. Carver figured out how to invert the phase and time delay of that “wraparound“ signal, and inject it into the audio. BTW, I’ve tried comparing the Carver in bypass mode (no SH) to the straight signal in my system. I couldn’t discern any difference. I’ve been using mine for 15 years or more. Great vid!
Thanks so much for taking the time to share. I think I showed that having the C9 in the bypass mode barely effected the signal, which is what you observed as well. It is very noticeable when it works.
@@vintageaudioreview I haven't ever switched mine off. My wife loves the effects especially with TV movies and shows.
@@nancy4don Thanks for sharing and it always nice when the wife likes audio stuff!
Great review and explanation. I enjoy the SH on my C-1. There is an LP that was sold with C-4000s that demonstrates the SH effect for those without the gear. Very compelling. Keep up the great work.
There is a digitized recording of the tracks of that LP on Thecarversite.com website. They also had a small "record" in either Audio or Stereo review that you could remove and play that demonstrated the effect. As always, I appreciate the comment and hope you receive your ET30 soon if you have not...
@@vintageaudioreview
Thanks. I bought the LP with a. C-4000.
I haven’t seen the speaker switch, but I’m sure it’s on the way. Thanks for your generosity.
@@danstein2467 Thank you for participating. I downloaded the LP files, but have never listened to them- but will.
Thanks, nice review.
I appreciate your letting me know that!
would have liked more of a detailed explanation of what it does to the sound when switched on in the different modes
I probably should have read from the owner's manual what Narrow vs Wide, for example, was supposed to- sorry about that but thanks for letting me know!
I have one and love it. Especially spectacular with my Magnepan tympani speakers.
Thanks for sharing and am happy it is working well for you with the maggies!
The C-9 is reported to be the highest volume product ever produced by Bob Carver, and also, the highest revenue generating product, ever - which is testament to the volume sold at $299 each.
I would like to install a wireless remote into mine to just switch the SH in/out... maybe one day.. Thanks for the info Andrew!
Very interesting review. I didn't notice the effect much on my C-11, but I think the C-9 has a more complex circuit vs C-11/C-1. it is dependant on room shape, and speaker/listener positioning. There's a guide in the Carver literature.
Thanks for the comment and the C9 did give a few more SH options, unlike some of the the other preamps that only had and SH on button. Very dependent on music and speaker placement and room. I have that guide printed on one of the shirts that I wear in some of my videos...
Hi thank you very much for this review of a very amazing product
I am confused I have always read that low crosstalk should improve soundstage And then this unit appears with high crosstalk and spectacular imaging Even holographic !
I surrender Too difficult for me to understand
Thanks so much for the question and I get the confusion. The difference is that the channels are being put in out of phase in the hopes that they will cancel out at the opposite ear. My analyzer does not take into account the phase differences, just the amplitude of the signals. Hope this helps a bit.
@@vintageaudioreview hi thank you very much for your kind reply
A great 3d soundstage is the holy grail for many me included It is a very fascinating sensation kind regards gino
Hi Scott. Thanks for checking out SH effects. I'm a big Bob Carver fan and have been using SH for over 20 years. With phase coherent speakers it seems to greatly bring out the effect. I recently added a tube output DAC which on it's own adds a lot of depth to reproduction. With SH on top it is really interesting. From what I saw in the changing frequency response between a single channel driven and two channels driven, would that mean the frequency response is constantly changing while stereo music is playing? Also if a sine wave was reproduced on both channels, but offset somewhat to one side, wouldn't that greatly change the harmonic distortion measurement if out of phase signals were injected on into one of that channels measured?
Hi Thomas. I am glad you are happy with a tube DAC, but am not a big believer in tube sound vs solid state from my own experiences, but am glad you are happy with it. I think the frequency response is pretty fixed, as is the phase shifting at that frequency, because this is an analog device. The THD is pretty decent, but that is with both channels driven- it is possible it would change with one channel being larger than the other by say 3 dB- maybe I will look at that at some point.... Thanks for commenting!!
Is it meant to 'synthesize' a sound-stage when that information is missing in the recording itself, or is it meant to amplify otherwise 'occult' or inaudible information when using equipment or a set-up (speaker placement or room correction) that is not up to the challenge of mining it from the grooves or code? I have an analog system that 'throws' profound sound-stage beyond the wall boundaries when it is present, and reveals interesting effect when soundstage has been...lost, sacrificed, or martyred to some other sonic satisfaction. Mono recordings are eerily life like in scale, or present a gigantic, seamless and monolithic wall-of-sound that is, if only at first very cool.
Thanks for the thoughtful commentary. I can't comment on mono listening much except when I am just comparing the tone of one speaker to another. I would say that Sonic Holography is based on science and helps create a wider soundstage, or image if you prefer. Some may call it gimmicky. It does not work with all material, but the effect is noticeable when it does.
Seen a few around over the years pretty cheap.. Never bothered with them though! As i have a few C1's around already! (C1's HAVE the Holo in it "+" "+"
Thanks for commenting- yes, no need for a c9 with a C1, which is an under appreciated preamp!
@@vintageaudioreview Yep agreed! I ALMOST/was willing to, bought a Phase Linear 400 " BOBS ProtoType" off Ebay one time! Welllll i emailed Bobs Co! They got Bob to look and he said.. NOPE, not MINE (maybe not those exact words but..)! The 400 is sentmental as it was my First "Real" amp and so it would be great to get one back and to ACTUALLY have Bobs orig proto 1 . I told them as much too! They were not happy about the listing i gathered and then.. the listing VANISHED! 🤣
@@cumulusvapes7 Great story. It would be nice to have a PL 400 in one's collection, proto or not 😁
@@vintageaudioreview Yea it was nice! Blew it up on New years doing a party and had to scramble to get a back up going in time for the countdown! :( I was young and needed cash and sold it as broken.. Decades later.. i regret it of course and so totally would have bought his "orig" one, and send it in for him to sign no less! IF it was legit, i would have paid! I guess the guy thought i wouldnt just.. ASK HIM, he is still around you know! Nice man! LOL
@@cumulusvapes7 I was watching an amp design video from Bob Cordell on TH-cam just the other day and he joked about the PL400's being tweeter killers when they blew.....