Testimonials

Testimonials

The Absolute Sound -- Issue 114

   "A second musically intriguing spatial demo used only tow channels, but in a special way. This was the Ambiophonics of Ralph Glasgal, exhibited with specially adapted speakers from Roger West. The idea is to use an acoustic barrier extending forward from the listener, separating the left speaker from the right ear and vice versa. Glasgal added to this basic idea some electronic processing. And the result is spectacularly convincing. And any demo that features Turandot and Marion Anderson signing Schubert has a lot going for it already. In addition to the spatial effect, West's speakers were producing their accustomed beautiful sounds."

Positive Feedback -- Vol. 7, No. 4

    "ECHO BUSTERS Reality Buster, an accessory only a mother could love. The RB (for short) is a 5' x 4' x 5" acoustically absorptive foldout panel that rolls on casters into place in from of your face with only inches to spare, performing the vital and novel function of interaural separation. Incredible, what the RB teaches about sonic reality! Apart from some inconvenience and the hilarity it may provoke among non-audiophile acquaintances – not to mention whatever reaction your spouse may drum up – this device is truly revolutionary. At only $549, whoever can tolerate one should lose no time acquiring it, to become informed of possibilities hithertofore unknown inn the audio realm. The most realistic system I've ever heard, Ralph Glasgal's employed one such, but larger — a word to the experimentally minded-wise. Echo Busters also market a wide range of room-tuning products as yet unheard hereabouts."

Positive Feedback -- Vol. 7, No. 6 (by Dave Glackin)

   "The Best High-End Surround Sound Concept in the show could be found in the Ambiosonics Institute room, as developed by Ralph Glasgal. It used ten Sound Lab loudspeakers of various kinds, in various positions around the listener, some tilted against the walls. Standing in a specific spot in front of a small video monitor, you watched a DVD of the Three Tenors, while the Ambiosonics system handled the sound. The reproduction was quite riveting, and bears some research (Glasgal and Keith Yates published a book in 1995 to further just that)."

Hi-Fi News and Record Review -- Sept. 1999

Excerpted from LA Confidential. Article by Ken Kessler.

   "Another interesting methodology (rather than an actual format) was the Ambiophonics; Institute's demonstration of 'Stereo Dipole' surround sound, which consisted of two speakers so close together as to suggest monophonic operation. But sit in the hot seat, and you had sound everywhere, in a form of 'super 3D'. I'm still incredulous. Do yourself a favor and visit their web site for a detailed discourse, which would otherwise fill this report. You won't regret it."

From Robert Morein. Post to lists.uoregon.edu. June 28, 1999

   "I paid a visit to Ralph Glasgal's place yesterday. What follows is an unpaid-for endorsement.

   "I experienced the finest sound reproduction I have ever experienced in Ralph's Primary system, which uses a mechangical barrier and parabolic electrostats to project virtual line sources at the listener. But more to the point, Ralph has a small setup consisting of six Radio Shack LX-5's. A pair of LX-5' spaced close together form the stereo dipole. The material was off-line processed for crosstalk cancellation by a member of this list.

   "The concept of the physical barrier has evangelistic difficulties. It does usefully serve to demonstrate that comb effects and crosstalk are perhaps the most significant problems in the reproduction chain.

   "The smaller system demonstrates that timbre and spatiality can be correctly reproduced by the stereo dipole without a mechanical barrier. My previous experiences with the dipole concept, in consumer devices such as a Proscan TV and the Carver C-9 "Sonic Holography Generator", had lead me to expect phasiness and timbre problems that were actually implementation defects. The clean sound of a stereo dipole optimally implemented in off-line software was a revelation to me.

   "I strongly suggest to the rest of you on the list -- hie thee ASAP to Ralph's place -- it' the IMAX of audiophilia.

   "Ralph, if you want any more glowing remarks, you're going to have to pay me!"

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