2. amps-preamps
  3. 149715-101473

So this is probably a really stupid question!

My integrated tube unit recently came upon some trouble. Left speaker tweeter has horrible screech. Changed position of speakers and stayed on left. Swapped all tubes and stayed on left. New speaker cables and stayed on left. Need to bring to local guy to look at but haven't got there yet. 

In the interim I take my 15 year old iPod and connect into DVD input with a splitter cable. Then unplug left speaker cable and rotate balance to the right. 

So now it seems like I am hearing all the sound that was meant to be heard coming out of one speaker. Not quite as dynamic but actually pretty soothing hearing it come from 1 point of reference. No screech. All instruments and voices seem to be there though certainly not as engrossing.

Even my wife finds the sound less overwhelming.  I suspect this question has been answered decades ago and I am doofus for asking but why can't modern sounding equipment reproduce near stereo sound out of one speaker. 

It would be much easier in many circumstances to position 1 speaker in your listening environment let alone test and purchase.

Again my apologies for being uninformed. Tried to research but didn't find any help. As they say "You only know what you know". 

Thanks, Rich
ricmci
Post removed 
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 
Um... so you're happy with switching off the left speaker and with it, the left channel part of the recording? Then leave it like that. If you have a mono button on your amp, turn it on. That way you'll get both channels through the one right speaker. Otherwise, get the amp repaired and endure both channels. Or get rid of it and buy a Sonos etc.

bignamehere
56 posts
 
OP, if your question is why can’t we create a single speaker that creates stereo like sound?

my “lay” answer would be because stereo effect happens when the sound is coming from at least 2 different physical locations. So a single speaker alone cannot do that. BUT, my hypothesis is that if a single speaker PLUS a room capable of isolating and reflecting sound, then a single speaker could theoretically bounce a sound of the walls. But here is the issue... sound waves coming directly at the listener would most likely hit the listener’s ear before the reflected sound. Anyway, I could be WAY off but it was fun to think about.

I’d love to hear an answer from a sound engineer or anyone with actual scientific knowledge about the topic... unlike me. 😊
Post removed 
Post removed 
More to discover