Home Stereo Fader?

A

articulate

New Member
Hello all,

We're of course all familiar with the fader control on our car stereos – but why is there not one for home systems?

My system sounds best with all four speakers on, but I can imagine how much better still it would be if I could back off one of the pairs by half or so. (I prefer my Pioneers over my Bose – but the Bose DO add a warm midrange to the mix.)

Is there a piece of equipment that I'm just not aware of that can fade out the secondary speakers while leaving the primaries alone?
 
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There are likely several reasons why there aren't more home stereo faders.

The biggest reason is power; a car stereo fader can handle a few watts, but one for home use would have to be considerably beefier.

Another reason is that, historically, few people had more than a pair of speakers in their setup. That said, speaker selectors with level controls do exist; look for brands like Russound, Niles, Sonance or Speakercraft.

Happy trails,
Larry B.
 
Sure there is. Canton Connect 50, made by Canton in the 1970s to match Braun receivers. Switches between 4 speaker systems, system 1 can work together with 2, 3 or 4, and there are volume controls that reduce volume of systems 2-4, but do not affect system 1. It even has headphone output (via resistors), perfect for amps that don't have one. Completely passive, of course. I have one of these, very handy indeed, if you don't mind DIN plugs.

Not easy to find though.

canton-connect-50-02.jpg


canton-connect-50-03.jpg
 
articulate said:
Hello all,

We're of course all familiar with the fader control on our car stereos – but why is there not one for home systems?

My system sounds best with all four speakers on, but I can imagine how much better still it would be if I could back off one of the pairs by half or so. (I prefer my Pioneers over my Bose – but the Bose DO add a warm midrange to the mix.)

Is there a piece of equipment that I'm just not aware of that can fade out the secondary speakers while leaving the primaries alone?
Click to expand...

The reason for the lack of fader controls on home stereo gear is simple. Running four speakers for stereo is something that most of us simply don't do.

Running four speakers for stereo is not conducive to a soundstage. The whole point for having stereo is to have a soundstage.
 
JoeESP9 said:
The reason for the lack of fader controls on home stereo gear is simple. Running four speakers for stereo is something that most of us simply don't do.

Running four speakers for stereo is not conducive to a soundstage. The whole point for having stereo is to have a soundstage.
Click to expand...

I suppose he can still get a soundstage if he stacks the A and B speakers up front rather than using them for a sort of redneck surround system.

But you're right, most people aren't using B speakers as a reinforcement for the A pair.
 
"Is there a piece of equipment that I'm just not aware of that can fade out the secondary speakers while leaving the primaries alone?"
----------------------

Yes...there is!
I used a cheap RS L-Pad to reduce the volume of some rear speakers I used with an old stereo amp to add presence when watching movies. It worked perfectly. I was using a 100 wpc amp with this unit with no problems. I also used a 25w L-pad to control the volume of "B" speakers from a Realistic 45 wpc receiver in my kitchen with the same results.

There are also some speaker switch boxes I've seen with volume controls.
 
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chicks said:
Remember Dynaco? David Hafler, the "H" in THX, pioneered rear ambiance extraction using a very simple circuit. You might be able to find a Dynaco Quadaptor, which has level adjustment for the rear speakers.

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/899/decoder.htm
Click to expand...

Remember you say, I built one when they were the "new" thing. That box is in the closet with the Carver C-9, Omnisonix imager, DBX 3BX and other assorted devices I haven't used in years.
 
Will S. said:
I suppose he can still get a soundstage if he stacks the A and B speakers up front rather than using them for a sort of redneck surround system.

But you're right, most people aren't using B speakers as a reinforcement for the A pair.
Click to expand...

I should have explained... No, it's not a surround system, and I'm not trying to replicate one either. I had an older pair of Bose, then purchased some new Pioneers. They're sitting next to one another (left Pioneer/Bose on one side and right Pioneer/Bose on the other). Never really intended to run all four at the offset.

The Pioneers sound very nice on their own. But just for kicks, before I disconnected them, I decided to add in the Bose. Low and behold, they actually added something – a very rich midrange. For the couple of months I've had all four hooked up, I'll try each album with only the Pioneers, and they sound very, very good. But I ultimately wind up preferring the Bose added in.

Keep thinking though, that if I could back off the Bose volume by about half, the mix would be much more pleasant. That's what prompted my question.

Please know guys – I'm not an audiophile. Not yet, anyway! I'm a music lover and a stereo buff from way back, but still have much to learn about proper soundstage and so forth. Brace yourselves for plenty of "stereo 101" questions!
 
chicks said:
Remember Dynaco? David Hafler, the "H" in THX, pioneered rear ambiance extraction using a very simple circuit. You might be able to find a Dynaco Quadaptor, which has level adjustment for the rear speakers.

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/899/decoder.htm
Click to expand...

Small, but important point of clarification:

It is my understanding that THX was named after Tomlinson Holman, with the X standing for "Experience" or "Crossover", depending on what you reference. Have never seen Hafler associated with THX.
 
Would a speaker switching box with volume controls for each pair of speakers work? Russound and Niles make these.
 
JoeESP9 said:
The reason for the lack of fader controls on home stereo gear is simple. Running four speakers for stereo is something that most of us simply don't do.

Running four speakers for stereo is not conducive to a soundstage. The whole point for having stereo is to have a soundstage.
Click to expand...

#1 "The whole point for having stereo is to have a soundstage."

I thought the whole point of having Stereo is to relax and enjoy whatever you have and how it sounds!:thmbsp:

#2 "Running four speakers for stereo is something that most of us simply don't do."

Who or what said this? Lot's of us have four or even more speakers!:thmbsp:
 
BOUXY said:
#1 "The whole point for having stereo is to have a soundstage."

I thought the whole point of having Stereo is to relax and enjoy whatever you have and how it sounds!:thmbsp:

#2 "Running four speakers for stereo is something that most of us simply don't do."

Who or what said this? Lot's of us have four or even more speakers!:thmbsp:
Click to expand...

Yes, you may have a boatload of speakers. How many do you run simultaneously?:smoke:

In any case, enjoying the reproduction of sound has nothing to do with stereo.:scratch2:

Give me one good reason for having more than one speaker if some sort of soundstage (BTW, imaging is an integral part of a soundstage) is not what your trying to get.:D

Following up on the stereo, sound stage, number of speakers thing; It's pretty much commonly accepted and acknowledged that two speakers in front of the listener is the best way to reproduce what's on a stereo recording. Ambience enhancers and extractors are not in question here. They are effectively surround sound/ambience extractors/synthesizers and that's not what the OP is posting about.

If the OP is running dissimilar pairs of speakers up front that's his prerogative. I however, have never heard that sort of setup sound very good. There are phasing, timing, differing dispersion characteristics, frequency response and spectral balance issues that make all the dissimilar setups I've heard relatively underwhelming, if not downright unpleasant.

If it wasn't mixed for surround/MC it was mixed for two channel stereo. Liking what you like and want doesn't change the facts.
 
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