However, if the input to the decoder consists of uncorrelated left and right channels to
which an unrelated center channel has been added
Ain = Lin + .71*Cin
Bin = Rin + .71*Cin
then as the level of Cin increases relative to Lin and Rin the C component of the L and R
front outputs of the decoder is not completely eliminated unless Cin is large compared to
Lin and Rin. In general there is a bit of Cin left in the L and R front outputs. What does a
listener hear?
There are two ways of calculating what a listener hears. If a listener is EXAXTLY
equidistant from the Left, Right, and Center speakers they will hear the sum of the sound
pressures from each speaker. This is equivalent to summing the three front outputs.
Under these conditions it is easy to show that ANY reduction of the center component of
the left and right speakers will result in a net loss of sound pressure from the center
component, regardless of the amplitude of the center speaker. This is because the center
speaker is always derived from the sum of the A and B inputs, and as its amplitude is
raised the amplitude of the Lin and Rin signals must rise along with the amplitude of the
Cin signal.
However if the listener is not equidistant from each speaker, the listener is much more
likely to hear the sum of the sound power from each speaker, which is equivalent to the
sum of the squares of the three front outputs. In fact, extensive listening has shown that in
fact the sum of the powers of ALL the speakers is actually what is important, so we must
consider the sum of the squares of all the outputs of the decoder, including the rear
outputs.
If we want to design the matrix so the ratio of the amplitudes of Lin, Rin, and Cin are
preserved when switching between stereo reproduction and matrix reproduction, the
sound power of the Cin component from the center output must rise in exact proportion
to the reduction in its sound power from the left and right outputs, and its reduction in the
rear outputs. An additional complication is that the left and right front outputs have the
level boost of up to 3dB described above. This will cause the center to need to be
somewhat louder to keep the ratios constant. We can write this requirement as a set of
equations for the sound power. These equations can be solved for the gain function we
need for the center speaker.