Yamaha RP-U100, Owner'S Manual

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Virtual 3D
Surround sound typically requires
several speakers situated in front of
and behind the listening position,
which requires a substantial amount
of space that may not always be
available. The RP-U100 uses
Yamaha’s unique “Virtual 3D” tech-
nology to simulate a typical
surround sound system using only
two speakers. Virtual 3D, which is used by the RP-U100’s sound field programs, simulates
the surround effect provided by rear and center speakers, creating “virtual” surround
speakers, as shown, so even with only two front speakers, you can still enjoy surround
sound.
Digital Sound Field Processing (DSP)
When you listen to a performance in a concert hall, jazz club, or other live music venue,
you not only hear the direct sound coming from the musical instruments and singers, but
also the “early reflections” and natural reverberation. Early reflections are the initial
sound waves that bounce off the floor, ceiling, and walls. Natural reverberation is made
up of sound waves that gradually attenuate as they bounce repeatedly off multiple
surfaces.
Since the way you hear early reflections and reverberation depends on the shape and size
of the building as well as the material and construction of the walls and ceiling, each venue
has its own unique “sound,” called its “sound field.” At Yamaha, we have measured all the
elements that make up a typical sound field—direction and level of the reflections, band-
width characteristics, and delay times—at famous concert halls and opera houses around
the world. The information gained in this process has been converted into programs that
can be reproduced using Yamaha’s DSP technology. Using its on-board DSP, the RP-U100
can process any audio source and recreate the atmosphere of the original venue.
L C R
RL RR
L C R
RL RR
Typical surround system Virtual 3D
Virtual
speakers
Direct sound
Reverberation
Early sound
reflections
Early sound
reflections