Passive ambience recovery system for the reproduction of sound

Claim 1

A multi-channel audio system for producing L and R stereo signals from an audio source for reception by a listening site proximate the audio source, the system comprising: first and second speakers arranged in horizontal spaced relation to one another and facing substantially toward the listening site, each speaker producing and directing one of said L and R signals toward the listening site; third and fourth speakers positioned in front of said first and second speakers, first means for transmitting one of said L and R signals to one of said third and fourth speakers, and second means for transmitting the other of said L and R signals to the other of said third and fourth speakers, one of said L and R signals being transmitted in-phase relation to said third and fourth speakers and the other of said L and R signals being transmitted in out-of-phase relation to said third and fourth speakers to produce a first sound from an out-of-phase signal; one of said third and fourth speakers directing the sound produced by said in-phase signals at right angles to the sound produced by said out-of-phase signals and directed by the other of said third and fourth speakers; at least a fifth speaker, the fifth speaker being located behind the listening site and facing away from the listening site, the fifth speaker being connected out-of-phase with the first and second speakers to produce a second sound from an out-of-phase signal; a first sound-reflective surface facing the first, second and fifth speakers for reflecting the sound produced therefrom; a second sound-reflective surface oriented at right angles to said first sound-reflective surface and being faced by one of the third and fourth speakers for reflecting the sound produced by said first out-of-phase signal; and a third sound-reflective surface, perpendicular to the first and second sound-reflective surfaces and being faced by the other of the third and fourth speakers for reflecting the sound produced therefrom; whereby at least five different signals are produced and directed by said first, second, third, fourth and fifth speakers from different locations and arrive at the listening site at spaced time intervals with respect to one another.