The Sennheiser Surrounder
You may have seen it mentioned in my update video the other week, and I was tired of tripping over it, so I've finally made my video about the Sennheiser Surrounder
In this video I talk (and then talk some more) about it. Yes it's a bit overly verbose this one, all talk and no action. However with an object that just sits there looking like a backward toilet seat or perhaps something you'd wear in a Gurning Competition (look it up)... I was left doing all the work.
Anyway for better or worse, the video is done now and the Surrounder has been sent to the storage locker.
I'll be in my garage this afternoon shooting the to-camera segments for the week-after-next's video, so I'll have to check in here later to see how everyone is getting on.
RetroTech: Sennheiser Surrounder - 1999’s bizarre personal surround sound system (YouTube)
Comments (54)
It appears even the best companies will have a Doctor Frankenstein on their staff. Ridiculous and wonderful... thanks for sharing that, Mat.
Now I know why only Rick Gervais could come up with those bathtub selfies: he watched (or probably participated in) Gurning Competitions.
I had the Bone Fone - and I had quietly forgotten about it until you mentioned it here. It was supposed to conduct the (mono) audio into your skeleton frame to provide a more ‘intense’ experience. It was carp, and the last ever time I embraced done conduction audio... until now. As a spectacle wearer, I like the idea and I’ve funded a soon-to-be-delivered pair of specks called ‘Vue’ that promise AirPod stereo conductivity into your skull - hopefully this might just be more successful!
I did look up Gurning Competition. The fact that the horse collar takes a necessary part is interesting. Perhaps picture frames were too valuable for such silliness.
It's a very weird thing that very few people in the UK are aware of - but it just stuck in the mind at an early age after seeing it on some local TV show. I don't really understand the horse collar either - it's really just a face pulling competition that's best if you have no teeth.
I have the Sennheiser DSP Pro (using Dolby Pro Logic) processor that came with my HD580s. You have to spend some time fidgeting with settings to get the best sound for your ears and headphones....but when you do have it setup, it's the most convincing headphone surround sound I've heard (and I imagine the dynamics are better from the HD580/HD6xxx headphones then coming from the Surrounder). While using it with good quality headphones, you do get a sense of sound coming from front and back...something I haven't found with Dolby Atmos Headphone DSP with my current computers.
I had read positive things about it, so it's good to hear that. I can't see myself using it again though, it's just too inconvenient to set up.
I have an old pair of quad headphones I’ve never been able to test. I wonder is the DSP Pro would work well with them.
If they have individual inputs for the four speakers it could do.
I'm picturing the puppets having a go at this!!!!
Definitely need to make a mini version for one of the puppets to wear.
The little "Batman" bump was very well done and entertaining. I suspect it was a ton of work for 2 seconds of video, but well-done.
It could double-up as a sound system for a mobility scooter
Well, look at the bright side. If you use the Surrounder for a few hours, you can then turn it 180 degrees and wear it as a cervical collar.
Wow, can just imagine this together with an N64 (GoldenEye had Dolby Surround, right?) Edit - No, but Perfect Dark and a lot of other 'RARE' published games did!
Hi Mat, great video as always. Loving seeing my name at the end. Amused that it is on one of the few things you review that I don't have a "want one" feeling afterwards.
btw, I think the material of construction for the Surrounder is EXPANDED polystyrene. Polystyrene is a hard plastic - probably used for the DSP Pro case.
Oh in the uk this material just commonly referred to as polystyrene. Like polystyrene packaging. It’s one of those innacurate usage of a word that has entered into common usage perhaps because its too long to say the full version...like Compact Cassette.
Robbed! I'd loved to seen you gurn with it! I've been to a few gurning competitions and they were all great (before I moved to swampy Norfolk). For a bit a light relief, get the puppets to do a gurning skit! Regards, Kelvin
Unfortunately the size of the speaker means it just doesn't scale down well for a puppet sketch - it's like a hula hoop to them.
What's that snippet of music at 6:10? It was used in the LaserDock video too. TIA! :-)
The tune is 'Beat your Competition' from Vibe Tracks and can be found in the Youtube Audio Library. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music</a>
In case this is helpful for future videos: the focus seemed slightly off in the couch setting, with the sharpest object being the wall rather than your face.
Apologies for any slightly out of focus sections in this video - this was only spotted in editing by which time it was already too late. I'd been using the spot focus for something off to one side in an earlier shot and hadn't reset it.
The adjustment for "ear shape" is hilarious. What a strange device. Perhaps it would be most useful as part of a makeshift Halloween costume! Your 360 spin transition at 01:09 was awesome.
"Ear shape" is perhaps not the best description. What they probably mean is the HRTF or "Head Related Transfer Function". Making that adjustable is a reasonable approach, especially since the DSP could also be used with regular headphones.
I really like the end comments that you did on this video and on another recent one. It keeps me watching through the end credits. Great idea!
What a hilarious device, unbelievable that it came from Sennheiser. Love the sound effect at 1:09 that remembers me of “Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed” ;-)
I looked into using the Wonder Woman spinning sound transformation effect but found out to my surprise that it was just a couple of explosions.
I feel weird saying this, but I kinda like it. Impractical but seems like a fun experiment. I have always wanted to try one of those surround headphones, which this is like an "external" version of that.
I have to say that I prefer the voice-over for the parts in which you (your head) are out of frame. I feel like I need to focus less on the audio since there is less echo. (I know, complicated topic) It's probably more work and that's why you haven't done it this time but after watching this video I feel like a voice-over adds a lot of quality to a video. The content is on point though and I think the most one can make out of this device.
So do I - I've been trying to get a week or so ahead to give me sufficient time to tackle some of the more complicated things I've got planned. In reality this video was a bit of a quick filler - the equivalent of a Star Trek 'Bottle Episode'.
I can tell you how that works. The idea was great on paper but when they looked at the final product they probably realized it was ridiculous. But it was too late already: "OK, sell this crap, the development costs were high enough" and there was nobody to say: "FOR GODS SAKE. OUR REPUTATION IS ON STAKE".
...and that advertisement shown near the end: "Dröhnung - Soundkragen für vollen Raumklang." - Sounds like they wanted to convince some teenagers to buy it. (Translates to: Booming (music) - Soundcollar for full sourround sound)
Well, as an engineering solution to a specific challenge, it’s not all that bonkers a solution. Really, given that it works, the only reason to class it as a failure is that it didn’t sell. If it had, and we all had one by now, we’d be hailing it as an innovative and brilliant design, even if the Mk 1 version wasn’t perfectly implemented. After 20 years development, with rechargeable lithium batteries, blue-tooth connections and better ergonomics , they could have outgrown the ugly-duckling phase as did the first mobile phones and home video cameras, which were likewise ridiculously impractical. But having said that, it did look a lot like you were wearing a toilet seat, Mat. Great video, as always. Btw, any plans to look at Nuraphone headphones?
No no plans for those. There are some things that just don't make for a good video. You can see the difficulties I had with the Surrounder, beyond the initial - 'hey look at these', there's barely enough meat left on the bone. So with a set of headphones, I'm left just describing the comfort and the sound - it's probably not really visual enough. Then again it might be interesting to see how bad my hearing is.
I think, "a moment of madness" is the best description...
If you always wanted to look like Buzz Lightyear, here's your chance.
Hey Matt, Thanks for the reply! Would you mind to change from "Pixelpanic's Media Lab" to the current? Much appreciated.
No problem
I think it’s one of those ideas that were better in principle than practice. How did it do producing surround sound Mat? Apologies in advance if I missed it.
As far as achieving what it set out to do - it worked exactly as promised.
Absolutely bonkers. Surprised we haven't seen one sprayed silver and used as a costume prop in a low budget scifi film.
I'm sure we have.
Looks as if someone used the blueprints for an April Fool’s Day joke.
Brilliant device! Just what you’d expect from Japan or in this case, Germany! 😂 You forgot to show how well it deals with chips, popcorn, chocolate and drinks though... 🤪
Oh that would be a disaster - didn't think of that.
"How did he die, Inspector?" " He got up to change DVD's, tripped over all the cables and impaled himself on his DSP controller. We used to say bad sound systems never hurt anyone, turns out it just ain't true"
nowadays seems this kind of speakers are coming back... anyway Matt, I have updated my name in Pateron and wondering if you will update it on the credit?
Because of the way it works - it doesn't tell me about changes like this - could you tell me the from and to names and I'll update it on the video after next.
I remember seeing this, what a stupid idea
TIL about gurning competitions. Also something about surround sound.
You just made me spend way to much time glaring at a google images page filled with weird grimaces. ;)
Eee tha looks a reet champion gurner there waar lad.