January 2001 Reviewed by Jeff Fritz	Magnum Dynalab MD-10 Virtual Surround Decoder

Description Price: $675 USD Dimensions: 17"W x 2.25"H x 5.5"D Weight: 10 pounds Warranty: One year parts and labor	Features Zoran 38650 24-bit processor 20-bit D/A converters Two 75-ohm digital inputs (RCA connections) and one glass-fiber optic digital input (TosLink) RCA analog output Subwoofer output Removable IEC-type AC cord

What’s a movie lover to do when space is at a premium, but the surround-sound experience is calling? Or an audiophile who primarily listens to two-channel music but wants to enhance the movie-watching experience without the hassle of adding extra speakers and additional channels of amplification? Magnum Dynalab thinks they have the answer with the introduction of the MD-10 Virtual Surround Decoder. Magnum Dynalab, a long-time leader in tuner technology, believes that most of the performance of a full 5.1 system is possible with only a pair of stereo speakers. "Hmmm," I hear you saying. "How would they do that?"

The MD-10 uses the latest Zoran ZR 38650 programmable digital audio processor and, according to Magnum Dynalab, "world class spatial hearing algorithms" to convert the signal from a DVD player to virtual surround. The goal is to provide the home-theater enthusiast with a surround experience -- without being surrounded. This is in stark contrast to the typical setup that utilizes multiple speakers specified to reproduce the discrete channels utilized in Dolby Digital and DTS surround systems. There is a definite attraction to Magnum Dynalab's approach, especially in an environment where domestic tranquillity rests on an unobtrusive installation. Of course, as a reviewer, I passed that point a long time ago, but I have friends….

Installation

The MD-10 is a compact unit that appears to be built to a high standard. The RCA connectors were especially nice, equaling those found on expensive preamps and power amps. I only wish these were an industry standard, but in the home-theater market, you rarely see this type of quality. The unit is equipped with a rear-panel power switch, which makes me think that it was designed to be left on constantly except for long periods of inactivity. I left the MD-10 on for the entire review period. There were no glitches, pops, or other operational abnormalities to report.

I used the digital outputs of my Pioneer DVD player exclusively for the review. I did alternate between the coaxial (on RCA plugs) and TosLink connections for comparison’s sake. For the record, there was little difference. The installation was quick and easy, but there are a few things worth mentioning. It is important to have precise stereo imaging in order for the virtual processing to be successful. Magnum Dynalab recommends testing the setup with a music CD with clear vocals, listening for a defined center image. The processor itself, however, is only meant to be used with DVD sources encoded in Dolby Digital, DTS, or Pro Logic. With CDs, you may experience some high-frequency noise. I mistakenly forgot to switch inputs on my preamplifier at one point during the review, having the MD-10 engaged while listening to a CD. I heard a small amount of noise that sounded very similar to a voice coil rubbing. I was under the impression, for about five minutes, that I had damaged both the tweeters in my speakers during an out-of-control demo for one of my buddies. Duh!

Virtual surround vs. conventional stereo

The MD-10 supports DTS and Dolby Pro Logic as well as Dolby Digital, covering the vast majority of potential users. For this review, I auditioned the MD-10 with a variety of Dolby Digital concert and movie DVDs since this format is most common in that medium. How did it sound? Well to start, the soundfield created by the MD-10 was immediately different than that of straight stereo. It took a short time to actually get a handle on the sound, but once I became accustomed to the processing, the effect was impressive with each and every DVD I used. The primary difference versus standard two-channel stereo was in the sonic width and shape of the scene. As opposed to simply sounding like a stage in front of the listener, with depth behind the speakers, the soundtrack stretched from the far left of the room to the far right and then wrapped around the listening position towards the back corners of the room. Left-to-right pans had me looking to the sides of the room for the source, with front-to-back passovers, like the gunfire in The Matrix, extending to the side and slightly behind me. Although the experience was far more surround-like than regular stereo, I only occasionally heard what appeared to be sounds emanating from directly behind me. There were times, though, when the effect was impressive enough for me to shake my head in amazement. I would describe the difference as simply more enveloping than stereo, though not as precisely placed as true surround.

Performance with music

Concert DVDs were most impressive due to the lack of significant direct sound from behind the listening position. The MD-10 really shone here because it retrieved the ambiance of the venue with uncanny accuracy. James Taylor's Live at the Beacon Theater was as natural-sounding as you could possibly want, without any artificial presence. I heard none of the disastrous effects exhibited by phony-sounding concert processing, with performers behind the audience. The music itself was unforced and did not sound as if it were tonally changed. The vocalist was still placed properly on the stage where he belonged, but the accompanying performers were spaced farther apart than what was heard without processing. This rendered a more realistic scale. Fleetwood Mac’s The Dance was equally good, almost matching the ambiance of the James Taylor concert. Dynamics were not affected, which was apparent by the huge drum whacks delivered by Mick Fleetwood.

Things got really interesting with Metallica’s Cunning Stunts. The track "One" starts out with a circular pan around the venue, with gunfire, explosions, and an incredibly loud bomb blast just before the music starts. The soundfield that the MD-10 created was nearly as dizzying as the video. The 360-degree pan is actually very quick, therefore not allowing enough time to expose the fact that there were no direct sources of sound behind the viewer. This track in particular illustrated the sonic sleight-of-hand that the MD-10 was capable of.

Performance with movies

Movies benefited across the board as well, though the quality of the effect was really dependent on the soundtrack used for evaluation. The subtlest of sounds seemed to be best served, due to the relatively short duration of the sounds themselves. If there was enough time to really focus on the fact that there were really no surround speakers, you could certainly differentiate between what the MD-10 was doing versus that of a conventional surround system. This is not really the most important aspect of the MD-10’s performance, however. The overall effect of widening the soundfield and then wrapping the corners around the viewer was most enjoyable. This is what I believe the MD-10’s mission is all about, and it accomplishes it easily.

U-571 has some excellent underwater scenes in which the sound of the sea totally immerses the viewer. This came across effectively through the MD-10, seemingly placing the viewer in a tank only contained by the walls themselves! The distant depth-charge shots were not placed quite where a surround array would place them. Again, virtual is not really equal to discrete sound sources behind the viewer, but it is the immersion of the water in this movie that involves you. If you are used to two-channel sound, compare U-571 in stereo, and then in virtual mode using the MD-10. I think you will be impressed by the result. I was.

Conclusion

The Magnum Dynalab MD-10 Virtual Surround Decoder is an excellent example of how cleverly implemented technology can enhance an established medium. There are those, which for various reasons, just can’t cohabitate with a full 5.1 surround system. It is for these folks that the MD-10 was made. The sound, although not as completely seamless as a true surround system, does provide a greatly enhanced movie-watching experience. The effects are far more realistic than you would be able to attain sans processing. I found this to be true with both movie and especially concert DVDs. If you have a two-channel system and want to get more of what the director intended from your DVDs, the Magnum Dynalab MD-10 will get you there.

Manufacturer contact information

Magnum Dynalab Ltd. (Canada)
8 Strathearn Avenue, Unit 9
Brampton, Ontario
Canada
L6T 4L9

Magnum Dynalab (US)
c/o DRT Logistics
Trans America CHB
2775 Broadway, Buffalo NY
14227-1043

Phone: (905) 791-5888 or 1-800-551-4130
Fax (905) 791-5583

E-mail: magdyn@myna.com
Website: www.magnumdynalab.com  

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