Advent - SoundSpace Control Model 500 Signal processor

ADVENT 500 SOUND SPACE CONTROL
YEAR 1979
Exclusively on CATAWIKI
Rare and hard to find, this Advent Sound Space Control unit is in excellent condition
Vintage Advent 500 Sound Space Control reverberation system with brochure. The world's very first true surround sound system. This Advent unit, manufactured in 1979, takes a standard two-channel stereo signal, sends it unmodified to the two front speakers, and delays the signal sent to the amplifier, thereby controlling the two rear speakers to create a sense of space and reverberation. (It does not process 5.1 surround sound, but handles two front speakers and two rear speakers.) Any audio history enthusiast will be won over by this Advent surround sound system, a true innovation. This unit is in excellent condition and delivers exceptional sound. On some recordings, the soundstage widens and deepens considerably; on others, the effect remains perfectly subtle. For a unit of this age, there is no distortion to report: the sound is clear and transparent. The rear channels have been tested and work perfectly, with the same transparency as the front channels. All switches work perfectly, and adjusting the reverberation and size index effectively changed the sound. Please see the photos to better appreciate the condition of the unit.
In an open space, it requires sufficient power to showcase its flexibility; it offers a listening experience different from what is usually available in an urban apartment. It digitally processes signals from a preamplifier, integrated amplifier or receiver, and adds time delays that are mixed and recycled to reproduce the acoustic difference characteristic of Advent's Sound Space, making the sound richer, warmer and clearer. Acoustic absorption produces a rich, warm and clear acoustic quality. The sounds it creates—from standard stereo recordings or radio broadcasts—are intended to be sent to a second amplifier (which requires no adjustment) and heard through a second set of two or more speakers positioned to create a three-dimensional experience that cannot be achieved with tone controls, reflective speakers or conventional components. It offers a three-dimensional experience never before achieved in home audio, using a second amplifier (which requires no controls) and a second set of two or more speakers placed at the front and/or rear of a listening room.
In a home listening room, it brings sound to life. With two simple basic controls, the Sound Space Control lets you choose the size of the listening space you want to create and the desired level of reverberation. (A digital “Size Index” display lets you see as well as hear the size of the space you are creating.)
the SoundSpace Control automatically places you in the theoretical “best seat” in any space you create, and selects a “soundstage depth” suited to the size of the space. A 32,000-hit computer—equivalent to more than 43,000 transistors. (In the days of vacuum tubes, its hardware would have filled an auditorium—and with very low noise and distortion (less than 0.1% at 80 dB), as well as exceptional dynamic range and accuracy. With very low noise and distortion (less than 0.1%) at 80 dB, an 80 dB dynamic range and considerable power.

ADVENT SOUND SPACE CONTROL MODEL 500
YEAR 1979

ADVENT 500 is a vintage 1970s/80s digital delay and ambient reverberation processor designed to simulate the rich acoustics of large listening spaces in a living room.

Overview and purpose
• Ambience retrieval: It acts as an early digital delay system.
• Acoustic illusion: It adds delayed reverberation to a second set of speakers.
• Target sound: It transforms a room's standard acoustics into the ambience of a concert hall or larger venue.

Features and controls
• Inputs and outputs: Includes stereo inputs and a 4-channel output system (front and rear channels).
• Front outputs: Apply reverberation and spatial control.
• Rear outputs: These have independent volume, bass, treble and balance controls, and can operate normally or with reverberation.
• Digital display: Shows operating values (such as delay or adjustment modes).
• Physical switches: Includes a rear-channel bypass switch and variable reverberation knobs.

Setup and connection
• Amplifier routing: Connects via standard stereo or tape monitor loops, feeding multichannel amplifiers.
• Speaker placement: Requires an additional pair of speakers for the rear/ambience channels.
• Adjustment: Reverberation requires gradual adjustment to avoid audio distortion.

Active device technology
Memory 32.768 bits of MOS dynamic
RAM 4k RAM
Logic CMOS low power Schouky TTL
Analog High slew rate and BIFET integrated amplifiers
Frequency bandwitch all chanels 20 - 20000 Hz
Distortion Less than 0,1% THD for a 1.5V - 1kHz output
The A / D conversion employed includes 8 bits of continuous digitization
Power requirements 220 VAC nominal 50/60 Hz 30 watts version available outside the US
Dimensions L 40 cm X H 8 cm X P 27 cm
Weight 5 Kg