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Improving imaging

I'm interested in hearing from the experts the following:

What component, in your opinion, contributes the most to creating a 'discrete' soundstage...

i.e. the 'most important' component/element, etc. that contributes the most to overall imaging. For the purpose of my question I define 'imaging' by being able to ascertain where instruments are located from left to right, front to rear across the overall soundstage. Assume a well mixed/recorded CD 'source' (ala Telarc, etc.).

The reason I ask is I'm not sure if it's my aging ears or my equipment but over time it seems everything is now pretty much 'placed' either primarily on the left or right channel, or 'summed' in the middle. Displacement outside these 3 main locations seems to now be almost to subtle to distinguish from 'left/center/right'. And thus for sure, hearing the tymphanies 'behind' the strings (or the drummer behind the guitar behind the sax) is pretty much non-existant.

I'm not trying to get into 'which brand sounds best', or 'tube vs solid state', etc. kind of debate, just trying to determine if it's my ears or my equipment that is obviously declining and if it's likely my (2 chan) system, which piece should I concentrate on first in order to improve imaging.

thankee in advance!
mmccoy

Showing 1 response by gregg_c

gregg_c
36 posts
 
I just went through this with my speaker cables. I am thinking of switching to Synergistic Research cabling on the stereo part of my home theater. So, after changing to my rear S.R. cables to see how they sounded on front, I was amazed at the better soundstage and imaging. When I went to put back in my Wireworld Silver Eclipses, I noticed that they were pretty nasty. I cleaned them three months back with Caig Pro Gold and DeoxIt. Well, after cleaning them, the "magic" reappeared. I don't know if it is Atlanta's humidity or what, but I guess I am going to have to increase the interval that I clean my cables. Mmccoy, I would be willing to bet that after a good cleaning you will hear a nice improvement in everything--soundstage, imaging, detail, bass, highs, etc.

Best of luck.

Gregg
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