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Is soundstage DEPTH a myth?

Ok, help me out fellas. Is it a myth or what?

I’m a good listener, I listen deep into the music, and I feel like I have good ears. But I can’t confirm that I can hear soundstage depth. I can hear 1 instrument is louder, but this doesn’t help me to tell if something is more forward or more behind. Even in real life and 2 people are talking, I can’t honestly say I know which one is in front.

The one behind will sound less loud, but is that all there is to soundstage depth? I think the answer I’m looking for has to do with something I read recently. Something about depth exist only in the center in most system, the good systems has depth all around the soundstage.

128x128samureyex
gdt
6 posts
 

JohnK

You can say that everything audio is not real, that's not the point of this discussion.

Soundstage depth perception is completely real and best replicated with stereo mic pair recordings due to the phase / time arrival differences.

Our Binaural hearing is by design to locate sounds and judge their position and depth! 

However I've come across many individuals who seem to have little to no function in this area and cannot hear phase differences, perhaps you fit in the category?

And that's the science

I've had clients who can't even hear what 180 degrees out of phase is !

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gdt
6 posts
 

The points in my previous comment fit still. A system can convey very well but "mono" certainly will not. You need at least a minimum of two point sources to create the sonic imagery. And it can be very convincing when all the proper requirements or elements are in place (as per my original post)

asctim
440 posts
 

One thing I haven’t heard many complaints about are audio systems or components that over exaggerate depth effects. I do hear about them over exaggerating width from time to time.

Imagine a dac that makes instruments that should just be a little closer sound like they're right in your lap, while instruments that should just be 10 feet further back sound like they’re 300 feet further back. I’ll bet some people would get a kick out of that.

 

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

How come almost every animal that's ever existed has had both a pair of eyes and a pair of ears, both separated by a decent distance in order to allow them to appreciate three-dimensionality? I mean, sure, it's in survival's best interest to have back-ups but still...it's best if you know what direction that threat (or food source) is coming from and how far away it is.

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