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Is soundstage just a distortion?

Years back when I bought a Shure V15 Type 3 and then later when I bought a V15 Type 5 Shure would send you their test records (still have mine). I also found the easiest test to be the channel phasing test. In phase yielded a solid center image but one channel out of phase yielded a mess, but usually decidedly way off center image.

This got me thinking of the difference between analog and digital. At its best (in my home) I am able to get a wider soundstage out of analog as compared to digital. Which got me thinking- is a wide soundstage, one that extends beyond speakers, just an artifact of phase distortion (and phase distortion is something that phono cartridges can be prone to)? If this is the case, well, it can be a pleasing distortion.
zavato

Showing 3 responses by atmasphere

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atmasphere
12,097 posts
 
Soundstage is the result of two things- good high frequency response and good phase reproduction (low phase shift). If both are correctly reproduced side information that appears to be beyond the spread of the speakers is normal.

The Soundstage concept is why stereo was created. The original principles were created by Alan Blumlien decades ago.

Roger Water's Amused to Death has extra phase encoding in it that takes advantage of this fact.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,097 posts
 
I suspect the reason that the Decca does so well in Csontos' system has something to do with the effective arm mass, the speed stability of the table, and the short cantilever used on the Decca.

If the 'table has a slight (inaudible) speed variation, the soundstage will be less distinct as the arm oscillates over the cartridge cantilever due to changing skating forces. A shorter or stiffer cantilever will be alleviate this.

Newbee, IMO/IME tubes and analog have the most detail, hence the best soundstage definition.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,097 posts
 
The verdict is in. I just listened to Roger Waters' Amused To Death. I must say I'm definitely not amused. Sound engineers definitely 'are' magicians! I'm hearing point source information as far to the left and right of my speakers as they are apart. Truly amazing.

Csontos, if the system is working correctly, you should hear sounds *outside* the width of the speakers. I once did a demo for a 'sound engineer' at my house with that recording. He said after the demo that he was distracted by the neighbor's dog outside the window (to the left of the left speaker). When I explained that the dog was on the recording (and played it again) his jaw was on the floor.
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