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Monitor speakers that disappear:best image/staging

In the past, I've had speakers that could throw an image creating an uncanny impression that, even if the image was on the hard left or right, could not be identified as coming from the drivers or even the speakers (these were Apogee Stages, Wilson W/P6s,
and Kharma 3.2s).

Do any monitors do this (at least fairly well)? (Maybe Focal Diablos, Wilson Duettes, among the big names? What about some of the smaller names mentioned frequently in the threads on monitors)?

Many speakers still make me struggle to find the sweet spot and shift from left to right to get good imaging and transparency, which can be annoying even if the tonality is fine and the sonics are fine in all other respects.
rgs92

Showing 2 responses by johnnyb53

johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 
What Todd said. If you place monitors on rigid, non-resonant stands, properly placed, you almost always get killer imaging, particularly when the front baffle is small and sculpted to minimize reflections off the baffle and edges. On a budget the PSB Image B5 and B6 will give you a lot of what you're looking for.

You can also enhance imaging by integrating a subwoofer (or two) into the rig. There's something about adding the foundation that makes everything else pop out more.

Generally speaking, the ones with the least front baffle area and with some sculpting to avoid refraction distortion. Monitors are usually 2-way speakers, simplifying the crossover scheme and providing some advantage in maintaining phase coherence, which is another element of throwing a good soundstage with good imaging.

At a higher price, but not insane money, the monitor I really like is the B&W PM1. I heard a pair in a demo with B&W's PV1D sub. The overall effect was engrossing in every way--timbral accuracy, pinpoint imaging, dynamics, pace, etc. I had just previously heard the Wilson Alexandria XLF's, and this PM1/PV1D combo communicated a great deal of the same musical truth, albeit on a smaller scale. Matched to the right room size, though, the PM1/PV1D doesn't sound small at all.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 

12-01-12: Rgs92
Thanks ... for the suggestions about the stands. I will look into stands also (Sound Anchors are the only ones I'm familiar with).

If you want that holographic imaging, then mounting them on rigid, inert stands is half the equation. I had an insanely cheap stereo I set up for the kitchen, composed of an $89 powered Audio Authority (Chinese) sub that had a built-in stereo amp to power satellites. I tossed the included satellites aside and hooked it to some 30-year-old EPI bookshelf speakers I picked up for $10. I got really good sound. But when I mounted the EPI's on sand-filled welded steel stands, it turned into a virtual reality machine with *insanely* good sound for that amount of money.

Another compact monitor I'd look at for imaging is the KEF LS50 50th Anniversary monitor. It's a 2-way coincident driver model and the front baffle curves away from the where the driver is mounted. A recent review in Stereophile rated it as Class A sound for smaller rooms. Blend in a subwoofer or two and it could fill a larger room as well.
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