Soundstage Width and Depth


I’m curious about what your systems produce when it comes to soundstage. My speakers are about 8’ apart and I sit about 10’ from the front plane of the speakers. The speakers are toed in so that they each are pointed at a spot about 8” from my ears on each side. (Laser verified) My room is treated with bass absorption and diffusers.

In many recordings my soundstage is approx 28’ wide and, although this is tougher to determine, I would say on most recordings I’m hearing sounds 10’-15’ further back than the speaker plane. Some sounds, usually lead guitars, are presented slightly in front of the plane of the speakers. There are also recordings that produce height in the soundstage. Some fill the room floor to ceiling, while others are more on the same plane about 5’ from the floor. I do get layers usually in about the same order, guitars, lead singer, bass guitar, drums, violins and backup instruments and singers in order front to back. Again this is recording dependent. Intimate recordings that feature a singer playing a guitar usually has all of the sound between the speakers. Is this what everyone experiences? Could the depth be deeper? Do many of you hear sounds in front of the speaker plane? Do you have any recordings that accentuate the front to back soundstage?
baclagg

Showing 1 response by erik_squires

of course this thread has devolved into a discussion about DBA, of course it has.

OP:  I find the combination of room treatment and speaker dispersion in the plane of question what affects sound stage.  That is, if you have front and back depth, having good treatment behind the listener and behind the speakers is what helps the most. Want width?  Narrow dispersion or treating walls is what helps. Height? Carpet and ceiling.

There's also a known enhancement if your speakers dip around 2.4 kHz. Wilson used to take advantage (or cheat) of this behavior, though later speakers have forgone this.

In general  you can get a really good idea of how good your system could sound with an ideal room by listening 2' from the speakers. Everything that changes between that and your listening location is due to the room.

Best,

E