Speakers that can reveal orchestral instruments' positions


Can you tell the positions of instruments in orchestra from your favorite orchestral music CD/SACD/LP/...?
For example, horns and percussion from the back and strings from the front?
Telling the left and right positions are not that hard, but the front and back? 
If your answer is convincing yes, could you tell me about your speakers/amps/source/cartridge and the recording?
I could feel a little bit of 3D imaging on my Apogee Diva, but not as much as I could when I listen to orchestral music from live concerts. I feel far less from my Harbeth C7es and Tyler Linbrook signature systems. 

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Showing 1 response by fernandoz

To be able to hear what you describe depends on many things. It is a trinomial of: Recording, Position of the speakers and the minimum treatment of the room (if you have nothing to control the room very hard you can hardly hear what you want).
In my case with the recording in SACD of:
Rossini: Famous Overtures, by Neville Marriner: Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields, with the Overture of Il Barbiere Di Siviglia.
Audiophisycs speakers, Rotel preamplifier and Rotel amplifier.
The room treated with bass trap and obsocation in the first reflections and diffusion in the back. When I have taken my system or recording to other rooms with friends, it is essential to remove the speakers from the walls and control the first reflections.
In this way, the person in the sweet spot will feel that the members of the orchestra occupy a place in space, both in length and depth. Without these three things it is not possible to obtain what you require, that three-dimensionality.
This recording is so good that by closed eye you will be able to describe where the first violins, second violins, oboe, clarinet, violas, cello, bass, etc. are even heard as the pages of the music sheets are moved.
In order of importance, without a doubt the recording, if it is not recorded and / or mastered to obtain this three-dimensionality, you can never obtain it.
Secondly the position of the speakers in the room and have some control of them.
Finally, the sound equipment, I have verified this in many cases, modest but well positioned teams manage to obtain very good results, obviously with an excellent equipment you will maximize the result but without the other two points mentioned you can never get what you are looking for.