It depends on the recording, if some engineer is set on a sound coming out purely from the left speaker or right speaker, it will emanate from there. Think Electric Ladyland from Hendrix early stereo experiments. For engineers who like to spread it out, the disappearing act will happen every time. The beauty with a properly setup room and system, is that regardless of what the engineer was trying to do, you will hear it just like he wanted too. But knowing your system, you already know that.
The Disappearing Act
Nope, I am not talking about some magic trick!
I often read here and other forums, when someone describing sound of their system….the music flows and speakers simply disappears. Also read similar acclamation for an amp, preamp or DAC.
Would you agree when someone experience this phenomenon, you’re left with nothing but the music in its purest form. I would say, it’s a testament to the synergy of your components, room acoustics and meticulous setup.
I would like to know, were you listening to something particularly special when ‘disappearing act’ happens, or is it a consistent experience across the tracks?
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Your audio question reminds me of another artform. In filmmaking, the goal is ’suspension of disbelief’. To be so engrossed in the storytelling that the audience disregards that they’re sitting in a movie theater. The elements include the script, acting, cinematography, production design, et al. The willingness (mood) of the viewer to be mesmerized also plays an important part. Having a darkened environment helps to block out distractions.* If something breaks the spell - such as bad acting or lack of continuity - then the special experience is lost - and very difficult to regain. IMHO, music playback also has a variety of elements that must work together synergistically to draw the listener in. The artistry in the recording, the engineering of the recording, the audio system, the room - and of course, the listener’s mindset. My appreciation of disappearing speakers increased substantially when distortion was finally exorcised from streaming. - - - - *Trying to recreate the move palace experience in a home theater is a major conundrum. The bigger the budget, the better the execution - usually. 🧐 |
That’s an insightful perspective, and you’re absolutely right—recording styles and mixing decisions play a huge role in how the soundstage is perceived. A great system doesn’t impose its own interpretation but instead reveals the recording engineer’s intent with precision. Just like mine, your system seems to strike that balance perfectly. That’s a beautifully articulated comparison. Just as a well-crafted film can transport the viewer into its world, a well-tuned audio system can immerse the listener in the music, making the equipment and even the room fade away. It’s fascinating how much the listener’s mindset and environment contribute to both experiences. “The music just "emanates" in the room.” …..Exactly! |
OP asks if the disappearing happens uniformly -- with all recordings. For me, definitely not. Only with a few LPs and a with a few CDs. In my experience, most recordings and subsequent transfers to media suck; probably because of weak technology, or possibly because the responsible engineers "had other ideas" about how things should sound. But don't get me wrong -- I still enjoy this hobby, and I still love music. Most often, the disappearing I experience comes in a brief moment as a shocking surprise, and it transfixes me. In those moments I connect with the music, and -- forgive the metaphor -- I become one with the music. |
@lalitk My speakers disappeared long ago. It happened gradually as I dialled in the sound with relatively small but significant improvements which, if you can imagine it, pulled the sound from 2D against the plane of the speakers to 3D away from them until they just disappeared. Almost everything I play is simply in the room. |
This is my experience. Many tweaks who are often dismissed were a big part of the disappearance. First was the footers Then the electric. . A $2 footer tweak started the journey. It wasn’t that the tweak was so astounding. it was the very fact that I heard a difference at all. I was quite skeptical. Not now. I discount few things. |
As others have mentioned, some of the early stereo recordings from the 60's are particularly egregious. I listened to some Mommas and Pappas that were cringe worthy. Especially on headphones. Many songs start with sound from only one channel. Weird feeling of sound in one ear and a vacuum sucking on the other (with phones). No disappearing components from that. |
The disappearing act is one very prominent characteristic of “the suspension of disbelief”, but others are required to get there. I’ve heard lots of systems that image so well/holographically such that the speakers absolutely disappear, but the system lacks the appropriate tonal balance, effortlessness, harmonics, etc that it still doesn’t sound “real”. |
Agreed with those said…disappearing act largely depends on original recording. While a well-set-up system and room are essential, the way a recording is engineered determines how effectively the soundstage is created and whether the speakers “disappear” into it. IME, the disappearing act reflects the synergy between the recording’s spatial information and the playback system’s ability to reproduce it faithfully. Even the best system can’t make poorly engineered recordings disappear, but with a great recording, the illusion can be simply magical. You’re right—while the “disappearing act” is essential for creating that sense of realism, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. A system can image beautifully and place instruments with pinpoint accuracy, but without proper tonal balance, harmonic richness, and dynamic effortlessness, it can still fail to convince the listener of its authenticity 😊 |
I get this most of the time and it puts a smile on my face every time. Instruments that float in space or sound like they are right next to my chair. Definitely dependent on the recording and the volume at which I am listening. Although I experience it at lower volumes as well. I don’t know how much mood and other psychological aspects effects it or if it’s more of a matter of paying attention to the music and not being distracted by other things. |
In my case, it is speaker placement (aka room acoustics). And only so. Whether it is a low budget (active) pair of loudspeaker or a more expensive one: Only when I considered all aspects of the influence of a room, I could make the ’disapearing act’ become reality. The recording itself does not seem to have a (big) influence. Up to now, it ’happens’ with every tune since I did the speaker placement correctly. After meticulous work with loudspeaker placement and the room(s). Funny thing, I did not have to spend (or invest) 1 cent into room correction. Unfortunately, it took me too long to understand the importance of the room. Because I did not pay enough attention to this fact. Tutorials by Dennis Foley from Acoustic Fields helped me to get it right. |
Disappearing Act refers to the speakers. It is the listener's inability to localize the speakers when music is being played. Usually humans should be able to figure out exact location of the sound source for frequencies above 120 Hz or so. Certain speakers have to ability to recreate the sound stage without drawing attention to itself. That is what you refer to as "Disappearing Act," or your inability to localize the speakers. |
