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Walk-in soundstage

Coupled with his Weiss DAC 204 and T+A DAC 200, Mr. Steve Huff claimed to have experienced the so-called "walk-in soundstage" when using the Lumin U2 as the streaming transporter. This refers to a deeply immersive, three-dimensional stereo image where the listener perceives the musical space as so realistic and spacious that it feels as if one could physically walk into the soundstage.

This level of presentation is notably different from the more common “layered” sound field that many average listeners or reviewers report—where the sound is merely projected in front of the listener with some layering or spatial envelopment.

I'm curious how many of you have also experienced this effect in your own systems and listening spaces. If you're open to sharing, I'd love to hear about the components and setup that helped you achieve it.

  

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Showing 2 responses by helomech

helomech
1,868 posts
 

A “walk-in” soundstage is 90% the room and speaker placement. I first heard this effect at Acoustic Sounds. I have since achieved it in my system but it took room treatment to get there. 
 

No DAC or source is going to be responsible for achieving the effect. Steve Huff is just full of fluff. 

helomech
1,868 posts
 


Are you sure?  Let me ask you or ask yourself, if your DAC gives you wall of sound like many entry level or mid-tier DACs do, how are you going to achieve that?

100% positive. Yes, a walk-in soundstage is indeed >/= 90% room and speakers. The majority of the remaining 10% or so is the amplification. I’ve heard enough $60K+ digital front ends paired with six figure speakers in enough rooms to know that the front end accounts for nearly zero of the effect, because many of those systems failed to produce said effect. Money ≠ equal performance when it comes to digital components. It did once upon a time, but not these days. 

Ask yourself, how many times have you supplemented a $300 DAC for a five figure DAC in a six figure system? Unlike most if not all fans of Steve Puff, I’ve actually tried similar experiments and the sound didn’t change a lick. Thing is, if you really want and expect to experience a life altering improvement, you likely will, at least, initially. That’s the same condition that afflicts Mr. Huff, unfortunately, he hears what he wants to, until the next flavor-of-the-month arrives at his doorstep. But hey, the guy also thinks he can communicate with the ghost of Michael Jackson, so…

 

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