Walk-in soundstage

Mr. Huff is a writer, more than a reviewer.  I find every time I see a video of his, he goes on and says almost nothing.  There’s only so many flowery words, but he uses them over and over.

Regarding Huff, I still watch his videos to be informed on new gear, but I don't know that I can trust a reviewer that only listens to streaming over physical media. 2 cents. 

I did it with conventional power amps (class AB), no preamps, open-baffle mains, generous amounts of a great power-treatment solution, giving my speakers all the space to breathe they require, first-order crossovers all around and - perhaps most importantly -  I used a digital, speaker management system.

That last one let me actively multi-amp my system and ditch all the audible impacts of using passive crossovers. It also does wonders for the sheer coherency of the imaging/soundstage - front to back, left to right and top to bottom. From that you get that Gordian knot of dynamics, space and the time domain cleaved straight through, (both from mid-to-hi, and from mid-to-low crossover zones if you plan out your system well enough to achieve it). Plus you also get zero sibilance issues, in the bargain.

I plan to also add at some point an atomic clock to my DAC. Not yet certain what all that will improve, but I'm convinced it won't hurt a thing in that regard!

I first experienced it with Magnapans and a SUMO class A amp plying vinyl.  Yes substances were involved but I felt like I was inside John Klemmer's horn.  An experience that happened almost 50 years ago but  still remembered today.

I guess I can think of one system I have heard like his. It was a completely optimized Wilson Chronosonic something and Rowland system. Today I am sure Burmeister / dCS / Wilson will do this. The sitting position was actually about three feet in the air on a platform. The soundstage was so holographic and deep that you could literally hear images as spheres at different depths. The physical depth from the listeners position to the front wall was probably twenty feet. Images would start five feet or so in front of the you and extend three or four feet deep (high and wide as well). Different instruments, different sizes. The kick drums and like were at or in the front wall far behind the speakers. I got to spend a couple hours with it. The cost was around 3/4 million? It’s been a while. 

I was awestruck. But it wasn’t the sound I wanted in my home... but it was wonderful to listen to.