room size question.

@jmh128

I am confused. You say "it images just fine...but again, no soundstage. Well, imaging IS soundstage. I think you have to define what you mean by imaging and what you mean by soundstage.

when i had a previous system at our other house, it was in a more open area, cathedral ceilings and that system had the center imaging, separation of instruments and many times it played well beyond the speakers. when listening to the music, and you hear this a lot....you get the sense of being there.  this is the part that i am missing. yes, i have the vocals in the center and maybe a cymbal will sound like its coming from further back, but that is it. i

@grislybutter

i will try to move the speakers out more and see what happens....but kinda limited as the speaker cables are only 8 ft.

@thyname

Try diffusers behind your listening chair (back wall), and the absorbers at first reflection points. Basically reverse what you have now.

I think you said "no toe-in", which is typically what is suggested when you want bigger soundstage (vs. focus), so you should be good there.

acoustical panels i can move, but these diffusors you cant hang on the wall.....so for that to happen , would have to order ones that can be.

i get that toe in is suggested, but it doesnt sound good that way and i did just a tiny bit yesterday ....and its possible that these speakers dont require toe in . when i had the system at the other house, those speakers ( magnepan 2.6qrs ) had no toe in and they sounded great.

@bshaw 

pm or call me if you want to discuss ,

I see that you moved the speakers from 36" to 30" from the front wall , Did you hear any improvement ?  

Questions , are you leveling your speakers , have you tried tube rolling and what CDs or songs do you use for evaluating ?

Rob

@vair68robert 

I see that you moved the speakers from 36" to 30" from the front wall , Did you hear any improvement ?  

not really.     sounds about the same as it did before i moved them.

had a spare set of tubes, but one tube went bad....so just down to the one pair.

leveling speakers ?      please explain .

cd's :   

Dire Straits   On Every Street         few good tracks on that cd

Mark Knopfler :   Sailing to Philadelphia 

Bonnie Raitt :  Longing in Their Hearts

Alice in Chains : MTV unplugged.

i may pm you....

"i will try to move the speakers out more and see what happens....but kinda limited as the speaker cables are only 8 ft."

starting positioning yourself right between the two speakers and slowly moving back is an option too. Not the same and your problem seems to persist regardless what you are trying that I also think you may as well train your ears more to notice the soundstage (with this setup - I don't doubt you have awesome hearing). That’s the main difference between audiophiles and regular folks, we have the same ears but we allow our brain to notice the nuances. Soundstage, after all, is an illusion or a contract between the source and your perception that you can imagine the space around you with the music’s components spread out.
if I go to a concert, I don’t hear a soundstage, most of the time I just try not to go deaf with my sensitive ears,

@russ69

I have not achieved a great soundstage without some toe-in. Try crossing just in front or just behind your ears. I’d also like to know if your tweeters are at ear level. Finally I would space out a little wider if you can. I like that you have a low rack, that helps. I’m not sure you listed your gear but if you are using, for example, a low level receiver, you can’t get much out of something like that. You are on the right path, keep working.

i get that toe in plays a part....but if toe in sounds terrible, which i have said it does, then why toe them in ?

if i go wider, then it just sounds like 2 speakers playing and have no center imagining at all.

i would say tweeters are at ear level.

i have listed my gear, but will list it again

preamp : aric audio transcend

amp : innersound esl 300

cd player : Ayre cx7