From whence does Sound Stage come?

       Can't help but notice: the forum gas a new Cargo Cult member.

@oldrooney -

       Be certain all the drivers in your left channel's speaker system are functional.

       If possible: undo any changes made in the room, since the last, full (L/R) soundstage you recall.

       Try to get your listening area as symmetric as possible, as regards reflections.

        In my case (small/crappy listening room, after divorce):  I'm able to place the system/speakers ALMOST equidistant from the side walls, bipolar drivers (mains) 2' from the front wall, with diffusers behind, where their greatest radiation concentration will be focused.   

        Behind listening position: 2" Sonex, from 3' off the floor, to the ceiling (completely eliminated the room's Slap Echo) and LENRDs, same height, in the corners.

        My listening position is 1/3 into the room, away from the back wall and what would have to be considered Near Field (at the apex of an equilateral, 8' sided, triangle).

         Having used planars (Acoustats and Magnepans) for so may decades; I'm used to not having to deal with the wide dispersion, of the typical box speaker and find the output of my Emerald Physics (still very narrowly beamy), easy to predict, with any reflected speaker back waves, directed behind my head/ears, toward the Sonex.

          My seat has a nothing but soft material, round corners and a high back, so: 

                            I hear virtually nothing from the back of the room.

          Though Sabine effects are unavoidable: they're minimized and I use DSP (via TacT RCS 2.2X), to mitigate what's left, beside time-aligning my woofer systems, which now are forced to reside (the small, crappy room, again) behind the mains.

            Played back at any levels approaching those originally recorded; the listening room disappears.

            Closing my eyes takes me to the original performance and venue, with a good recording.

             For the naysayers: YES, I DO have a number of my own recordings, not to mention: a number, made in (otherwise) very familiar venues.

                                     Sorry for the loquaciousness!      

                                               Happy listening!   

@edisoncarter  I will grant you two points: (1) You are correct insofar as locus of the stereographic image, but (and it’s a big but), the head needs the proper input in order to create the image. As the research discovered that went into the LEDR (Listening Environment Diagnostic Recording), even the shape of the earlobes affect how individuals hear the same sound. By your logic, we could get a stereographic sound image from a single speaker could create a sound stage on its own if we properly listen to it. Monaural recordings can certainly fill a room, and the speaker may even disappear, but the image is definitely not stereographic. (2) You are also correct that I need to learn how to listen better. I am not a professional sound engineer in any capacity, nor do I aspire to become one; but I do expect, perhaps too optimistically, to hear instruments imaged individually in a sound stage. I don’t think such a soundscape is entirely in my head, but, as you say, I probably won’t realize it without some training of my listening skills. Thanks for the response. 

@rodman99999 I had to generate three searches on Google to begin to understand your latest post. I appreciate your references to affordable acoustic panels and bass traps. I have more flexibility to create and modify the space downstairs. My first step may be to hook the Warfedales again for a reference check. The room is square, has five doors, and is (now) only half full of disassembled furniture, cardboard boxes, two bookcases, etc. etc. Again, I’m less than 6’ away from the main drivers which are 32” from the front wall behind them. I’m just going to have to play with their placement for a while.

Upstairs, window on the left side, 6’ opening into the dining room on the right, stairwell behind left half of room; hallway back to the bedrooms along right wall, with a 36” wide closet wall 36” just to the right behind the listening position. I may need professional help, with the acoustics, that is.

In truth, I have avoided dealing with acoustics until I acquired enough quality gear that the sound reproduction was adequate. It is now time to sort it out, as it has become obvious to me that I cannot progress in this hobby until I address the issue.

Again, I deeply appreciate your contributions, you are directly addressing the issues I’m having. 

@oldrooney -

       There are less expensive options available than genuine Sonex, or Auralex (LENRDs), on eBay*.

        I can only assume: they'd be as efficacious, as the real thing.

                              Can't REALLY see why not!

        The 2" depth Sonex did a good job at addressing the frequencies needed, in my current room.      Some experimenting may be required, with your room and variables, but: I wouldn't go any thinner.

         If the basement room is actually a square (all sides even, or can be evenly divided into one another): it may be worse than what you have now.

         If your system used to reproduce an actual/accurate soundstage and proper imaging; you should be able to get it back, if not better, now that you've got the references/tests.