Improving 2- Channel Soundstage

Properly set up electrostatics throw a huge sound field. There's no reason at all you should be forced to supplement them with an extra speaker.

The advice is still solid, but you should need less of it to the sides and above/below. Behind however, where you are complaining about, that can be a real mess, especially if they are close to the rear walls.

I'd talk to GIK still, they may recommend diffusers as a better alternative than absorption.

In terms of speaker placement, the further away from the rear walls the better you'll be.

If you want to know how good those speakers can image, put them 2' in front of your chair. :) The difference between that and what you are hearing now is room acoustics.

One last thing, while ML's are known for fantastic imaging, and mid-range transparency what they usually are not is smooth across the frequency spectrum. After assessing placement and room acoustics I'd consider some sort of EQ solution. Either from a receiver with it built in, or an after market solution from miniDSP.

Best,

Erik

You might consider trying the Live End / Dead End approach to room treatments the electrostatic master, Dr. Roger West of Sound Lab recommends. See the setup tips page on their website. 


To Eric's point, with electrostatics, they interact with side walls(and to some extent ceilings and floors) far less than dynamic speakers, but their rear-facing sound must be firmly dealt with.

If your MLs have dynamic woofer like more of their models do, then you're likely to want bass traps in the front corners to smooth out bass peaks that will smear the details that provide you with the clear soundstage you seek. Cheers,
Spencer

Thanks. Sorry if I'm asking the obvious, but by front corners I assume you mean the corners behind the speakers not the corners near or on the sides of the listening position. By the way, I'm also having the same (soundstage) challenge with my Def. Tech. bipolar speakers in a different room and will also try the corner bass traps.

 Bass traps are great, but one step at a time. :)

I really think you should reach out to GIK Acoustics. You can send htem pictures and drawings and they'll give you excellent advice.

Erik

Can you give more detail about your equipment, cables, etc. and also your room dimensions and setup?  And no, putting another pair of speakers behind your front pair to achieve depth of stage or anything else is not a good idea.  It would be an absolute mess.