Speaker placement is critical to obtaining any sound stage. Many people are willing to give up any hope for soundstage because they do not want speakers intruding on their room. With speakers against the wall the listener will hear increased bass, but less sound stage. Pulling speakers out into the room will increase sound stage, but surrender a little bass. This is where the happy medium must be found!
A good sound stage provides an aural picture of a concert. Regardless of what kind of music is being played there should be a presentation of seperate individuals playing intruments in space. There should be height, width, and depth to the stage.
The location of the distinctive sounds should have little relation to where the speakers are located. I mean that the soundstage should be wider, taller, and have more front-to-back dimension than the actual cabinet from which the sound is eminating. With the listeners eyes closed they should not be able to locate the where the speakers were placed on the floor.
It is impossible to obtain any real sound stage in 5.1 or 7.1 surround modes since music was not recorded to be listened to in these bastardized modes.
Two channel stereo is the only way to really get a good musical presentation right now! Perhaps when people learn how to use the multi-channel modes in the future and good recordings are made that way things will be different, but right now these formats are useless for music.
The only real use I can see for multi-channel recordings is to add room ambiance to the presentation. I have no interest in sitting in with the band, I want to be in the audience.
Sit back, close your eyes, and let the music be presented the way it should be heard. Big, tall, and deep just like the stage at your favorite music venue.
Check out http://www.rivesaudio.com they can provide some basics for locating speakers to the greatest benefit with their site, or for a cost can help design and/or build one to suit your needs.
A good sound stage provides an aural picture of a concert. Regardless of what kind of music is being played there should be a presentation of seperate individuals playing intruments in space. There should be height, width, and depth to the stage.
The location of the distinctive sounds should have little relation to where the speakers are located. I mean that the soundstage should be wider, taller, and have more front-to-back dimension than the actual cabinet from which the sound is eminating. With the listeners eyes closed they should not be able to locate the where the speakers were placed on the floor.
It is impossible to obtain any real sound stage in 5.1 or 7.1 surround modes since music was not recorded to be listened to in these bastardized modes.
Two channel stereo is the only way to really get a good musical presentation right now! Perhaps when people learn how to use the multi-channel modes in the future and good recordings are made that way things will be different, but right now these formats are useless for music.
The only real use I can see for multi-channel recordings is to add room ambiance to the presentation. I have no interest in sitting in with the band, I want to be in the audience.
Sit back, close your eyes, and let the music be presented the way it should be heard. Big, tall, and deep just like the stage at your favorite music venue.
Check out http://www.rivesaudio.com they can provide some basics for locating speakers to the greatest benefit with their site, or for a cost can help design and/or build one to suit your needs.