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what is a good sound stage suppose to sound like?

In the proceses of doing my weekly house cleaning, I pulled my speakers about 2 ft. out further from the wall so I could vacuum. For no other reason then curiosity, I decided to play some Eric Clapton "Unplugged". It sounded like a whole new album. I only play music in my limited 2 ch. mode which is a dbx DX-5 CD player plugged directly into my dbx BX3 power amp. So there I was, totally amazed at the sound that was coming out of my Polk Audio RT-800i's. I decided to stop cleaning, pour myself a crown and coke and do some serious listening. While sitting there, I had to ask myself if this is what a good sound stage is suppose to sound like? Since I've never heard a hi end system with a supposed good sound stage other the what's in Ultimate electronic's, were the seat is about six feet away from the speakers and the room is acousticly treated.My room is about 20x25 with me sitting at the opposite end of the room from my speakers. I've never had the opportunity to hear a hi end system in someones home, which I would assume sounds somewhat different then in a store. What exactly makes up a good/great sound stage? How do you know when your there? Here's what I noticed when listening to Claptons "Unplugged".When I focussed on individual sounds, Claptons guitar and drums seemed to come from the left speaker, claptons voice was always in the center alone with any piano, the right speaker had the other guitar's and backup singer's voices.By the second crown & coke I couldn't make out individual sounds anymore, so I just kicked back and enjoyed the music. In a good sound stage would or would you not be able to distinguish the different instruments and voices coming from the left, right, and center like I was able to, or should everything come at you all at once kind of blended together. I'll watch a dvd next to see how that sounds with the speakers pulled out, unfortunatly I'll have to move them back because the wife said so. Thanks for any info in helping me get some kind of referrence to gauge my sytem by.
dbx
mdomnick
332 posts
 
There are some sites that do give very detailed specs as to speaker postitioning and distance...even has a mathmatical equation. I was addicted to achieving that 'perfect equation' but then found all room interactions are different and no equations can account for them all. Plus the influence gear has on sound is such a huge variable with no real explanation as to why amp a gives better soundstage over amp b. It sounds as though you have found what i found...ya just gotta play and see what happens.

As to what should sound stage sound like? Well I think you heard it when you were cleaning. At least that's what I think soundstage should sound like. I was also amazed with the '3-D' sound when watching a dvd through my 2-channel setup. I don't miss HT at all. Try rotating the speakers a little (toe in) to see if you can expand the sweet spot a little.

I also think you found the other secret...a little liquor (or is it just being relaxed?) that makes it all a little better.
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,788 posts
 
On this subject, your ears must be up-to-spec to hear good soundstaging. Through various trauma, my right ear doesn't hear much high frequency information. This definitely affects imaging and soundstaging.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
Real people on the real stage fully depend on room acoustics. Very often it turns out that speakers can only help to bring it to more descent level for the stage.
motdathird
77 posts
 
I have a very good soundstage between, in front of, and behind the speakers. But, I don't seem to get much outside of the speakers except on a certain few recordings. My speakers are about three feet out from the wall but to bring them out more would reduce the already small 7 feet between the speakers. Is some kind of diffusor the only answer?
dbx OP
58 posts
 
Thank's to everyone for the great examples of what to listen for in a good sound stage. I think that I'll ticker with my system like this more on cleaning day's. That way my wife won't get to upset since I'm still cleaning. I'll probably have to put my speakers on roller (joke) since I won't be able to keep them pulled out from the wall that far. I have some old 15ft. runs of some speaker cable, I wonder what they'd sound like in the middle of the room. Happy listening to all. Rick
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