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Soudstage issue

I have recently set up my new system in my new listening room. After three weeks of tweaking I am pretty satisfied with the sound I am getting. The soundstage is great and the images are stable and airy. I can definately see horns up right and the drums back right, etc. The only exception is some piano pieces. I would swear that the piano is on stage left AND stage right. Often, the lower octaves are on one side and the upper octaves are on the other. I have noticed this on cd (Thompson D'Earth) and lp (McCoy Tyner). Any suggestions?

My system (if it helps)
Coincident Super Eclipse
Manley Neo classics
Cary 303 (direct to amp)
Klyne pre
VPI Aries/Shelter 901
Coincident cables (except speaker, still awaiting shipment. Using 50 cent/foot wire until TRS shows up.

Thanks for any help.

Bob
bobkirs
rcprince
3,070 posts
 
Not an unusual occurrence, in my experience, and one I've wondered about a little too. When you think of it, a solo piano has its own pair of stereo recording mikes, so this could cause the effect; I've always assumed that it was because of the positioning of the piano and the mikes. If the piano is recorded "head-on", the lower octaves would be favored in the right channel, the higher in the left. Anyone out there with recording experience who could comment?
herman
2,253 posts
 
It is pretty common to have the piano spread across the soundstage. These recordings are done with the microphones close to the piano so the perspective when they are played back is that of a person playing a piano or standing right next to it. It is not natural from the listener's perspective, but many (most?) modern recordings are done this way.
cegormley8f7e
4 posts
 
probably not your system. sounds like the recording engineer put the mikes to close to get a unified sound. i have experienced the lows on the left/highs on the right syndrome on my system on many occasions, usually on solo piano recordings and occasionally on solo piano and vocal.sounds like a nice system. enjoy the music!
bmpnyc
713 posts
 
Probably isn't your system. The player hears the lows slightly on the left, and highs to the right, but you shouldn't. Mediocre engineering is the most likely culprit.
bobkirs OP
10 posts
 
Thanks for the feedback. I am fairly new to this great hobby and almost everything is dialing in except this one issue. When I listen to "Kind of Blue" the piano is 100% to stage right and sounds great. This definately points me to the individual recording. It's kind of annoying when you hear each instument placed perfectly and the piano blanketing the whole scene. Time to search out the best recorded LP's. Thanks for the help.

Bob
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