2. speakers
  3. 1166788127

Speaker disappearing act?

There's new $25k per pair speaker, that according to everyone who matters, disappears? I've heard this disappearing act before, but what, if any does it have to do with the quality of the sound? If you're blind, or close your eyes when you listen to music, does that eliminate the need for a total disappearing act? I know what they mean by speakers "disappearing" but can it be overkill in the descriptive sense, considering there are oodles of other factors that are important in describing a speaker/quality of sound. Have you ever listened to a pair of speakers that are drop dead amazing, but when you open your eyes they may not be the purest "disappearing" act you thought? Does that matter?
128x128warrenh
shadorne's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
shadorne
7,474 posts
 
To be honest I do not believe its an issue with room treatments. I dont think treatments can help my soundstage but maybe I am wrong.

Room treatments can do a lot for the sound stage...heavy broadband treatment of the rear wall behind the listening position can deepen the sound stage significantly - vocals will become more articulate and tangible too. Perhaps you need to re-examine some of your beliefs and experiment with some broadband absorbers to reduce reverberations. G'luck.
mitch4t's avatar
mitch4t
1,610 posts
 
I disagree about big speakers not being able to disappear. I've owned some pretty large speakers...and when everything is right, they will vanish right in front of you with your eyes wide open. The sound is right on the "stage" in front of you with everyone in the band in their proper places. The speakers just seem to be on the sides of the "stage" as pillars. I don't think size matters if it's done right.
lissnr
365 posts
 
Big speakers will absolutely disappear. Mitch4t is exactly right..."When everything is right they vanish...". Mine do and it really is amazing. Even when I stare right at them while playing, it seems like they have no purpose in the room! By the way, 240zracer, on Alison Krauss's "New Favorite" the banjo is just about dead center but back a few feet from her vocal image except for track #4 where there are 2 banjos: one as described and the other way far over at stage right (or so it seems on my system). How about yours? BTW this is another excellent recording of hers.
fishboat
245 posts
 
I'd agree with Lissnr & Mitch...I have Snell Type A's, which I think fill the definition of a large speaker, and they often completely disappear. This isn't the case with every recording, but more often than not. I still have some speaker-placement optimization to do. I don't have a wall behind me...just a vaulted ceiling about 8 feet back & above the great room (system is on a loft).
shadorne's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
shadorne
7,474 posts
 
I have Snell Type A's, which I think fill the definition of a large speaker, and they often completely disappear

....the smooth rounded front baffle of this speaker makes it unusual compared to most "box" shaped designs with a flat front baffle face....this complex baffle shape will no doubt reduce edge diffraction significantly.
More to discover