Speaker Imaging - Do you hear a line, or do you hear an arc??

a lot of it depends on the recording. I have Lynn Stanley at 45rpm and she is in front of  the speakers with the band behind her. Some of my D2D recordings do the same. 45 rpm reissues of The Doors are like being in the studio with them - listen to Jim whispering on Riders on the Storm. 

With the SACD Gaucho by Steely Dan, the band is in the living room.  Speakers are Martin Logan Clarities, Magnepan DWMs crossed over at 75hz to 2 10's and a 12 in three boxes.  I recently put a 1/2 inch lift in the rear of the MLs, brought the soundstage from a 4 to 5 foot height to about 6 foot height now.  The MLs are 5 feet from the rear wall and 4 foot from right sidewall.  Left speaker side wall is about 18 foot away in the dining area.  The MLs are slightly toed in and the DWMs are on the inside.


The goal was clear, coherent sound with decent bass at any volume.  I have two musician friends that sit mesmerized by the SACD's presentation.  The journey has been long and satisfying. 

too busy listening to the music

Speaker Imaging - Do you hear a line, or do you hear an arc??

Mines seen not heard, and if good should be seen as a 3 dimensional picture in front of you, with height, width (even outside the speakers) and depth, in my case 15ft back as I have no wall behind the speakers, or equipment racks between the speakers.

Before room treatment-
     Definitely an arc.
     Center image not settled in the center.
     Little or no depth of soundstage.
     Images seemed to be easily perceived from left speaker, area 
     between the speakers, and right speaker, ie- the speakers did not 
     "disappear".
After room treatment-
     Front line well established.
     Sides of soundstage extending beyond the edges of the speakers.
     Nice depth of stage extending beyond front wall (the wall behind
     the speakers).
     Center images well-established, solid and 3-dimensional.
     Soundstage is now taller, wider, and deeper and appears more
     of a box instead of an arc.
     Front of stage either appears in front of speakers, in line with
     speakers, or behind speakers, depending on recording.
     All images seem more 3D, more round, less flat.
     Speakers disappear convincingly.
Room treatment on all four walls plus ceiling.
Dedicated listening room.
Dedicated AC line to room.
All gear plugged directly into wall.
Speakers are Vandersteen 2Ce Sig IIs.
No rack between speakers.
No TV in room.
Dire Straits and Pink Floyd always sound very well recorded, as do most classical and jazz.
Most rock and pop sound surprisingly good now that the room and setup were established for best sound to "play the room".

Tom