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Strange Klipsch thing

I stopped by a local shop this afternoon because the guy had recently set up a two channel room. At the moment he's carrying Cary amps - which I use at home - and Klipsch speakers. He had an SLI-80 integrated run through the big Klipschorn speakers placed in the corners. What I heard was an enormously wide soundstage with exceptional image height, BUT, the whole thing sounded like it was being projected onto a perfectly flat wall. Not so much as a shred of stage depth. Is this fairly common with Klipsch speakers? It really seemed like an odd effect. Not my cup of tea at all.
grimace
unsound
7,365 posts
 
Headphones, typically have greater channel isolation, and don't typically present sound to the outer ear in the same way as speakers do. Without electronic manipulation or unique recording techniques, the sound is typically perceived as coming from within ones head as opposed to from a sound stage.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,970 posts
 
Unsound,

OK, but how does that compromise my point?

With headphones, the spatial cues are still in the recordings and location is not reproduced like the original. Call that omission or distortion, take your pick.

Here is the wikipedia general definition of distortion:

"A distortion is the alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of an object, image, sound, waveform or other form of information or representation. Distortion is usually unwanted, and often many methods are employed to minimize it in practice."

I think this supports my point, not compromise it.
unsound
7,365 posts
 
The actual hearing process differs.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,970 posts
 
"The actual hearing process differs."

OK.

So please explain what's the point you are trying to make? I'm not getting it?

Are you saying its our ears fault that the presentation they receive via headphones is nothing like that they might hear via a speaker setup where 3D spatial cues are reproduced more accurately?
unsound
7,365 posts
 
Actualy, I think you make a very good point, just that to be fair, it's not quite so black and white. As an analogy, it's a bit like, pushing a spoonfull of sugar deep into ones mouth so that only the back of the tongue is exposed to it, and keeping the spoon there till it's swallowed. Since the tip of the tongue is what is most sensitive to sweetness, one doesn't get the opportunity to taste it as thoroughly, as one typically does.
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