Where should the vocal image be?

The Stereophile test CDs also have good recordings of someone walking around the soundstage and stating his position. If your system isn't able to properly place him, something in your setup is off. Yes, more recordings than not will place vocals between or behind the line between the speakers, so that will be most commonly heard across recordings, but it shouldn't always be so. Great systems will place the vocals forward if that's what's on the recording. Cheers,

Spencer

ozzy62-

 miller carbon, Comments about toe in are off base. There is no “one size fits all” recommendation regarding soundstage depth and toe in. 

ozzy62, Your digs are off base. Never said "one size fits all" and as for the other stuff my comments are directed at image depth. Because that is the subject.

Odd you go so far astray from the topic for no reason other than to bash me. Probably you do the same to others, not reading them fairly either. Who knows? I don't usually pay attention to you enough to say for sure. 

Oh wait, what's this?

soundstage depth may be enhanced by severe toe in,

So my comments are off base, but when you say the same that's just fine? Right. Got it. Thanks!

Some one made the comment about room acoustics.  In my observations, room acoustic improvements make changes in the plane you apply them on.

To improve depth, focus on diffusion behind the speaker and listener. Width, absorption and diffusion to the sides. Height?  Floor and ceiling.

I think most images are based on the recording. But I personally prefer a center image a little behind and between the speakers.

ozzy

As already pointed out, many factors affect this: recording, system, room, positioning, etc.  There is no single "right" or "wrong" answer as to where the soundstage should begin and end.  Many people, I among them, appreciate layering, which is enhanced with a deep soundstage, wherever the front plane of that soundstage may start.  Very broadly speaking, the more you pull your speakers out from the wall behind them, the more likely you are to achieve front-back depth of soundstage.