i generally prefer the original digital master to the Lp made from it, but we don't always get the chance to own that low gen digital master, so the result is variable. so generalizing is hard. but unless you sample the choices and compare, you really don't know. in any case i'm always wanting the native file or native analog recording. the less mucked up the better. which is why dsp is a non starter for me. |
@mikelavigne , check out this video on upmixing from audioholics
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To me the accurately forward sound images are the most important. Listen to the original music. Almost recording engineers intend the vocal and mid-range on the center front with almost recordings. All audio systems in the world can’t do that like the original music. Their vocal/mid-range are all far back (and vague) behind speakers. It is not deeper sounds. They are just far back and unclear. Those problems comes in a set always. I know it because I found the solution for those problems. Only my Wavetouch audio accurately reproduces the vocal/mid-range in front as the recording engineer intended. When the audio vocal/mid-r sounds forward like the original music, the sound-stage becomes 3D. Then sounds automatically become wider, higher, and deeper. And always musical. No more the sound or music argument. Alex/Wavetouch |
IMAGING: width/height/depth (my experiences) 1. setup must be correct (tweeter to seated ear height) & (toe-in for equal tweeter volume dispersion relative to the mids) & toe-in to protect the primary sounds from the reflections of floor/ceiling/side walls: result is primarily horizontal imaging. phantom off center locations created by the speaker’s L/R relative volumes. 2. Then my mind creates a ’natural/normal sense of height, imagined height of players relative to speaker created horizontal phantom location. seated ear height as the vertical center, everybody on the same floor height: i.e. Drummer imagined lower than bass player, piano height centered, bass player tallest. Horns higher than the Piano ….. OR, often, imagining relative to a typical stage height from decent orchestra seats: height of piano centered ’above’, all else relative to that ’starting/imagined’ height 3. Depth is created by a combination of mind and open space behind the speakers: enhanced/limited by the actual amount of space behind the speaker to the rear reflected surface. The depth you perceive is based on your actual live listening experiences, i.e. you ‘know’ the depth of a small stage for a Jazz Trio; you ‘know’ the depth of stage for an orchestra (combined with standard placement of violins left; bass right; horns centered/behind; big drums and big horns rear row. |
My experience, BTW, is that not all speakers like to be toed in at all, but compromises for the side walls is often needed. Also, the ideal height for some speakers is below the tweeter axis. B&W often does this, some do this by accident. Ear at tweeter axis / height is a starting point, the sweet spot is often below the tweeter. |
