Component contributions to “sound stage”

@musicfan2349 I totally agree that the recording and mastering process is an ultimate source of where soundstaging happens, but I don’t think the OP was intending that to qualify as a “component” in the original inquiry (I am assuming this and can be wrong). Yes, it can be a variable such that you can seek a better mastering of a particular source, but often, we as listeners don’t have control over how that is delivered to us until we put it in our room.

FWIW, I’ve heard incredible mono recordings that have incredible depth. Yes, the width is homogenous left to right, but layering is a special characteristic of mono. The Analog Productions remaster of Louis and Ella is an exceptional example of that.

@blisshifi Thank you for the kind response. You are likely quite right about the OP's intent behind his/her original question. My response was meant to get them to consider that soundstage is "set" way before the needle hits the vinyl. I suppose that subtlety was lost which is completely my fault. 😉 (Being quite sincere!)

I'll have to dig out some mono recordings of mine and give them another listen for what you are talking about regarding depth. Thank you for that!

Happy listening.

@michaellent  +1 for the recording being the boss.  I would recommend reading, "Making of Rumors" (classic Fleetwood Mac album).  It's written by the sound engineer Ken Caillat.  Lots of insight of how they make the special sauce.

The recording is the boss.  The second most important thing is speakers/ placement/ room treatments.

The recording is probably the most important followed by the speakers and their placement.

My speakers are 7.5 feet apart center-to-center, but the Rhodes fills the entire "front of the house" (26 feet), and then some. Some on the JBL forum have said they even experience a wrap-around.

If you can’t get a really WIDE soundstage, way beyond the speakers, on the Rhodes on this cut, fergitaboutit.

@bigtwin

Food for thought or perhaps some really don’t know-nothing Lol. Regardless there’s always room for entertaining humour, bravo you slid some of that in there.