Component contributions to “sound stage”

@blisshifi 

Good post.

Why, thank you. :)

@ghdprentice +1

@blisshifi “While the DAC chip and conversion process itself should not be responsible for altering the presentation of the soundstage, the rest of the design and engineering of the DAC, including how it manages a low noise floor to the design of its analog stage, can contribute to how the stage is presented.”

💯

I assemble my own power cables and have banished all switching power supplies from my system as I have tried to optimize everything from digital signal cables to the type of hard drive I use for my file server.  Those actions have incrementally reduced noise, improved timing and added clarity to leading and trailing edges of notes in digital reproduction.  But the Chord DACs I’ve used (currently a Chord Qutest) made the biggest difference in digital presentation of soundstage, with cable and power supply upgrades adding definition to various elements in the sound field.  I can only imagine better DACs would provide even deeper insights into spatial information in recordings.

To suggest as some do that modern DACs are all “audibly perfect” and that modern electronics have no role in how we experience sound stage in our systems “unless they are badly broken” is just not consistent with my experience with my systems.

kn

I would also add that putting a blanket over my television mounted on the wall between my speakers does wonders for the soundstage when listening in two channel.

kn

I'm going with placement of speakers in your room. If you lack symmetry in my experience you can save yourself some money but going after stage too hard. If you have symmetry you need space to let the speakers reflect, breath, integrate into the room. If you are trying to shoehorn your stuff in the pantry, save yourself some money and go nearfield. 

Treatment, source, pre, amp and cables. In my experience you have spend serious money if you want to get this to be excellent. Not so serious to be good and have fun.