what speakers do the best "disappearing act"??

Pbb, re 1/3 dB sensitivity threshold: I wasn't referring to a simple change in amplitude, but a subtle change in VOICING that occurs when tweaking a crossover in the upper midrange. I measured a just barely noticeable difference carefully, and found 1/4-1/3 dB change from 1500 to 3000Hz.
It was certainly consistent, too, and brought me to the realization that pair-matching is a critical edge-of-the-art
requirement for razor-sharp imaging, and that sample-specific variations create a large enough color range that we all rush to cable and preamp bandaids to arrive at a spectral shape we personally enjoy. GREAT transducer manufacturing is for the dedicated folks with strong QA background and a will to spend the $ for the narrow-limited
reference ideal...a touch of masochism helps, too!
I've the QA and engineering background, but I quench my masochistic needs elsewhere...like trying to connect 10-3AWG to connectors of late! Cheers.

Again, I also agree on Avalon Speakers for the Transparent act. I tried/auditioned many others and finally Decided on the Purchasing the Avalon ARCUS ( for the $ ) for their Accuracy, Detailed Soundstage, and Transparency! Their Higher Priced Models are Even BETTER!

mani-II
Spica tc-60

Disappearance depends on the front end (as eloquently stated by others), the speakers and room acoustics. I took my Bryston/Thiel combination (BP-25, 7B-ST, CS-6) and set it up an my neighbors house (even putting them very near the corners) and the soundstage was front and center. Speakers? What speakers? It was incredible and much better than I experienced in my own acoustic setting. While I always knew acoustics were important, the magnitude of the impact startled me and I now wonder if we need a more detailed vocabulary around acoustic effects and environments so we can discuss that any time we discuss anything about "best" -- it's all in the context. In other words, as so often stated, "there is no best" -- only a lot of very good combinations of gear, some of which work very well in specific environments. Cheers.

My Dunlavy V's. I swear! They are big but they are the last place the sound seem to originate from unless the instrument, when recorded/mastered was at that 'location'