Home Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

A somewhat different view

RGA:

You made it sound like one can get good imaging/soundstage only at the expense of other important factors such as good tonal balance, attack, transient, etc. That, however, is not necessarily the case. I put great importance on tonal balance and dynamics, and I'll not want to listen to speakers that do not sound "right", regardless of how well they can image. On the other hand, speakers can be made to image very well without sacrificing tonal balance or dynamics, and getting good imaging or soundstaging often is the natural product of certain speaker designs and sensible speaker placement. I routinely get good soundstaging or imaging in my basement with almost any pair of speakers. Even my JBL horn speakers and Tannoy 15" dual-concentrics can give a wide and deep soundstage if I give them enough space.

Having a believable soundstage does enhance the listening pleasure. In my basement I currently have two systems: my big main system using B&G RD75 drivers and dipolar bass and the JBL CS3115 speakers with horn-loaded mid and high. The B&G system is placed well away from the walls, while the JBL speakers are pushed against the back wall. Even though the two systems are similar in tonal balance (since I tuned them both), I generally prefer to listen to music through the B&G system, mainly because the B&G system gives a much deeper soundstage. When I listen to the singing of the Anonymous 4 on the B&G system, I can easily imagine four female voices floating in the space of a small reverberant church, but it is much harder to do so with the JBL speakers, since their soundstage depth is not that convincing due to their placement.

My point is, if you can get the soundstage without sacrificing any other important aspects, why not just enjoy it? On the other hand, if due to space limitations or other reasons you cannot get a good soundstage, perhaps it won't really bother you, but that does mean that it is wrong or silly for other people to ask their speakers to produce a good soundstage.

Cheers,

Kurt


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