Huge sound stage


As I mentioned in another post, I'm very pleased with the huge soundstage my system now has. Sounds are coming from completely "outside" my speakers. I now know what they mean about your speakers "disappearing". Music is coming from the left of my speakers, from the right of my speakers, from behind and from in front of. It truly is "goosbump" moments for me. (Please excuse my newbie enthusiasm :)
Now for my question. How much of this increased soundstage is do to my new CDP and how much is due to my new Pre. I upgraded both in my system at the same time, so I didn't get to do any A - B comparisons after each piece was added. My system is as follows.
CDP: Musical Fidelity A5
PreAmp: Pass Labs X-1
Amp: Musical Fidelity a308cr
Speakers: Spendor S9
All cables & interconnects: Analysis Plus Oval 9

Your opinions are appreciated, Thanks!
tgyeti

Showing 2 responses by lkdog

"In a properly set up system (including speakers) the only sounds you should hear outside of your speakers (on the same plane as your speakers) should be 'out of phase sounds'."

I might respectfully disagree with this. I think very good drivers/tweeters have a dispersion angle that is quite wide.
I regularly get sounds/instuments beyond the outside and above the boundaries of the speakers (ACI Jaguars with high end Scanspeak tweeters), as well as a soundstage that is quite deep.
The vocalist and instrument pinpointing is there as you suggest and my connections are all correct.

Maybe we are talking about two different things, or I could be confused.
Newbee-

Well, your knowledge base is quite advanced on these elements. I have kind of learned along the way by trial and error.
I have worked fairly dilgently on speaker placement with respect to the listening triangle, toe in, height, coupling to stands, and basic room treatments (mostly absorption at first points of reflection, but overall room also).

When I got these ACI Jaguars-it literally took me a month of playing around in their placement with respect side and back walls and listening position. Ihad a tape measure out and was moving them a coupel inches at a time. It was interesting to hear how much speaker placement effects soundstage and presentation.
Of course, I also have a subwoofer that had to be re-integrated with the new monitors.

There seems to be part science and part art to this speaker and room setup thing.

It sounds pretty good most of the time and really good-sort of like "you are there" on very good recordings.

In answer to the first poster-I am a big believer in starting with a good source, but everyhting matters in this hobby. Everything.

Have fun!