Should a stereo soundstage be 3D or 2D?


I read several people talking about a “3D” soundstage. The main purpose of stereo is to provide left-right separation between different sounds in a recording (a “wide” soundstage). I understand that when properly set up, there is also front-back separation (a “deep” soundstage). So there are certainly two dimensions. Where is the third? Will a stereo system provide up-down separation as well? What is the technical explanation?

Thanks for the help!
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Showing 1 response by rpeluso

I have always assumed it meant left-right and then some amount of depth, so I took that to be 3 dimensions.  Images not just between the speakers (the left-right-center), but also behind.