Soundstaging and imaging are audiophile fictions.


Recently I attended two live performances in one week--a folk duo in a small club and a performance of Swan Lake by a Russian ballet company. I was reminded of something I have known for many years but talked myself out of for the sake of audiophilia: there is no such thing as "imaging" in live music! I have been hearing live music since I was a child (dad loved jazz, mom loved classical) and am now in my 50s. I have never, NEVER heard any live music on any scale that has "pinpoint imaging" or a "well resolved soundstage," etc. We should get over this nonsense and stop letting manufacturers and reviewers sell us products with reve reviews/claims for wholly artificial "soundstaging"

I often think we should all go back to mono and get one really fine speaker while focusing on tonality, clarity and dynamics--which ARE real. And think of the money we could save.

I happily await the outraged responses.
Jeffrey
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Showing 1 response by twl

I don't know about anyone else, but when I go to a symphony, I can tell the first chair violin is coming from the front left side of the orchestra. Etc, Etc. Why is this not desireable to have similar results from your stereo? Isn't that what imaging and soundstage do? Perhaps I am wrong.