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What causes imaging or the lack of it

My friend and I both have Innersound EROS electrostats, with only a few differences in equipment. My system has incredible imaging, and his has none! We can move my speakers almost anywhere in posistions in attempt to stop imaging, and its still there. On the other hand, we can position his speakers in every possible position except, hanging from the ceiling and no imaging at all. You can rule out anything to do with the distance between them. the distance to the sweet spot, the toe, etc, etc. We both set up our systems perfectly in accordance with Innersound specs. We are trying to find out just what could be causing the difference in our systems, or why his is not imaging? I dont like equipment listings on threads but,it may be necessary for you to help.

My system - Innersound EROS MK1's with MK2 panels, MK3 bass xover amp, and ESL amp. Pioneer elite DV-05 dvd player as transport, Assemblage 2.6 platnum DAC, and d2d upsampler, Kimber D-60 digital cables amd MIT T2 interconnects

His system - Innersound EROS MK1's with MK2 panels, original bass xover amp and parasound amp for panels. same dvd player, same digital cables, same interconnects. His dac is being utilized through an EAD Encore.

Even if you can explain what creates imaging, it will help us. Thanks....
sfrounds
tireguy
1,964 posts
 
I would put money your rooms are the factor. From my experience(in particular with dipole speakers) the room is just about as important as speaker location. He could have a dirtier power supply which also has a BIG effect on imaging- which can't help electrostats any let alone the other gear.
zargon's avatar
zargon
453 posts
 
Have you verified that his speakers are operating in phase?
sfrounds OP
35 posts
 
The speakers are phased correctly, if you mean the positives and negatives are correct on all 4 speaker cables. He is using a Panamax 1500 line conditioner for all equipment, and have tried it, with and without it, with same results.
subaruguru
1,369 posts
 
It's gotta be the room or, of course, a phase reversal somewhere. Check carefully.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Well Steve, other than the comments already submitted, i can see that you have different DAC's and power amps. Both of these can make a BIG difference. Since you say that you can move your speakers all over the place in your room ( which should essentially negate the advantage of specific placement or room acoustics in your system ) and still beat the pants off of the other system in terms of imaging, i would start looking at the electronics. My first guess would be the differences in DAC's and then "possibly" the amps. Try bringing your DAC over to his place and give that a try. I know that there have been more than a few times when i went from one DAC to another and literally "unleashed" tons of imaging and soundstage with the change. If it is the DAC that is killing his performance, don't fall prey to the idea that it is the tubes in your DAC that offers the spatial advantages. I went from tube DAC's to a SS model and picked up a LOT more spacial information, so it is strictly a matter of how well the product is designed, NOT what method is used. Both SS and Tube products can sound good or bad. Sean
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