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Walk-in soundstage

Coupled with his Weiss DAC 204 and T+A DAC 200, Mr. Steve Huff claimed to have experienced the so-called "walk-in soundstage" when using the Lumin U2 as the streaming transporter. This refers to a deeply immersive, three-dimensional stereo image where the listener perceives the musical space as so realistic and spacious that it feels as if one could physically walk into the soundstage.

This level of presentation is notably different from the more common “layered” sound field that many average listeners or reviewers report—where the sound is merely projected in front of the listener with some layering or spatial envelopment.

I'm curious how many of you have also experienced this effect in your own systems and listening spaces. If you're open to sharing, I'd love to hear about the components and setup that helped you achieve it.

  

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jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,636 posts
 

In this site I notice many will not agree because of lack of experience and their listening skill are not the same level as the reviewers, I totally understand that ? I’ve been there.I listen a lot and discover a lot as well.unfortunately many old timers agoners no longer post ihere to share their knowledge and experience.

jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,636 posts
 

SNS on surround sound indeed walk in soundstage is easy to accomplish, but the sound quality won’t be as good on two channel. It’s really a challenge to do it on channel.

sns
4,218 posts
 

I'd never even attempt, to do it at level I'd want would be so costly!

helomech
2,011 posts
 


Are you sure?  Let me ask you or ask yourself, if your DAC gives you wall of sound like many entry level or mid-tier DACs do, how are you going to achieve that?

100% positive. Yes, a walk-in soundstage is indeed >/= 90% room and speakers. The majority of the remaining 10% or so is the amplification. I’ve heard enough $60K+ digital front ends paired with six figure speakers in enough rooms to know that the front end accounts for nearly zero of the effect, because many of those systems failed to produce said effect. Money ≠ equal performance when it comes to digital components. It did once upon a time, but not these days. 

Ask yourself, how many times have you supplemented a $300 DAC for a five figure DAC in a six figure system? Unlike most if not all fans of Steve Puff, I’ve actually tried similar experiments and the sound didn’t change a lick. Thing is, if you really want and expect to experience a life altering improvement, you likely will, at least, initially. That’s the same condition that afflicts Mr. Huff, unfortunately, he hears what he wants to, until the next flavor-of-the-month arrives at his doorstep. But hey, the guy also thinks he can communicate with the ghost of Michael Jackson, so…

 

richardbrand's avatar
richardbrand
1,387 posts
 

@vitussl101 

Prokofiev - Ivan the Terrible - Slatkin MFSL Super Audio CD Hybrid Multich UDSACD 4003

Do you get the walk-in (or walk round) effect on 5-channel DSD playback, and/or DSD 2-channel playback and/or CD playback from that disk?

My experience suggests that with decent speakers, all three formats will produce a walk-round sound-stage though it is more obvious with surround sound!

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