Does high volume collapse soundstage depth?

It seems to me the louder my system gets the more forward the soundstage while at lower levels the soundstage is more layered and has greater depth.

Has that been your experience as well?

zavato07-21-2026 1:02am

...
10 posts total
View entire discussion

bbroussard Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 211 posts 07-22-2026 at 01:36am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I think it isn't the higher volume itself, but the lack of headroom from your amplifier that causes that effect. Just my 2 cents.
faustuss Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 907 posts 07-22-2026 at 09:11am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @zavato It's called compression.
ditusa Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,461 posts 07-22-2026 at 12:48pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Your speakers are exhibiting power compression if they lose there composure at high volume. See here and here! Mike
mswale Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 388 posts 07-22-2026 at 02:15pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete My setup is the opposite, the higher the volume the bigger the sound stage becomes. I find imaging starts to collapse at high volume, but that might just be my hearing. The sweet spot is usually around 85-95db, that is where everything comes alive.

10 posts total
View entire discussion

More to discover