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Which components produce a convincing 3-D image?

Hi. Like many of us I've been through entirely too many pieces of quality gear and I've managed to get close to what I think I should be hearing. However, I've read some comments on Audiogon by folks who claim they feel like they can "reach out and touch" the performer, their systems being so convincing. Keeping in mind that one's listening room can can make or break a system's ability to produce a convincing image I would like to know which components, whether they be amps, preamps, speakers, CDPs, cables, whatever, have contributed the most to your system's ability to provide that illusion of being there with the performers.

I'm currently running two sytems:

For two-channel A/V: PMC FB-1 speakers, Sim Audio Moon I-5 integrated, Sony DVP-S9000es, Silver Audio Bullet 4.0s, Analysis Plus Oval 12 shotgun bi-wired 8' speaker cables.

For two-channel stereo: Tyler Linbrook Monitors, McCormack DNA-125 amp, Marantz SA-14 SACD, Creek OBH-11 volume control, 2 pairs Homegrown Audio .5M Silver Lace interconnects, AudioQuest AQ-8 bi-wired 8' speaker cables.

Thank you.
beemerrider
newbee
4,093 posts
 
if your speakers can handle them a good tube amp can make a huge difference in creating soundstage. they only down side is that like a beautiful woman they require more maintenance than the ordinary (ss) ones. not for the faint of heart or the picky picky's.
whknopp0713
179 posts
 
Speaker placement (including stands if you have monitors), room treatment, and power conditioning, in that order of importance. I'm still amazed sometimes at the differences resulting from tiny changes in toe-in. Diffraction and side wall absorbtion are also big players here. And certainly the lower noise floor resulting from good cords and/or AC conditioners adds a lot of depth to the soundstage.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
In general analogue components produce more convincing 3D image than digital.
beemerrider OP
63 posts
 
Thanks for the responses written so far. You folks have already given me some food for thought. Regarding monitors and stands, I have the Linbrooks Blu-Tak'd to their stands, which are filled with clay-based kitty litter...each side weighs in at more than 100 pounds. With previous speakers this has always worked to sharpen focus, clean up the leading edges of transients, and make bass reproduction more solid. My room is smaller than I'd like. I can bring the speakers about 20" into the room but no more than 2' (left side) or 3' (right side) from side walls. Currently I have them toed in directly at my listening chair.

Please keep the ideas and observations coming! I find this all very interesting and I personally believe that if one's system images well the other desired qualities can't be far behind.
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