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What Does Sonic Crosstalk do to the Listening Experience?

This week we continue our discussion about lateral reflections. From the notebook of ASC Founder and TubeTrap inventor Art Noxon, PE Acoustical. Enjoy!

Notice how the left speaker plays directly into the left ear and leaves the right ear in an acoustic head shadow. Same with the right speaker and right ear.

With this arrangement, the stereophonic effect of sound source localization can take place. Sound no longer seems to come from the speakers, rather from various instrument locations in the sonic stage which is located generally between the speakers.

Side wall reflections split the sonic stage into wide set left and right areas and leave center stage empty, sonically dark.

When the cross talk reflections occur, we get mixed LR signals in both ears which eliminates the stereo effect, leaving a large unfocused “fog bank” as a sound source.

Some audiophiles prefer the defocused sound stage. They feel that a well focused sound stage distracts them from paying attention to the music. They prefer “omni” speakers and little to no acoustics in the room-except for bass traps. Other audiophiles enjoy the imaging effect and prefer more directional speakers, room acoustics, and…

SoundPlanks will provide the left-right isolation that avoids the “fog bank” effect. On the other hand, did you notice that audiophiles use bass traps in their room, regardless of preferring a focused or hazy stereo image? Odds are good you fall into at least one of those groups.