Depth in a soundstage isn’t recorded as a measurement—it’s created as an illusion.
What makes some recordings feel like they stretch back beyond the speakers, while others sound flat against the wall? The answer lies in timing and subtle cues embedded in the recording.
Reflections from the original venue, phase relationships, and reverberation patterns all tell your brain that something is farther away.
Depth isn’t about frequency response or volume—it’s about preserving micro-timing and phase.
A well-set-up pair of speakers can create the sensation of layers: the singer in front, the drummer behind, the hall wrapping around it all. When that illusion works, it feels like stepping into a different acoustic space.
