There are numerous aspects to the high-end audio system: tonality, resolution, inner detail, micro, and macro dynamics, and of course, the holographic image.
Whether your system provides little more than the basic phantom center channel or a full-on three-dimensional holographic soundstage, you're always dealing with an audio hologram.
A few days ago I wrote about the importance of not cluttering up with equipment the space between the speakers. That's important for two reasons. First, our sources and preamps are sensitive to microphonics. We should get them as far away from the speakers as is possible. Second, that clutter of equipment visually interferes with the hologram.
Whether we like it or not, our vision is often a distraction when it comes to generating a perfect audio hologram. It's why it sounds better when we lower the lights or listen in the dark. Once our visual distractions are removed, the brain can more easily process the deep, tall, and wide soundstage that lurks behind our loudspeakers.
Of course, not all setups have managed to build the proper holographic image where the speakers have disappeared, and the musicians are standing behind them. But, on a proper system, this holographic image can be breathtaking—an essential element in a great high-end rig.
If your HiFi doesn't image the way it should, consider removing physical and visual clutter from where you hope the phantom soundstage will appear.
If it hasn't a place to exist, it likely will not.
