[Stu Pitt]

A person on another forum was talking about Right and Left speakers in a 2 channel stereo set up.  He stated that the right channel should be stage right and not listener's right.  Maybe a better way of stating it is if I were standing between the speakers facing my listening chair, the speaker on my right is the right channel, and the one on the left is the left channel.

He states he has had a few friends who had their speakers set up the opposite way (which is how I've always had them set up), and after they switched it, imaging and soundstaging improved and came into better focus.  I'm not doubting what he's heard.  I think its stupid and pointless to tell someone what they can and can't hear.

I tried it and other than the soundstage being reversed, nothing changed in my room.

What I'm asking is the right channel stage right or listener's right?  Do you know of any technical reason why imaging and soundstaging would change simply by changing the right and left leads?

Anyone else with insight is certainly welcome to comment as well.

[ec]

I have various test records and CDs that have phase checks and left / right checks.  The right speaker has always been listener's right.  Even the Opus3 "imaging" recordings that have real accoustical recording describe what you should be hearing and where is also described in the position of the listener.  Lastly, the the built in test tones on pre pro's and AVRs that run test signals in a circular fashion do so in the guise of listener's position.  I can't see how switching the left with right affect imaging and soundstaging other than being reversed.

[James Tanner]

Maybe when he listens he sits between the speakers with his back to the front wall.  I had a friend back a while that listened exactly that way but he is a musician and that's the way you would hear it on stage?

I have never been in a recording studio that did not setup the soundstage based on listeners right. So if you want to replicate the engineers intent you would have to adhere to those rules  - not to mention the violins would be on the wrong side.

james

[Stu Pitt]

Thanks James and Eric.