Ok I will just respond to this and that's it, really!:
'They can present a large layered sound field that is very accurate. Take for instance the playing of any acoustic instrument. The sound radiates in all directions not just in one direction. Your standard speakers do as well in the lower ranges. The omni radiating pattern of an acoustic instrument does not create ghost images. That is their natural radiation pattern. And some omni designed speakers can create that same natural radiation pattern.'
An instrument will radiate nearly omnidirectionally so you are hearing a room signature, correct. The misconception is that you want a loudspeaker to simulate an instrument so produce a further layer of acoustics that is representative of your room and not the recording ambience, adding a further layer on top of this. This is exactly where you lose the detail (particularly accurate stereo detail).
On the contrary a loudspeaker is used in a pair to represent instruments virtually with their correct stereo positioning. We are not talking about a single source. A whole orchestra does not radiate naturally from a single source omnidirectionally! For stereo to work porperly you need as accurate representing of the original recoring as possible. The speakers should give you an insight into the original recording acoustics, not simply play back your room to you every time! I can explain this in great detail but it takes a few pages - just think about it for a while and the virtual instruments will all fall into place, with the correct recording acoustics. Better still buy a decent pair of speakers that actually resolves the original recording acoustics and images accurately and you will know exactly what I am talking about, no explanation or thinking necessary
