Crossfeed filters...Adverse effect on sound?

[msjjr]

I have the Corda HA-1 that I am very pleased with, but in the 3 months I've had it, I've only listened to it in the medium and low crossfeed positions. I read a posting re the collapsing of the soundstage and reduction in bass with the crossfeed filter on. So I switched it to the off position and VOILA, the soundstage seemed to widen remarkably and the bass improved. You should know that I'm not one of those with super sensitive ears, so I hadn't expected to really notice a difference.

My rig consists of:

Sonic Frontiers SFT-1 CD transport
North Star 24/192 DAC
Elco digital and analog interconnects
Corda HA-1
Sennheiser HD-600 (awaiting the Equinox cable upgrade from Stefan Audio Art)

 

[msjjr]

I forgot my Monarchy Dip Mark 2 jitter reducer.

 

[DarkAngel]

I think preference for crossfeed is very dependent on individual taste. Myself I find no discomfort/fatigue listening to full stereo,
so I use Corda with no crossfeed. It is very hard for me to discern any difference with crossfeed engaged, I'm sure some recordings benefit more than others, but I find slightly more air/detail is gained with no crossfeed.

I have not heard the Headroom crossfeed filter, but it must be more dramatic in its effect since they offer switchable filters to use
with crossfeed.

 

[slindeman]

For me it is highly dependant on the music. With some music I will hardly notice the difference unless I look for it. With others the difference is dramatic. It usually improves the soundstage, especially depth-wize, but lessens the impact and detail, as DarkAngel has said, which is probably more realistic but not necessarily more enjoyable.

There are some recordings, especially many Jazz ones, which are very annoying on headphones, with the bassist seemingly playing his instrument straight into your left or right ear. For these, crossfeed is incredibly useful, as it makes the soundstage much better. I also find that crossfeed makes the music less fatiguing, such that I can listen longer. I use crossfeed nearly 100% of the time, although I could do without it for rock/pop/electronica and symphonic classical. For jazz and small ensemble classical I wouldn't want to be without it.

msjjr, I didn't know Stefan Audio Art made a cable for the HD600. It must be new. Please give a review when you get it.

 

[MacDEF]

I have the Max (so my comments refer to HeadRoom's crossfeed), and I can't really listen without crossfeed anymore. A few CDs (mainly older ones) don't sound quite right, but for everything else, crossfeed makes everything more realistic and less fatiquing. Some people say it reduces the soundstage -- I feel that it makes the soundstage more realistic. Most recordings are produced assuming that they will be listened to using speakers, and that cross-talk will occur. When you remove that crosstalk, and each ear only hears what comes out of the respective R/L channel, IMO the soundstage you're getting isn't right. With crossfeed, the soundstage seems to be more accurate/realistic. When listening to a jazz recording, the drums should NOT be coming from my left with the sax on my right

They should be *to* the left or right, but in front of me.

Basically, without crossfeed on headphones I find the sound to be fatiguing and unrealistic. I generally turn crossfeed on and HeadRoom's "filter" to the middle setting to compensate for the tiny bit of highs that are rolled off by the crossfeed processor.