The science behind head-staging… could anybody explain?

[bhanja_trinanjan]

Hi,
I never thought that headphones could create such a convincing sound-stage, but my K701 has redefined my expectations. After several months of burn-in, I am awe-struck at their sound-stage.

Its huge, layered and three dimensional. Not one blob at the left and one blob at the right. No! It’s seamless, connected and cohesive. It’s believable. But the K701 is not alone. More and more of the new breed of cans like the HD800 and others are said to produce a life-like 3D sound.

What is the secret behind this? Each ear still hears ONE AND ONLY ONE CHANNEL. So, how does the head-stage form, even without cross feed? Is it the sound leakage from the open-back design?

 

[HONEYBOY]

Check Darth nuts review. There's a lot to digest but its easily one of the best, if not the best review on this matter
!http://www.thismanwillkillyou.com/bi...ega2Review.pdf

 

[bhanja_trinanjan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HONEYBOY /img/forum/go_quote.gif Check Darth nuts review. There's a lot to digest but its easily one of the best, if not the best review on this matter !http://www.thismanwillkillyou.com/bi...ega2Review.pdf

Reading it. Wow... what an insightful article! Thanks

 

[iancraig10]

I've always had a problem with soundstaging on headphones. I hear things in my head and behind, not in front. No idea why.

Before anyone says it ..... yes, I do wear them on my head.

Ian

 

[HONEYBOY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhanja_trinanjan /img/forum/go_quote.gif Reading it. Wow... what an insightful article! Thanks

Glad to know it's helpful!! It's easily the best I've read about on this issue

 

[ear8dmg]

I think the review offers a very good explanation of headstage and soundstage. The altered virtual headstage is one reason why I'm a big fan of Dolby Headphone in two channel mode for close miked music. It alters the soundstage in such a way as to give the illusion of a forward headstage, as opposed to a central one (i.e intersecting the ears).

I could best describe the different modes (DH1 to DH3) as increasing the distance of the virtual headstage from the listener, while increasing the size of the headstage so as to maintain the angular geometry in the horizontal plane. Environmental cues add to the picture, by giving the illusion of listening in a larger room. While the 'size' of the virtual headstage increases (from DH1 to DH3), the 'resolution' does not. If anything, the virtual image is 'blurred' and 'diffused' by the environmental cues (which are mainly added to DH3). I tend to think of it as rather like using anti-aliasing in a computer game, as opposed to increasing the resolution. As a result of this 'blurring' textures become less destinct.

Dolby Headphone can be unsuited to headphones that already have a forward headstage. The 'geometry' is altered, making for a narrower virtual headstage than intended. This is especially true for recordings with an already realistic soundstage. Coming back to my computer game analogy, it's rather like increasing the horizontal field of view, while maintaining the vertical - a bit like displaying a widescreen image on a 4:3 TV. It will quite fatiguing and disorienting for some but won't bother others so much (do you prefer to watch 4:3 images on your widescreen TV stretched or with black bars at the sides?).

 

[HONEYBOY]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ear8dmg /img/forum/go_quote.gif I could best describe the different modes (DH1 to DH3) as increasing the distance of the virtual headstage from the listener, while increasing the size of the headstage so as to maintain the angular geometry in the horizontal plane. Environmental cues add to the picture, by giving the illusion of listening in a larger room. While the 'size' of the virtual headstage increases (from DH1 to DH3), the 'resolution' does not. If anything, the virtual image is 'blurred' and 'diffused' by the environmental cues (which are mainly added to DH3). I tend to think of it as rather like using anti-aliasing in a computer game, as opposed to increasing the resolution. As a result of this 'blurring' textures become less destinct.

Interesting, I've often found that an increase in soundstage/headstage results in a decrease in 'focus' as well. It does make sense. Instruments further away should not be portrayed as vividly as those much more upfront.
So perhaps a huge headstage isn't always a positive thing depending on the way you look at it.

 

[leeperry]

inverted phase is the key!

David Griesinger(main DSP engineer at Lexicon/Harman Kardon) has a very interesting website : http://www.davidgriesinger.com/

what DH does(poorly IMO coz it's too hollow) or Griesinger's Logic7 binaural downmix matrixes is constantly inverting the phase in the opposite channel.

the farther you hear a sound on one channel, the farther you actually hear the same sound w/ inverted phase on the other...Logic7 sounds mind blowing on 5.1>binaural downmix.

and what makes the headstage so great on your K701 is the angled drivers, this gives a ±180° headstage...headphones w/ flat drivers give an utterly boring L/R headstage

of course you can angle any headphones drivers(like I did on my DT770

)

 

[HONEYBOY]

I've heard something to the effect that diffused field equalisation can actually improve/increase headstage. I'm rather ignorant of this phenomenon and would be grateful if anyone would care to give a brief comment about it.

 

[Ham Sandwich]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iancraig10 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've always had a problem with soundstaging on headphones. I hear things in my head and behind, not in front. No idea why.

I get that problem with Sony MDR-V6 headphones. But not with other headphones. There is something peculiar to the V6 that causes them to play headstage games within my head. Other people don't report the same issue with the V6 so either my V6 is different or my brain in interpreting things differently.

 

[iancraig10]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ham Sandwich /img/forum/go_quote.gif I get that problem with Sony MDR-V6 headphones. But not with other headphones. There is something peculiar to the V6 that causes them to play headstage games within my head. Other people don't report the same issue with the V6 so either my V6 is different or my brain in interpreting things differently.

I'm sure it's a 'brain' thing. I'm using Sennheiser HD650 with a Slee Solo amp and just can't lose sight of the fact that they are headphones. The article that the op posted was really good and described extremely well what to listen out for. I tried and tried but found it hard to distinguish.

Maybe a learned skill? (and I'm thick!!)

Ian

 

[leeperry]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ham Sandwich /img/forum/go_quote.gif There is something peculiar to the V6 that causes them to play headstage games within my head.

why don't you try to angle the drivers? this will open up the headstage, 100% guaranteed