imaging qualities

English translation: positioning of elements in the 'sound stage'

21:11 Dec 7, 2009
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Electronics / Elect Eng
English term or phrase: imaging qualities
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Could you please explain to me what "imaging qualities" are when we're talking about sound?
Nadia Ayoub
Egypt
Local time: 17:38
Selected answer:positioning of elements in the 'sound stage'
Explanation:
usually, when we talk about 'imaging', we are referring to 'stereo imaging', i.e. the impression that certain sounds are positioned in certain places between he left and right loudspeakers (or in this case, ears!)

It's quite difficult to pin down objectively, but there is no doubt that some combinations of transducers produce a clarity of localization, with sounds easy to pinpoint accurately in space, whereas others produce a certain 'woolliness' or uncertainty of (apparent) positioning.

Many technical factors come into play, and the interactions between them are complex, subtle, and not necessarily terribly well understood.
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 16:38
Grading comment
Many thanks Tony :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +3positioning of elements in the 'sound stage'
Tony M


  

Answers


39 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
positioning of elements in the 'sound stage'


Explanation:
usually, when we talk about 'imaging', we are referring to 'stereo imaging', i.e. the impression that certain sounds are positioned in certain places between he left and right loudspeakers (or in this case, ears!)

It's quite difficult to pin down objectively, but there is no doubt that some combinations of transducers produce a clarity of localization, with sounds easy to pinpoint accurately in space, whereas others produce a certain 'woolliness' or uncertainty of (apparent) positioning.

Many technical factors come into play, and the interactions between them are complex, subtle, and not necessarily terribly well understood.

Tony M
France
Local time: 16:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 304
Grading comment
Many thanks Tony :)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  James Girard: Imaging refers to how exactly the audience hears the reproduction, as in how real it sounds, where the instruments are, etc. Great sound systems and recordings can do that. Great recordings and sound systems with bad imaging can't.
39 mins
  -> Thanks, James!

agree  Jennifer Levey: Yes. Imaging quality is sometimes (and more appropriately IMHO) referred to as 'spatial rendering'.
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, R! Yes, I'd feel happier with that as a technical term too.

agree  kmtext: I think it can also refer to tracking of movement, for instance in a film, when a car moves from left to right, the apparent source of the sound changes to reflect that.
11 hrs
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