Highest frequency that cannot be "localized" by the ear?

[Resident Loser]

...you were the one who said your sub worked/sounded better when aligned with your right channel speaker, I simply provided you with a plausible explanation...take it or leave it as you desire. Since I neither use nor need any bass augmentation, for me at least, the point is moot.

However, I suggest you take a zoom-in on that diagram provided in your link...you will plainly see the double-basses, cellos, tubas and other bass-rich instruments are, in fact, to the right of the conductor. The same info is provided at the following sites, the first four choices given when I Google'd "symphony orchestra layout", to wit:

http://library.thinkquest.org/C005400/orch.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/22673/orchestra.html

http://www.pacificsymphony.org/concerts/musicians.asp

http://www.rpo.co.uk/concert_orchestra_plan_flash.asp

Didn't find yours 'til the bottom of the second page as I recall...but then, it is really just a guide to emulate an orchestra using sampled instrumentation

The following FR chart is provided to show which instruments have fundamentals that extend down to the frequencies handled by the ordinary, garden variety, sub. Most of them are to the conductor's right:

http://www.psbspeakers.com/audioTopi..._num=1&start=0

Balancing the sound of a stereo recording is NOT necessarily a product of frequency balance, but one of volume output, acoustical energy, or decibels, take your pick of terminology...as long as the left and right channels average roughly the same levels (as would be indicated on the VU meters) all will be well.

If one records X number of violins in the left and Y number of string-basses in the right so that the acoustical output is equalized, the recording will sound fine......The conductor, by instructing the musicians, can temper the mix in both a live setting or at a recording session...or there can be a greater number of violins in the ratio to achieve balance...or to a less-than-satisfactory end and depending on the miking technique used, it can be "fixed in the mix"...but, the higher frequencies will still be to the left and the lower one's to the right. That is inescapable and replicates the soundstage presented in a live venue.

Is there "bleeding"? Are there exceptions, such as the harp, piano and preferred timpani placement? The answer is: yes...but for the most part, the bass-rich instruments are, in fact, traditionally heard to the right.

We haven't even gotten into the average pop/jazz group, whose drummer and his bass/kick drum is, more often than not, center stage...hence the compromise of centering the sub...Perhaps sub-woofer positioning is more dependent on program material than anything else. I dunno'...two still seems correct to me...

I previously mentioned limited bandwidth simply as reference point with regard to the similar compromise of a single sub-woofer. So in that light, and with regard to SACD etc., how big a catalog of "true" SACDs is available compared to that of plain ol' CDs? Compared to vinyl? Whether sampled at the low-ball 44.1 kHz or 2.8 meg, unless the performers are actually recorded at that sampling rate, most of discs would seem to be digitally remastered reissues of older, classic(but analog) tapes...Hooray, we get to hear digitized tape-hiss! GIGO once again rears it's ugly head.

jimHJJ(...just some observations...)