Stereo phantom center images have a spectrum dip near 2 kHz from interaural crosstalk

Evidence

The stereo phantom center image will suffer from a significant dip in the spectrum around 2 kHz because the sound from both loudspeakers reaches both ears at different times. This interaural crosstalk cancellation is the first dip in an acoustical interference comb filter as explained in Figure 4.4. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 415

Categorization

• QUESTION: Worth chasing: is this comb-filter dip the reason some listeners prefer true center-channel speakers even without loudspeaker placement constraints?
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 415
• XREF: connects to: Phantom center images reduce speech intelligibility due to interaural crosstalk; The stereo phantom center image suffers an audible 2kHz timbre dip affecting speech intelligibility — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 673; Head shadowing gives roughly 6 dB interaural amplitude difference near 1.85 kHz (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• The stereo phantom center image suffers an audible 2kHz timbre dip affecting speech intelligibility #expands (0.90) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 673
• Phantom center images reduce speech intelligibility due to interaural crosstalk #expands (0.85)
• Head shadowing gives roughly 6 dB interaural amplitude difference near 1.85 kHz #complicates (0.80)
• Phantom center dullness stems from destructive acoustical interference, not loudspeaker inadequacy #qualifies (0.80)
• Panning between two speakers recreates a phantom source positioned by interaural phase shift #expands (0.75)
• Excess uncorrelated rear-wall sound can destroy the phantom center image #complicates (0.75) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 702