The phantom center image in stereo is always corrupted at the symmetrical sweet spot

Evidence

The consequence of this is that the sound quality of the phantom center image (usually the featured artist) in stereo recordings is fundamentally compromised for a listener in the symmetrical sweet spot. Those who believe that phase shift is audible and that waveform fidelity is essential must think again, because for this sound image both are seriously corrupted. That said, for good stereo imaging the two loudspeakers must be very similar in performance. The direct, usually on-axis sounds must match, meaning that achieving identical steady-state room curves is no assurance of anything, as they are dominated by off-axis sound from the loudspeakers. — Toole, Floyd E, Sound reproduction- the acoustics and…, 419

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines phantom center image and clarifies why steady-state room curves don’t guarantee direct-sound matching.