In a technical aspect, "soundstage" refers to the perceived spatial representation of sound within an audio system. It refers to the ability of the system to create a three-dimensional auditory environment where the listener can perceive the location, width, depth, and height of different sound sources.
Speakers extract information about where to play sound through various techniques:
Stereo Imaging: Stereo systems use two speakers to create a sense of soundstage. By employing stereo recording techniques and reproducing the recorded signals through two speakers, the system can create the illusion of a soundstage with a wider and more realistic spatial representation. Stereo imaging relies on capturing and reproducing differences in timing, phase, and amplitude between the left and right channels to create the perception of sound originating from different directions.
Localization Cues: Our brains rely on various acoustic cues to determine the location of sound sources. These cues include interaural time differences (ITD), which are the differences in arrival times of sound at each ear, and interaural level differences (ILD), which are the differences in sound intensity between the ears. These cues help speakers reproduce sounds with the appropriate spatial information, allowing the listener to perceive their location.
Regarding complex sound waves and frequency aggregation, speakers are designed to accurately reproduce the different components of sound waves. This is achieved through their frequency response characteristics, which specify how well they reproduce different frequencies. Speakers can handle complex waveforms by accurately reproducing the individual frequencies present in the signal, and the brain processes and integrates these frequencies to perceive the complete sound.
As for higher bit rate or depth, they can contribute to better sound quality, but the impact is typically more noticeable in the digital domain (e.g., audio recording, encoding, and playback) rather than with speaker reproduction alone. Higher bit rates and greater bit depths provide more accurate representation of the audio signal, allowing for finer details and dynamic range to be preserved. However, the overall sound quality is also influenced by factors such as the quality of the recording, the source material, the speaker system, and the listening environment. So while higher bit rates and depths can potentially enhance the audio experience, they are just one aspect of the overall audio reproduction chain.