I am an audiophile with a two-channel dedicated music room using VTL, VPI, and Harbeth equipment. Never having read about this area, I was skeptical about the type of improvements I would hear with acoustic treatments. A few weeks back I ordered a pair of 3x3 panels and placed those at the first reflection points with the speakers. I noticed a slight improvement in the soundstage, and that was enough to go further into this. I then ordered a pair of 4x2 bass traps and placed those in the corner, and that improvement in the soundstage, imaging of instruments, and bass control made a dramatic difference (in my room). The operative word is clarity. I did the clap test and the echo was gone and the panels exude high-quality. If you're an audiophile and have exhausted the upgrade path of equipment, cables, and power conditioners, the next logical and mandatory step is to treat the room with panels.