the only way an instrument can be placed extreme right AND extreme left with a 'hole' in the middle is if it is recorded on 2 tracks simultaneously and 1 track is panned right and the other track is panned left, in which case, it's as it was intended to be.

otherwise, you may have your speaker wires reversed.

i agree with will though, in needing to know which recording(s) you're talking about.

btw...yes 'fragile' on dvd-a...you dog! eddie offord...one of the best mixes ever. it would be cool if you reviewed that disc. though i am in the sacd camp,i am tempted to buy a dvd-a player just for that one.