You are quite correct. But
somebody is going to think up the "Sub Threshold Intermodulation" marketing ploy. When they do, you read it here first!
From what I'm hearing, the soundstage effects clearly seem time dependent as one would expect for creating/sharpening the sense of depth and direction. If it is intermodulation it
could combine harmonic cancellation with complimentary harmonic reinforcement. Both plus and minus...
I'm fortunate to have the time to play this way. Quoting Nelson Pass re: an almost heretical design: "Get over it! It's entertainment!"

And for entertainment, try the cleanest DAC master clocks you can find and give them the cleanest power supply you can provide. Get back to me when you do... Cheers!