Wider
by Polyverse · Imaging · Free mono-compatible widener
vst3s Score 8.8/10 · rated #6 of 10 stereo & imaging
A free one-knob stereo widener made by Polyverse with Infected Mushroom. It can widen a signal up to 200% and stays fully mono-compatible, with no phase cancellation when summed to mono.
Version 2 adds a low-end bypass to keep the bass centred, plus mono and bypass buttons. It is used on synths, vocals, guitars and effect returns.
Best for: Vocals, Keys & Synths, Guitars, Sound Design. Genres: Electronic & EDM, Pop, Hip-Hop & Trap, Lo-Fi.
Keywords: wide, mono-compatible, free, single knob, vocals, electric guitar, synths, bass, simple, backing vocals, beginner-friendly, clean, CPU-light, lo-fi, minimal controls, mixing, reference & monitoring, sound design, pads, tight.
What it does
Wider is a free stereo widener from Polyverse, made with Infected Mushroom. It creates a wider image from a mono or stereo signal using filtering rather than delay or chorus, so the widened signal stays in phase when summed to mono.
- One control: width up to 200%.
- Mono-compatible: no phasing or cancellation in mono, with a mono check button.
- Low-end bypass: new in version 2; keeps the bass centred and tight.
- Version 2 extras: GUI scaling and a bypass button.
It is free.
Source: Polyverse product page
When to use it
Wider is the simplest widener in the rated list. Ozone Imager (also free) does multiband width and has its own Stereoize mode; Wider does one thing, with one knob, and is especially good at making mono sources wide without phase trouble.
- Best for: synth leads and pads, backing vocals, guitars and reverb returns.
- Genres: electronic, pop, hip-hop and lo-fi, where quick, obvious width is the goal.
- Look elsewhere if: you need per-band control or metering (Ozone Imager, S1) or want depth as well as width (StageOne 2).
What producers say
It is one of the most recommended free stereo tools.
- Artists in DSP called it the best free plugin for stereo imaging, 100% mono-compatible.
- KERN Audio listed it first, as one of the most popular free stereo tools.
- TopVSTPlugins called it a one-knob wonder whose width disappears cleanly in mono.
- KVR users rate it 5/5 (7 reviews), praising its simplicity and low CPU; one called it among their most used plugins.
- Artists in DSP: 9 best stereo imaging plugins (2026)
- KERN Audio: 13 best stereo widening plugins in 2026
- TopVSTPlugins: best stereo imager plugins (September 2026)
- KVR user reviews
Where to buy
Tutorials and reviews
- Wider v2.0 NEW FREE Stereo Widener (Polyverse Music)
- WIDER: How It Works (Polyverse Music)
- New FREE Plug-In Wider v2.0 by Polyverse! (Polyverse Music)
- Polyverse Wider Plugin - Quick how to use and what to watch out for
- Increase Stereo Width in Your Mix with Polyverse's FREE Plugin -- WIDER! My Review
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