2. amps-preamps
  3. 191876-12372

Single ended = large images?

I'm thinking about trying single ended amps. Years ago for a short time I had Cary 805b monos. I absolutely loved everything about the sound, except that they made all the images very large... Which for me took away from the realism. 

 

Do all the Cary 805 models do this? Not sure if the 211 option on the anniversary edition might be different? I saw a comment by Dennis had that the large image size was intentional and an artifact of zero feedback. 

 

If that's just the way the cary amps are, are there other brands of relatively high power single-ended amps that might not present images in a large and upfront manner? My main speakers are Verity Audio Parsifal, which are only 89 DB efficient. I also have a six pack of REL G2 subwoofers. I want to preserve as much dynamics as possible while moving to single ended, which is why the cary amps are attractive to me... Meaty transformers and a fair amount of power. My room is 15x29 and I listen moderately loudly but not very loudly. Mix of jazz, blues, rock and classical piano.

 

I appreciate any thoughts and any recommendations of other brands that might do what I'm looking for -- that single ended magic without giant forward images. Pricewise I'm looking in the $4k to $7k range used.

 

Thanks

montaldo
steakster
1,966 posts
 

OP: From what you’ve described, take a look at the AGD Audion monoblocks. I’ve heard them at several audio shows. Here’s a review from a reviewer who had an all tube system.

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Music can sound full-bodied without having bloated imagery. It takes time to find the right synergy between the components, the cabling and especially, the speaker positioning.

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Re: 6C33C tube.   Years ago, I owned these Artemis monoblocks. Depending on the bias setting, the 6C33C tubes lasted somewhere around 2000 hours or so. I used to buy them in bulk @ 20 tubes/order - directly from Russia or Ukraine. Now with the war, the prices have skyrocketed. And they’re no longer manufactured.

audition__audio
1,587 posts
 

What you attribute to REL subs can be found with other subs of very high quality. I agree it isnt as much the bass as how it opens the system up. 90% of subs are crossed over at too high a frequency. I still maintain it isnt his amps.

I have heard the AGDs at several shows and my take was a bit different. These were the best class D I have heard but they also, like other class D, had a 2 dimensional quality. The music didnt fully come off the front of the speakers. To really judge them I would need to listen to them in my room so perhaps this comment isnt entirely fair. My take away from one show was not how good the AGDs sounded, but how accomplished the pro speakers used were.

montaldo OP
202 posts
 

Yes I have no doubt that other subwoofer brands can create that same effect. I wasn't trying to be brand specific but more stating the idea of having a number of subwoofers, set to different crossovers and volumes In a certain way adds a dimension to the sound that I did not think subwoofers could provide. 

sns
3,565 posts
 

Both 300B and 845 SET I have sound stage and image differently from the many push pull tube amps or class A solid state amps I've run. I purposely made the move to SET because I desired fuller, greater density imaging, and the performers in the room perspective. Depending on perspectives some may call this bloat. Last year I purchased Pass XP 22 pre to compare to my Coincident Statement DHT pre, I didn't care for the way it more sharply defined image outlines, with Statement I get more decay or blending of separate images. While I wouldn't describe the Pass as having diminished image size, it did more precisely locate them in space. Perspective also changed in that performers became more distant to me. Been a while since I ran push pull tube, but if memory serves me right, the preamp experience replicates move from push pull to SET.

montaldo OP
202 posts
 

Guys this is really been a valuable discussion. I appreciate all the great feedback. I think I'm going to hold on the set amps and either keep the amp I have and try KT120s, or possibly one day keep an eye for a 300B push pull amp like the vac Renaissance 30/70 or 70/70.

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