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
montaldo OP
202 posts
 

Kenny_c: I don't think that's it... I've always considered mid-range my priority and I love tube amps because they get the mid-range right. I just remember comparing Carrie 805 to my VTL amps at the time, and the Cary images a little forward and large. Dennis had seems to have acknowledged this was intentional. 

Sounds_real_audio: I actually love my verity parsifal speakers. I'm very happy with the sound of my system right now but I'm just looking for a way to make it better (the sickness). I think a return to the 300B amps, wish I know I love, is worth a shot. I may trade a bit of macro dynamics for mid textures and magic.

Thanks

kennyc
1,606 posts
 

Interesting, haven’t thought about image size variation and its causes, don’t know if it’s speaker related, electronics, room, speaker placement, distance from speaker, or a combo.

Also, regarding SETs, I often think of flea watt amps. I have a 100db speaker which I plan to explore tube amps starting with flea watt SET amps down to 2wpc. For the OP’s 91db speakers, guess he’d need a more powerful SET amp with different sonic signatures.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,928 posts
 

Yes sns I think the "oversized" feeling and the distance perspective are one and the same.

@montaldo The reason this happens has to do with the phase of the 3rd harmonic. It can cause certain sounds to be more forward because it makes them a little louder. Exaggerated effects like this are one reason you want to keep distortion down.

montaldo OP
202 posts
 

Interesting! Thanks Ralph. 

thom_oz's avatar
thom_oz
27 posts
 

I for one love a slightly larger than reality stereo image - it drew me to the Dynaco Stereo 70 clones, and my old 10w Stromberg integrated amp, and Magnepan speakers. 

If you turn the volume a little lower than would be heard in real life by those acoustic instruments in a room, the lowered volume and fat image combine to make a really musically convincing presentation.

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