New Amp Choice

reubent5,,

That is something to consider. I will look into it, but initially it speaks to what I have said. Thanks

Ohm speakers might be a "best of both worlds" compromise for you. I believe they are only sold direct these days. I also believe they are all still made in USA and offer a home trial/return period.

www.ohmspeakers.com

I'm not an owner and have no vested interest in Ohm. They have just always been around as a speaker that reportedly fills a room with sound. I actually had a home trial way back in about 1986 when they were still sold by dealers.

Just to be clear, the Bose are not in the same league with the Golden ears obviously. That said, I used the Bose with good receivers and the GE's with the Mac so the GE's have better amplification. What I considered at the time was I was using the Bose very nearfield beside my chair maybe 20 inches either side of me and the movement of the sound around me was special. Maybe I am asking for something that can only be done by a speaker of that types placed as they were. As much as I liked it I would lose to much in other qualities to go back. I like the idea of the best of both. My room is around 18 x14 x 8  and my setup does not lend itself to  too much in placement changes. Thank each of you for your replies. I am considering the tube amp suggestion as I have been curious about how they compare to a good SS amp.  

I much preferred high wattage ss when I had the triton ones. Had a few different ones and liked the Odyssey Stratos the best with them. Even though they have the powered subs they really take on the character of the amp. 

Nick,

A good soundstage is produced by good loudspeakers and proper placement. I'm guessing your placement is the limiting factor at the moment. 

A two-channel.amp will never give you an "enveloping" effect! I have a Kenwood unit with its own two-channel amp and various front panel settings for "large hall", " night club", "cathedral" ... used with a pair of speakers placed on the sides or rear. A modern version of the old Audio Pulse. I don't use it at present because I prefer my stereo listening unadulterated! But you sure can have some fun with a reverb unit like this! I suggest you buy one like the Kenwood and a small pair of speakers. Then experiment with the room placement to find a setup that you find pleasing! PS. I bought the Kenwood at my local Goodwill - $15!

Thanks for the response. I will find a forum with hopefully greater input.

Waited a whole 3.5 hours.

bose + sonos 

for the win!!!  

Nick,

When you had the receiver and the "surround type Bose speakers", did you have a pair of stereo speakers, or did you have multi-channel surround speakers, i.e. 5.1 surround? Was it a HT receiver?

It's NOT the 2 channel equipment.

It's the speakers, their sound distribution, combined with content with both strong channel separation and sound effects.

And the space: it's proportions, live/dull characteristic, parallel and/or non-parallel surfaces

You Liked the Bose sound!

I refer to Bose, i.e. Bose 901's 'Stereo Everywhere'. Not for me, but many like my neighbor, his party guests, and you love it.

I suggest you find nice pair of vintage Bose, 901's, 301's  that offer returns and try them.

btw, some vintage equipment offered a 'derived' center channel, you might like a 3rd speaker. 

Tubes may change the sound in some ways but it won’t sound like and old pair of acoustimass speakers.  If you liked the 301’s buy a used pair off eBay for peanuts. Or maybe try some vintage 901’s.  Bose didn’t make detailed speakers back in the day but they were fun and musical. 

You really shouldn't need subwoofers with your Triton Ones.

op

it would be helpful if you would say more about what you are trying to improve in the sound of your system beyond it becoming more ’enveloping’

the ge triton 1’s are very efficient, easy to drive, with their self powered bass units

you can definitely improve the sound moreso with a different, expensive amp but when you say you want a more enveloping sound, i think first of examining whether you have ideal speaker placement, room treatment and listening position

Thanks for the response. I will find a forum with hopefully greater input.

You  mean like these?

https://jamesromeyn.com/audiokinesis-speaker-models/debra/

They would be used with my Golden Ears correct?

Your Golden Ears at 93dB are efficient enough you could use a Raven Blackhawk and have a greater sense of a dimensional envelopment probably than any of the others. https://www.ravenaudio.com/product/blackhawk-mk3/  A superb tube amp like that is key to the kind of wide and deep stage you want. After that, the next thing that will contribute to a sense of envelopment is super deep accurate bass from a Swarm or Distributed Bass Array. I'm talking real 3D envelopment not the gimmick Bose diffuse reflected sound effect. For that you don't need Bose you can put lots of speakers all over the place, or heck you can even wire your speakers out of phase it will sound like music coming from everywhere (and nowhere). You can tell I am no fan of Bose.  

The kind of thing I am talking about will never sound like things are coming from behind you. Rather it gives the sense of being in the venue, no longer in your room but somewhere else. A feeling I find about a million times more involving. The extreme low bass of a Swarm does this without attracting attention to itself because it recreates the subtle low bass signature of a much larger space, fooling your brain into thinking you are somewhere else.