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

Showing 2 responses by audition__audio

audition__audio
1,619 posts
 

I cant imagine an amplifier increasing the perceived size of instruments. Normally this is the results of speakers and interaction with the room. SETs are very quick to clip and do so in a very subtle fashion so what you are experiencing might be the result of overdriving the amps. P.P. type designs tend to sound a bit fuzzy or confused however by comparison which is why I settled on OTLs.

audition__audio
1,619 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.

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