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 to help you save time, grief, and wonder just give Brent Jesse a call, and ask for the best measuring tubes he can offer for your QS V4s. I looked up yours there and they are not too costly. He uses a real curve tracer for testing for matched triodes and such. If only I had met Brent decades earlier, could have saved myself and others lot of time. I am currently using mid 1960s Mullard Blackburn plant 12aT7, 12aU7s in my QS amps. Yours appear to be 12FQ7 and 12BH7. The key is quality tubes, low noise, balanced. I compare mine with other vintage and re-issue some times. Brent's best offerings are extra nice. If you like them, buy a set of spares and enjoy. Call him though for your first inquiry and ask him to help educate you a little. It's worth the time and $. You might end up hanging on to your amps long term if you go through these steps. Best of Luck. |
OP: I read your post about staying the course for now - with some tube-rolling. Just wish to toss out another possibility. The imagery in my system tightened-up noticeably when I implemented a grounding system. I use the Synergistic Research tech since the grounding methodology is integrated into my SR cabling. Other companies offer their own versions, such as: Shunyata Altaira - and Puritan Audio Groundmaster & Puritan Audio Route Master. Another inexpensive way to experiment with grounding is this device - which I also use. Curiously, I discovered that grounding will also reveal any noise that might be in the system. In other words, if music sounds worse with grounding, then there’s a dirty power issue lurking somewhere that needs to be addressed. |
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. @steakster The 6C33 went out of production about 25 years ago and the sole factory demolished so they will never be produced again.
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