What Is The Cost Of Amplifier Casework?

This is sort off what I have, and listeners have said it's the best image and depth they've ever heard.
https://imageshack.com/i/poYzREGxj


Cheers George

Exactly kalali, the depth perceived is all dependant on how far back the back wall is between the speakers, in my case it’s a good 5mts.

But you still need a short wall with a meter to two space directly behind the speaker for bass loading, as you sort of have with the bay window setup, otherwise you could get bass light depending on the speaker.

Cheers George

I must disagree.

Well all I can say is Neville Thiele (rip) taught me this, and the result was a no brainer, so much so I even took the wall out inbetween the speakers and left just a short 1.5mt wall behind each speaker for loading purpose, and the depth of image increased even more, to a visual/aural placement of depth imagery up to 5mts back behind the speakers.

Cheers George

when using DSP room correction there is a compeling argument to have loudspeakers placed close to the rear wall.

Yes this can be done with DSP, and you may well get a flat overhaul correction done. But you can also say goodbye to any depth to the image doing this.

I'm also with  dlcockrum and:
"but I prefer to keep my audio in the analog domain where possible"

Cheers George

that place speakers too close to side and especially rear walls are trashing imaging and depth.

Yes that too, but the worst offender for ruining stereo imagery and depth is the shiny hard equipment rack full of equipment in-between the speakers. First best thing is to get empty space between the speakers and as far back as you can, Neville Thiele (rip) taught me this, a long while back.

Cheers George

So you would pay Porsche prices for a Porsche built car that looked like a Gremlin?

With sound it depends if you are an "audiophile" with sound as your 1st preference. Or if what you look at is more important. You'll never see a MacIntosh owner with all his gear off to the side, except for the speakers. 

I've seen it too many times, many (not all) rich guys ask me what's the best, who just want the best to show off to their rich mates, even though they are all deaf, and can't tell the difference.
And then set it up like an 'advert" with all the gear on $$$$$ racking in-between the speakers, trashing the stereo image and depth. 

Cheers George

What are the chances of a manufacturer getting the internal amp design to sound right if they can’t get casework that is functional and looks good?

Why does having the case look good, reflect on how it sounds.

It’s what’s inside that counts. Many times it’s prototypes that sound better than the production versions. This is why Schiit are making a big impact on the hiend, great internals average budget exterior.
This way you can have hiend sound without the exorbitant costs of "glitzy" casework that does nothing for the sound.

But then there are "pseudo" audiophiles that buy the most expensive "glitzy’est" looking equipment/racking, just to show it off for it’s looks, but have no idea if it sounds good or not, as they have no ear.
These are usually the ones that stack their "glamour" pieces in-between the speakers so they can ogle it and the led lights while listening, but they have no idea that the "stereo image is being greatly compromised" with all that racking and equipment and sometimes a tv as well, in-between the speakers.   

Cheers George

What Is The Cost Of Amplifier Casework?

What is the approximate cost of the casework on the big Krells, big Pass Labs and big Gryphon amps? What is the approximate cost of casework on similar big solid state amps? mitch4t

With those sort of "glitzy" looking ones, at least half the dollars if not more.

This is why stuff from manufacturers like Schitt products, are doing so well, because inside they have what counts to make good sound, yet the exterior is plain jane cheap looking but does not detract from the sound.

Cheers George