Best amplifier for Acoustat 2+2 electrostats for holographic sound, or change speakers?
I seek your opinion on how to improve the holographic sound out of my current system, which has the Acoustat 2+2 full range electrostatic speakers, solid state Sound Spectrum Technologies (SST) Ampzilla 2000 SE monoblocks (300 wpc, high current), and 2 preamps - a solid state SST Thoebe 2 and a SAS Audio Labs Reference 11A tube hybrid (which I am using currently). Sources are a Yamaha PX2 turntable with Hana Umami Blue cartridge, Eastern Minimax tube phono stage, a Musical Fidelity A5 CD player (as transport) thru an Audio Mirror Tubadour IV SE DAC and an Eversolo DP6 server. I also have a Moscade Saturn active subwoofer. Room treatments include dispersion panels behind the Acoustats, bass traps at the corners and some DIY absorption panels plus miscellaneous isolators on the equipment. Cables are a mixed bag with nothing very expensive. The listening room (my study) is 22' x 13' x 8'.
I listen to jazz and vintage rock.
I can't afford to remake my system and like the sound of the Acoustats but want the sound field to extend more beyond the panels and the imagery to be better defined.
I have read that a push-pull tube amp could result in a more holographic sound. What should I look for in terms of tube amp design and power output? Can you recommend any specific amps?
The alternative is to change speakers, one big issue being selling the Acoustats, which because of the 8' height are a challenge to ship. The other is selecting from the hundreds of speaker choices.
My budget is limited - I don't want to spend more than $1K over what I'd realize in selling either the amps or the speakers and I'd buy pre-owned. I live in the Atlanta area.
Appreciate your suggestions. Thanks!
Wow @pindac, what an outstanding response here! Sadly it takes a lot of time, trial and error, patience, and even luck, to assemble a system to achieve the initial experiences of the attributes that you describe so well here. Taking what we learned to get to that initial point of "success" with further refinements to the system takes us to (2) in your response. The end result is that it is often difficult to end a listening session and return to reality. John |
This statement is not applicable to the big Soundlab speakers. "Careful", yes, "precise", no. They can be near or far from the side walls. They should be 2-3 feet from the back wall or corners or some bass peaks will occur in some rooms. Slight relocation will reduce this dramatically with care. But never never never, insert an "equalizer" between the pre and amp or you will lose much of the magic you worked so hard to achieve. They can be 6-8 feet apart, 10+ feet apart, 10-14 feet from the listener, or as an incredible experience, the user can sit a couple feet in front. There is no need for the listener to shift their head to find the "sweet spot". |
