Hi bruce,
Thought i'd throw one your way, due to extensive experience, etc...... I have seen the specs of amps, with "50db" left-right channel separation, and others with 120db, etc...... real world usage would that make a huge difference to the imaging of the front stage? Would that explain why people hear the stage as "wider" or more "stereo" with a better amp?
This is not a abx amp test post!! Just a simple question!
Aaron

Sure channel separation will make a difference, but the issue is where to draw the line. As you may well be aware, the system it is only as good as the weakest link - and these days, more often than not, it is your ears, or even the recording, rather than the amplifier (provided the amplifier is not overdriven.....).

I haven't done the testing to find the magic number myself.. A particular ABX tester only requires the channel separation to be at least 30dB (20hz-20khz) - intuitively, (and with very limited hobby music production experience) I would say that is about right - but feel free to actually do the ABX testing yourself before jumping to any conclusions.

Anyways, its too late for me to think - I'm just here because reading these posts will put me to sleep.

[ December 21, 2003, 03:29: Message edited by: Bassaholic ]

the channel seperation is related to, how much of the signal "leaks" into the other amplifier, the larger the seperation, is usualy the better, as in the 2 channels act you could say independantly, where as with lower channel seperation, some of the music intended for one channel will also be reproduced, at a lower volume mind you, in the other channel, you can do a bit of do it yourself test, crank the system up, and play a test tone, out one channel only, is the amps HU etc have bad channel seperation, you should be able to hear it out the other channel as well.

If you only played tapes or listened to radio then having high seperation in amps is of little benefit, but if listening to SACD or DVDaudio then it needs to be very high indeed.

The point Im making is that it should match or exceed the source type and source unit. You dont need X of seperation but you need seperation to be equal to or higher than the highest spec signal the system will see. You dont want an EQ or amp being weakest link in signal path.
peace
Cyberpunky

[ January 02, 2004, 09:00 PM: Message edited by: Cyberpunky ]