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Solid state amplifiers and sound stage, especially front to back "depth"

I've been enjoying my trial period with the Van Alstine SET 400 stereo amplifier. When I'm done and have collected my thoughts, I may write up a summary.

In the meantime, a question for folks with more experience. I've noticed is that the amp produces a sound stage that is nicely defined and articulate from left to right, but not as much from front to back. (My Adcom was also unable to create sound stage depth.) I know my room is capable of that sound stage because my tube amp accomplishes it.

Question: Is it typical of solid state amps to have less of a front to back sound stage than tube amps? Do they vary in this regard? Or, perhaps, am I failing to do something -- such as re-position my speakers? (After all, I immediately get that sound stage back when I switch amplifier without moving anything else.)

If you have any experience with solid state amplifiers and sound stage -- front to back, left to right, or whatever, I'm curious.

This is not about me keeping or not keeping the amp. There are many things I already really like about it. But I'm wondering about this aspect.

Thanks.
128x128hilde45
niodari's avatar
niodari
305 posts
 
Hey @ghasley.. I would not ask such a question to Dalai Lama - i know there exists no verbal answer on it (i do hatha yoga can reach physically all asanas  -  this not necessarily " enlightens" you; in general,  the meaning of "enlightened" is quite vague and speculative). 
And which question do you mean (or did you mean 
" ... asking the Dalai Lama what is his profession")? 
By the way, if you still ask to  Dalai Lama the question you stated, i guess he would just reply that each person decides what  "enlightened" means for him. 
ghasley
2,507 posts
 
@niodari I was just comparing the question you asked as a question that shouldn’t require an answer.


@atmasphere builds some of the more highly regarded tube amplifiers in the world. I am not a customer of his and I have never owned an Atmasphere amplifier or preamplifier but his street cred is legit.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,936 posts
 
I trust your perception - are you a musician or a sound engineer?
I play in a band and have been playing since I was about 4 years old. I also run a recording studio that has LP mastering capacity. But I make my living as a designer for a high end audio company that makes amps and preamps.
niodari's avatar
niodari
305 posts
 
Thanks @ghasley  for letting me know about the business of @atmasphere - sincerely i didn't have that info and don't see from where i could have it. Hence, the question  required an answer (for me i mean). And thanks @atmasphere  for your kind response (by the way, which instrument you play - i used to play and like the most base). Now I understand your motivation and again, i am not at all against tube amplification. In fact, i spent > 20 years mostly auditioning a tube amplifier. But, the most of the things are relative and i found it really useful to compare tube amplification with SS. I tried a McIntosh SS class A/B amp. My first impression was that it was delivering a cleaner sound, but other things were not as good as in my tube amp. Now I think that i reached some equilibrium/satisfaction with the current class D in my main system. I could also like your tube amps but am unable to carry out the necessary study (even don't know which amps you produce): I still enjoy analysis of different sound reproductions and comparisons  between them (far below your authoritative level).  

b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,288 posts
 
Kind of late to the party but my Belles Aria Integrated has an awesome soundstage.  Im moving on to a Raven Nighthawk which supposedly has exceptional soundstage width so we’ll see...  

I’ll report back with my findings / opinions 
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