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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.
hilde45
rh67
307 posts
 
From twoleftears;

"The position of your speakers and your room treatments are optimized for your tube amp. Have you considered the possibility that they might need to be changed to obtain maximum performance from the ss amp that you swopped in? No one expects all makes and models of loudspeakers to perform optimally in the same position in a given room; perhaps this notion should be extended to amps."

The above is the only post in this whole thread that can help the OP.


georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 



Furniture or a large rack between the speakers can reduce depth.

Your correct this is the biggest killer for depth, there should be nothing between the speakers as far back as possible, even the wall should go, and leave small 1mt sections behind the speakers for bass loading. My setup, and I have depth of image out into the garden https://ibb.co/VTRJ0Wh

Cheers George
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,304 posts
 
@georgehifi I think I read that comment of yours from another thread a while back and have done all possible to eliminate height between speakers.

I will play with positioning as per the suggestion. That helps the practical problem. The page from @twoleftears from Pass may resolve the theoretical difference between voicing (McGowan) or no voicing (Van Alstine).

Viz., Pass: "Of course the concept of a sweet spot depends on having an idea what of what constitutes the best performance. It could be that you want the lowest measured distortion, a particular mix or phase of harmonics in the distortion waveform, the greatest efficiency, greatest power or simply the best subjective experience when you listen to it. The sweet spot is whatever you want – after all, you are the designer....If you have a distortion analyzer, you could simply run through the range of combination of values and select the result you like best. If you simply want good measurements, you might be able to stop there. If you are looking for better subjective performance, you might find this a good place to start your listening."
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,445 posts
 
Your correct this is the biggest killer for depth, there should be nothing between the speakers as far back as possible, even the wall should go, and leave small 1mt sections behind the speakers for bass loading. My setup, and I have depth of image out into the garden https://ibb.co/VTRJ0Wh
Too simplistic and too drasctic in a way and not enough drastic in another way....

My speakers are near the wall and even one is few inches included in a corner wall, on my desk, with dac amplifier and computer screen between speakers...

Guess what?

my depth imaging is very good in TWO listening positions, and my sound fill my room...

 Why?

 Not only passive material treatment with a good balance between reflecting, absorbing and diffusive surface but ALSO a grid of Helmholtz resonators to activate my room and tune it....


aubreybobb
87 posts
 
 
As for resonance and vibration, I've neverheard that "tube amps are more resistant to this factor." I always thought they were LESS resistant, because of the glass tubes. That's a startling claim and I have never heard that before.


I have never heard this from anyone else either, just fits with logic, to me, simpler circuits, less components, heavy transformers, mass damping.  Think about it, less stuff to resonate in electrical fields means less hash i.e subtle information.  The vibrations I refer to are extremely tiny.

I had similar issues with depth and have been looking at this subject lately in my solid state system.  I can tell you the changes as a result have been simply astonishing.  Not a plug, but Critical Mass Systems footers for electronics and speakers have turned my world upside down.  From cones and sorbothane in the early days to springs to v v expensive bearing based vibration control devices now, nothing compares. 

Best wishes
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