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

Gee I miss the rap and political discussions LOL

@hilde45 ,

You've provoked a very interesting conversation! 

As for the "well designed" ss amps that can reproduce depth well, IMHE, Krell older Class A designs, Pass Labs, Boulder, and more affordably Coda, Odyssey, First Watt and Sunfire all have models that I've heard do it pretty effectively when mated with appropriate speakers also capable of recreating depth. 
I'd say the chances are higher with a random tube amp vs. a random ss amp, but we're not investing our money in random, are we? 

Some of the rabbit holes discussed, speaker placement and room treatment are certainly worthwhile considerations and I'm glad to hear you've addressed them. I'm having a tough time buying into the concept of needing to REVISIT them due an amp change. 

An observation that might help, most mixes tend to place drums and bass toward the rear of the soundstage. Maybe certain ss amps that struggle with low end frequency performance in other aspects result in the perceived lack of depth?   Perhaps trying out tracks with an acoustic bass upstage would provide some insights. Cheers, 

Spencer
  

@sbank  Glad you like the thread. Appreciate the amp suggestions and your point about "when mated with appropriate speakers also capable of recreating depth" is a crucial condition — and no, we're not investing in random! As Dana Carvey channeling GHWB said, "Nah gonnah do it."

I did play with the speakers and LP a bit to try to tease out sound stage (due an amp change) -- Didn't. Help. At. All. Put tubes back in -- sound stage was back.

I like your suggestion about trying tracks with an acoustic bass upstage.

@mahgister You've registered your displeasure with me in a public way. I've said I think you deserved it. Let's agree to disagree on this. You can DM me if you want, but at this point, we've both stated our positions. If not peace, at least détente.

@mahgister You’ve registered your displeasure with me in a public way.

You called my Helmholz resonators in the public for all to read "Goldberg Rube machine " ... Try to be FAIR at least and dont put nonchalently the blame on me because i defend myself in public when i was attacked in public like you just did in this post...

It is like calling someone a clown..... Where did i unsult you?

An acoustic problem cannot always be solved by panels, and save for bad design amplifier, any relatively good S.S. or tubes amplifier can produce depth imaging.... it is an acoustic problem linked to the timing of the reflections yes,reverberation time,  but also to the way the pressure zones of the room are distributed...

These pressures zones can be modified by resonators because contrary to panels the resonators damp some frequencies and enhance others frequencies at the same time....When the geometry of a room is too irregular it can create unwanted pressures zones... then before upgrading an amp or speakers, or buying costly panels, why not trying no cost resonators you coud make yourself esthetical ...If you read you can even use them in a completely different form than my "Rube Goldberg way" with a grid of tubes and pipes for example with a box with a distribution of perforated cavities....

No cost, fun experiment and you work at the right place because depth imaging is an acoustical phenomenon linking TIMING and pressure zones distribution...
My own amplifier/speaker never produce it before my acoustic experiment... Now i have it with all files accordingly to the S.Q of the recording process...


«The sound impinging on a Helmholtz resonator that is not absorbed is reradiated. As the sound is
reradiated from the resonator opening, it tends to be radiated in a hemisphere. This means that unabsorbed energy is diffused, and diffusion of sound is very desirable in a studio or listening room.»

Master handbook of acoustics by Everest, Frederick Alton Pohlmann, Ken C. p.283

If not peace, at least détente.

Where is the war? you insulted me i reacted...At least admit it.... Or am i just a "clown" you must calm?

i dont hate people at all here.... But i react if attacked like you did....

@sbank
.."Maybe certain ss amps that struggle with low end frequency performance in other aspects result in the perceived lack of depth?"..

Yes. And, agree some of the solid state amps you suggested don’t struggle with it. Swap in the right Pass or Coda or First Watt and it becomes interesting again. Not all ss amps are created equal as we see here once again. The great amp designers with "good ears folks" around them truly get it. Spec measurement engineers only looking to reduce distortion, not so much. Or, back to the modest mono tube amps and whoop, there it is!