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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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,207 posts
 
Again, i personally enjoy very much tube reproduction, but at the same time, I consider the sound stage, in particular, somewhat "artificially exaggerated" (but pleasing) after comparing it with the other system.
IME it takes a really good solid state amp to keep up with tubes in that regard. Having made my own recordings which I've released on LP and CD, I've not found that tube amps exaggerate depth.
niodari's avatar
niodari
354 posts
 
@atmasphere 
I trust your perception - are you a musician or a sound engineer? 
These things are subjective. There is more air with tube reproduction
that makes it very pleasing but not necessarily plausible. I mean, the
real sound is a bit different. What I hear in my SS class D gear - I consider it more real. It depends on you whether you prefer pleasing or plausible. I like both.  
ghasley
2,548 posts
 
@niodari Your question for @atmasphere is the equivalent to asking the Dalai Lama if he understands what it means to be enlightened. 
niodari's avatar
niodari
354 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
2,548 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.
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