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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
luisma31
516 posts
 
Thank you for the kind words Hilde, the 535 it is definitely undervalued, my current 535 loan probably doesn’t have much left from its original guts, it has Chris Hoppe’s power supply and other mods https://hoppesbrain.com/ but the sound with 4 ohms speakers like the Klipsch is great considering its value. I had some years ago a Yamaha AS2100, more costly than the modded 535, as good as the Yamaha is can’t compete with this 535, it is an increíble value in Hifi

Edit, I'm a little cynical with a slight oversight here, the Yamaha comparison is totally unfair, the Yamaha was an integrated, the 535 front end is an Atmasphere MP-1, duh 
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,189 posts
 
Ayre…. Miles of depth 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,464 posts
 
@tomic601 @jjss49 advised the same thing. On my watch list.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,189 posts
 
IF you want to better understand the why do some research on the speaker and electronics design genius of Charlie Hansen ( RIP ) one hint low to zero negative feedback :-)
I miss him
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
13,189 posts
 
Even my ancient Audionics of Oregon CC2 one of the first of the Otala inspired low TIM amps, is a 3D imaging champ….
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