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How Do Amps Affect Soundstage?

I'm not that technically strong on audio yet, so please refrain from mockery on this....

My DAC, premamp, and amp combo (all tube) throw a nice soundstage.  If I substitute (at least some) solid state stereo amps, soundstage is constricted.  If the amp is basically just increasing the signal that it is receiving from the preamp, I don't get how the size and shape of the presentation is altered materially from what the preamp is delivering. (I get that the signal could get distorted, etc.).  How does the amp play such role?  And do monoblocks enjoy any design advantage in maintaining the soundstage received?  Thanks.

mathiasmingus
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overthemoon
417 posts
 

It depends….

My experience is the amp can make a difference - transparency, definition and dynamic improvements can improve sound stage.  A good source is critical….
 

 

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ghdprentice
6,969 posts
 

Unfortunately, it all matters. All components including the amp. Speakers may be the biggest determinant.

 

I can comment on amps. For a year and a half I had both an Audio Research Reference 160 stereo and a pair of 160 monoblocks. So, identical amplifiers… just one spread into two boxes. The most notable difference was imaging. The soundstage was wider and much deeper with the monoblocks and hence the images presented more three dimensionally in a larger sound space.

What I heard was confirmed by a couple other folks that had an opportunity to experience it (different amps). I suspect a lot of it comes from a lower noise floor. More quiet allows you to hear more subtle cues in the sound.

 

 

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