going from tube preamp to solid state

@rmdmoore 

 if you're looking for soundstage, a lot of that will come from speaker placement in your room. For instance, if you have an amazing center image but not a lot of soundstage width or depth I'm gonna guess that your speakers are 1, too close together, or 2, toed in quite a bit

as i said earlier :

the room has been treated, speakers have been moved every which way you can think of.....and nothing really changes.   

there is no toe in at all.   speakers are 69" apart, so i dont think they are to close together ( and they are 42": from back wall and 32" from side wall ).

@elliottbnewcombjr 

 

L/R MUST be working equally to create a center image which is entirely Phantom. 

It sounds like something is in MONO mode, OR something is wrong with your l/r connections. out of preamp to amp; speaker connections. OR, inside the preamp. OR inside your amp.

why do you say that it sounds like its in mono mode ?    vocals sound like they are coming from the center, isnt that where they are suppose to sound like they are coming from ?

1. Double Check all your connections, find something wrong, fix it.

its a very simple system, preamp, cd player, amp.   all connections are correct

2. double check all tubes: in correct sockets? (I switched my 6sn7 with 6sl7 once)

there are only 2 tubes....so hard to mess that up.

3. Prove AMP is producing Stereo (omit preamp). Hook up a CD player (any line level device (not LP) directly to the amp . Nice imaging? IF so, speaker wires are ok and amp is ok.

cd player cant go direct.    amp is producing stereo

4. Same CD, same track: thru the preamp to amp. Sound same as when CD player straight to amp? 

a. you have two sets of outputs on that preamp, have you tried them both?

 

b. 4 inputs on the preamp, try each input, any difference?

btw, what AMP?

Innersound ESL 300

I tried various combos of amps and pre amps over many decades.   In the end I generally preferred a solid state amp and a tube preamp.  

I’m really surprised no one asked - What amp are you currently using? The synergy between the amp and preamp is very important. Personally, I wouldn’t consider a tube amp and solid state preamp. Frankly, I don’t recall an instance when someone was running this combination. I’m quite partial to a tube preamp and high current solid state amp(s). My Apogees need more current than most tube amps offer as well though.

innersound300

A quick find

https://stereotimes.com/amp060100.shtml

That amp certainly gets positive reviews about it's ability to create excellent imaging.

You said all you are getting is center imaging.

Mono Mode will put everything in the center

Why can't the CD player go straight to the amp? No volume/gain control without the preamp?

Did you try both outputs from the preamp out?

Try each of the 4 inputs?

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Friday Night In San Franciscco, 3 guitarists, you can/should hear each guitarist L/C/R