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

Showing 1 response by whipsaw

I agree with several of the above comments, and most seem to agree that the lower the distortion, the more accurately the source material, including the soundstage, can be reproduced.

Along those lines, I would say that vibration control, and especially of speakers, can also contribute to a better soundstage. Speaker vibration tends to produce distortion that is referred to as a "smearing" of the sound, and controlling it can reduce or eliminate the issue. Among other positives, I noticed a better defined soundstage after having employed Isoacoustic Gaia under my speakers.