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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.
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Showing 3 responses by djones51

djones51
4,947 posts
 
Have you ever tried any tests like this? I don't know about soundstage but it might be of some value.

https://www.audiocheck.net/audiotests_ledr.php
djones51
4,947 posts
 
I never really thought the type of amplifier would affect soundstage. Speaker position, reflections,  the recording I would think has more to do with soundstage. The one thing that isn't controlled by those is SPL at listening position. See if increasing the volume helps. Is that SET amp low watt? It might clip before it gets as loud as the other amps. Other than that I have no idea why. 
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Regarding an amp or any other electronic gear upstream’s relative ability to do imaging,  it’s generally about achieving low distortion and detail retrieval. That is needed to best deliver the spatial cues that enable imaging captured in a recording completely.  
Then of course the speakers setup and room acoustics determine exactly how those cues are rendered and imaging and soundstage actually produced.
That makes sense the files in the above link I posted are to test the imaging of your system. 
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