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 ghasley

@niodari I was just comparing the question you asked as a question that shouldn’t require an answer.


@atmasphere
builds some of the more highly regarded tube amplifiers in the world. I am not a customer of his and I have never owned an Atmasphere amplifier or preamplifier but his street cred is legit.
@niodari Your question for @atmasphere is the equivalent to asking the Dalai Lama if he understands what it means to be enlightened.