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.
128x128hilde45
@parker65310  Thanks for your post and your nice comment. I wouldn't be a moderator in anything but a classroom. There, carrots and sticks exist. Here, in the West World of audio discussion, almost anything seems to go! I'd get too many cuts and bruises.

I do feel that if I start a thread, I need to try to keep responding to comments and try to summarize where things are at, unless it just takes off in a (happy or unhappy) tangential direction. And I'm happy to back off if what becomes a side discussion takes over. I've learned a lot from these threads. There are some masterclass level teachers here with a lot of experience. It pays to listen.
My 1993 B&K EX442 Sonata (350 wpc/4 ohms) puts me right in the studio whenever I listen to "Kind of Blue".  It's pairing with my MMGs (out 3' from the wall) gives me an excellent soundstage in both width and depth. 
My 1993 B&K EX442 Sonata (350 wpc/4 ohms) puts me right in the studio whenever I listen to "Kind of Blue". It's pairing with my MMGs (out 3' from the wall) gives me an excellent soundstage in both width and depth.

@hartf36
Mine broke beyond parts-repair, 50yr tech tried four times to repair it, oh well, sold for parts. For 20+ years I was lucky to own and listen to my former dual mono B&K EX442-0 version of your amp. Your earlier version may have been a little more sweet sounding.   I've shared with @hilde45 how musical and 3D that amp could be [at times].  It was $2,200 retail in 1990 I think it was. The magic would only kick in after the dual mono transformers got really HOT, and that's what killed it inside over time. Frank at AVA says B&K copied his designs, whatever the case, some of the lineup back then sounded really-really nice for the $. Digital, preamp-processors, and Home Theater software is what caused them to fold in the end beyond recovery. Sad.  Had they stuck to simple 2ch audio, they'd still be around I gather. The meaty little SS affordability amps that could, and sounded a bit like tube once they got nice and toasty warm.  :)  
I read many but not all responses and there is something that seems to be missing...  that is the particular component to component compatibility of the amplifier and the rest of the gear it is associated with.  To get the best result each component should work optimally with the other components in the chain.  Your pre-amp or speakers may not work best in combination with a particular SS amplifier or cables.