Out of phase? Ouch. Connected out of phase the sound would be utterly diffuse to the point of seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere and there would be no image, no soundstage, center or otherwise. OP clearly described imaging both times. Fifty demerits anyone even thought that was a possibility.
There's a famous quote but I can't remember who said it and won't get it verbatim anyway but you all know it and maybe even are going oh yeah that one- its something along the lines of yeah I changed my mind (or position, or whatever) when the facts change I change my mind, what do you do?
You did a pretty good job making it perfectly clear that the rack and the amp are responsible for the difference. All you have to do now is let your mind agree with reality. Which I highly recommend. Banging your head against a wall is no fun, hurts, and doesn't do the wall any good either.
A nice relaxing method is to pull up my system, gaze upon its sublimely rational form meets function layout, and read the description. I got rid of the rack for exactly the reason you just noticed. But for whatever reason are reluctant to acknowledge. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367
Or if you don't like my advice then listen to noromance who said pretty much the same thing. Only plus the too many things at once thing, which is another good one. But seriously, check it out, ditch the rack, the best rack is no rack, aka the floor.
I'm finding it hard to believe that a different rack and/or an amplifier change could cause such a drastic change in soundstage and imaging. Any ideas anyone?
There's a famous quote but I can't remember who said it and won't get it verbatim anyway but you all know it and maybe even are going oh yeah that one- its something along the lines of yeah I changed my mind (or position, or whatever) when the facts change I change my mind, what do you do?
You did a pretty good job making it perfectly clear that the rack and the amp are responsible for the difference. All you have to do now is let your mind agree with reality. Which I highly recommend. Banging your head against a wall is no fun, hurts, and doesn't do the wall any good either.
A nice relaxing method is to pull up my system, gaze upon its sublimely rational form meets function layout, and read the description. I got rid of the rack for exactly the reason you just noticed. But for whatever reason are reluctant to acknowledge. https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8367
Or if you don't like my advice then listen to noromance who said pretty much the same thing. Only plus the too many things at once thing, which is another good one. But seriously, check it out, ditch the rack, the best rack is no rack, aka the floor.