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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.
128x128hilde45
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,819 posts
 
But without acoustic control of the room you cannot hope for the maximal manifestation of this quality in a room....In most of the case for sure...

From my OP:

the amp produces a sound stage that is nicely defined and articulate from left to right, but not as much from front to back.I know my room is capable of that sound stage because my tube amp accomplishes it.
See where I said, "my tube amp accomplishes it"? What does "it" mean? Well, that is precisely the point where I told everyone that the room has acoustic control over sound stage, including depth. This is why it is redundant and unnecessary to explain (again and again) why it is important to exercise acoustic control. Got that covered. In the OP. And in my comments. Again and again. Now I am really really done making this point.


mahgister's avatar
mahgister
12,747 posts
 
Then it is the amplifier...

case closed...


paul79
173 posts
 
In general, and in my experience, solid state does depth great. Tubes do too, but overall, I do find that tube amps give a bigger sound stage all around, particularly scale of artists and in sound stage width. That said, I am sure there are varying degrees from different solid state vs. tube amps depending on design.
decooney
1,906 posts
 

@mahgister
Then it is the amplifier...

case closed...


When paying attention to the details, kinda seems that way doesn't it ;) 
 
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@paul79
In general, and in my experience, solid state does depth great. Tubes do too, but overall, I do find that tube amps give a bigger sound stage all around, particularly scale of artists and in sound stage width. That said, I am sure there are varying degrees from different solid state vs. tube amps depending on design.


just as a point of discussion, not being disagreeable, my personal finding over the years is the opposite from yours

i find good ss amps image wide but generally have more limited depth than similar quality tube amps - ss amps will do depth but it needs to a very good recording with that aspect in spades, otherwise, typical mixed recordings have less front to back layering

tube amps otoh generally image slightly wider, sometimes a little bigger but MUCH deeper...

i feel stage width and image size is heavily speaker and placement driven, and of course certain speakers, via their design put the image in front of, in line with, of behind their baffle line ... but there is something special that great tube amps in creating a sense of layered depth of the stage
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