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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
niodari's avatar
niodari
297 posts
 
Thanks @ghasley  for letting me know about the business of @atmasphere - sincerely i didn't have that info and don't see from where i could have it. Hence, the question  required an answer (for me i mean). And thanks @atmasphere  for your kind response (by the way, which instrument you play - i used to play and like the most base). Now I understand your motivation and again, i am not at all against tube amplification. In fact, i spent > 20 years mostly auditioning a tube amplifier. But, the most of the things are relative and i found it really useful to compare tube amplification with SS. I tried a McIntosh SS class A/B amp. My first impression was that it was delivering a cleaner sound, but other things were not as good as in my tube amp. Now I think that i reached some equilibrium/satisfaction with the current class D in my main system. I could also like your tube amps but am unable to carry out the necessary study (even don't know which amps you produce): I still enjoy analysis of different sound reproductions and comparisons  between them (far below your authoritative level).  

b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,273 posts
 
Kind of late to the party but my Belles Aria Integrated has an awesome soundstage.  Im moving on to a Raven Nighthawk which supposedly has exceptional soundstage width so we’ll see...  

I’ll report back with my findings / opinions 
tmcclintock
35 posts
 
hilde45 OP2,010 posts05-21-2021 9:05a
....I have returned the amp. I'm open to suggestions.

hilde45,
I just in-home auditioned a pair of Valvet A4 monoblocks and kept them.  They're solid state class A and compared favorably with my tube and other SS amps for soundstage depth and width.  They get tone, decay and airiness right. (Caveat: with my speakers and all the rest)  ~$8K and 30 day trial period.
Cheers


avanti1960
1,406 posts
 
front to back depth has for me been more about speaker positioning than amplification.  
depth is only limited by how far from the wall you can pull the speakers into the room.  it is an excellent way to listen when your speakers are 5 feet from the wall or even more.  

stage height and width are more amplifier dependent.  i had a mid line solid state integrated and the stage was tiny, like a small window.  A-B' many times.  
my tube integrated and separates had the tallest, widest stage by far.  
tube preamp with good solid state amp is also nice.  
tubes rule by far, solid state sound stage size depends on quality of the amp.  
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,814 posts
 
Thanks to recent posters. 
@avanti1960  Speaker positioning cannot be the factor responsible, as previously explained. Thanks for other insights, though.
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