1. Home
  2. amps-preamps
  3. 166644-139155

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.
hilde45
niodari's avatar
niodari
383 posts
 
@hilde...I would say that tube amps give an "echo-like" sound stage (perhaps because of harmonics of different levels), and good SS amps give more realistic sound stage. I use both, tube and SS class D gear, and I cannot assure which I like more. Class D for me is more real and natural and tubes are very pleasing, i like both, different things in each (as one may like different aspects in different women). 
Roughly, a less realistic reproduction may sound more pleasing, like impressionist paintings may better reflect your inner feelings than realistic ones. It is subjective. But I think that objectivity, class D SS amps give most realistic, natural and clean sound (stage).
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
6,045 posts
 
@niodari Thanks for that. Being honest, I cannot say I've heard the "echoey" aspect of the tube sound stage. Then again, maybe I've yet to hear the right gear. May I ask what your solid state and class D gear are? Thanks.
niodari's avatar
niodari
383 posts
 
@hilde..I didn't mean a real echoes of course but something similar compared to the SS reproduction that i have in my another system with Cherry Megaschino Class d amp and Wired4Sound STP 2 pre. STP does make the already good sound stage of the Mega wider - somewhat comparable to tubes but more real and natural. Again, i personally enjoy very much tube reproduction, but at the same time,  I consider the sound stage, in particular, somewhat "artificially exaggerated" (but pleasing) after comparing it with the other system. 
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,428 posts
 
Again, i personally enjoy very much tube reproduction, but at the same time, I consider the sound stage, in particular, somewhat "artificially exaggerated" (but pleasing) after comparing it with the other system.
IME it takes a really good solid state amp to keep up with tubes in that regard. Having made my own recordings which I've released on LP and CD, I've not found that tube amps exaggerate depth.
niodari's avatar
niodari
383 posts
 
@atmasphere 
I trust your perception - are you a musician or a sound engineer? 
These things are subjective. There is more air with tube reproduction
that makes it very pleasing but not necessarily plausible. I mean, the
real sound is a bit different. What I hear in my SS class D gear - I consider it more real. It depends on you whether you prefer pleasing or plausible. I like both.  
More to discover