New Amp Dictates New Speaker Placement?

Ah, a different issue than your initial post suggested when 'your friend could localize sound from the drivers', usually a problem associated with speaker design.

If anything is 'wrong' and you're not just obsessing, I would suggest that it might me due to the, for lack of a better phrase, the density of the information, between your new amp and the amps you are accusomed to. I would suggest you could do things to resolve your problem (much as Jaybo suggested). First I would play with toe in a bit thinking that perhaps that the previous amp(s)were a bit different in the highs and getting the right high frequency info would get you a unified soundstage, or if that doesn't work, 2)close the spread of your speakers a few inches. Just a thought! Oh, if that doesn't work you can go back to some really basic things like reversing channels to see if it the recordings or playback components, and even moving your listening chair a few inches left or right, etc.

At the risk of being offensive (and I'm always ready to risk that :-)) I bet you are too influenced by your friends observation and have become obsessive, but have fun, thats what this is all about. Been there, done that!

After some burn in it can change too.. but yes every component I have replaced caused a slightly different image, and moving the speakers anything from a half inch to a Half foot can recorrect it.. Last one that was weird is I changed my speaker cables and things sounded much tighter, but kinda disconnected, Repositioned the speakers and they opened the stage even bigger than previous.. same with Transports, Cartridge Loading on turntables, etc... They have all effected the best toe in, listening distance whatever in my experience.

I'm having a similar challenge with low end presence after making some changes....have good tonal bass, just no slam of any kind....

I have played with toe-in. I'm going to bite the bullet, remove the brass footers, and move the speakers a bit closer together and then play with toe-in again.

At the risk of being offensive (and I'm always ready to risk that :-)) I bet you are too influenced by your friends observation and have become obsessive, but have fun, thats what this is all about. Been there, done that!

I second Newbee...this sounds ever so unlikley. It is not unusual to notice new things about a recording even after having heard it many times before...it does not always mean there is a problem/fault somewhere just you listened in a different way with a different form of concetration....but like a red spaghetti sauce spot on your shirt after lunch - the more you look at it the bigger or more obtrusive one thinks it is ( others may not even notice ) - out out dammned spot!

Once you notice something and know exactly how to listen for it, naturally you notice it more often. (Probably not what you want to hear - apologies if this sounds trite)