This is not just another gainclone

[Peter Daniel]

So I did some more tests. I connected 10,000u/63V Jensen 4 pin caps (supposedly better sounding that BG) on ea. rail. I was not impressed at all. The sound was mechanical and uninvolving.

I disconnected Jensens and connected 1,000u BG on ea. rail right after bridges. The sound improved dramatically with much bigger soundstage and better tonal balance. I'm gonna keep those caps in that location.

[Christer]

Originally posted by Peter Daniel


I also thought it's a ultrafast diode, but in Digi-Key katalog it's listed under schottky http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/C031/0511.pdf
unless I got it wrong (top left). The one I'm using is from IR.

I think digi-key got it wrong. They list is as Schottky, just as
you say, but the VF is suspiciously high and checking the
datasheet confirms that it is not a Schottky

http://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/MUR1520-D.PDF

(I guess digi-key had another brand, but that shouldn't
matter)

[UrSv]

Originally posted by Bobken

-- snip --

I did a lot of similar listening tests maybe 10 years ago, and I came down heavily in favour of Shottkys then, but there have been a lot of developments/improvements in diodes' specs since that time.

Like you, I found them all to be very directional!

-- snip --

Finally something I can agree on without hesitation:

I also find diodes to be very directional.

As for the other things like wires, caps and resistors I still have to prove it to myself.

[UrSv]

Originally posted by Christer


I think digi-key got it wrong. They list is as Schottky, just as
you say, but the VF is suspiciously high and checking the
datasheet confirms that it is not a Schottky

http://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/MUR1520-D.PDF

(I guess digi-key had another brand, but that shouldn't
matter)

Like mentioned above you have to be careful. Digi-Key on that page lists IRF parts and NOT Motorola...

[Christer]

Originally posted by UrSv


Like mentioned above you have to be careful. Digi-Key on that page lists IRF parts and NOT Motorola...

There shouldn't be any major differences if the devices have
the same name. Data might differ a bit, but not the type, I think.
have you ever encountered such a case?

Anyway, I checked up the IR datasheets too, and theirs is
not a Schottky either.

[massimo]

Originally posted by Peter Daniel


I also thought it's a ultrafast diode, but in Digi-Key katalog it's listed under schottky http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/C031/0511.pdf
unless I got it wrong (top left). The one I'm using is from IR.

Yes, as already pointed out, Digi Key is wrong.

Originally posted by UrSv
One has to be careful with these:

Fairchild: MUR1520 is a 15A, 200V Ultrafast Diode
IR: MUR1520 is a 200V 15A HEXFRED
Onsemi: MUR5120 is a 15A 200V Ultrafast Rectifier

Sorry, but IR Data Sheet don't says the MUR1520 is a Hexfred
http://www.irf.com/product-info/data...ta/mur1520.pdf

I also have the old Motorola Data Sheet and I check the specs: almost the same

Anyway, the good news is that the MUR 1520 sounds good (at least) with the GainKlone, and with no snubbers.... (which were supposed to be very welcomed especially with UF-but-not-SR diodes)

[tiroth]

Originally posted by Christer
There shouldn't be any major differences if the devices have
the same name.

lol. Like different pinouts? Oops...

[carlmart]

Originally posted by UrSv


Finally something I can agree on without hesitation:

I also find diodes to be very directional.

As for the other things like wires, caps and resistors I still have to prove it to myself.

Now what do you guys mean by diodes being directional? Of course they are directional, you can only use it in a certain way!

If by that you mean it makes a difference whether you connect them to one AC phase or the other, can you ellaborate it a little more?

How do they sound different? What changes?


Carlos

[tiroth]

Originally posted by Peter Daniel
I disconnected Jensens and connected 1,000u BG on ea. rail right after bridges. The sound improved dramatically with much bigger soundstage and better tonal balance. I'm gonna keep those caps in that location.

Now this makes a lot of sense to me, although some others I've talked with didn't necessarily think it should matter. Keeping the transformer-rectifier-cap loop small should really help.

I'd be very interested in further comments on this Peter, since there is often a large gap between "should" and "is" in audio.

[Peter Daniel]

Originally posted by Bobken


You will doubtless get a lot of "try this and try that" now you have published your results, but if you do get the chance, it might be worth having a listen to some of the Ixys HiPerFRED diodes, DSEP 9-06CR.

Todd Krieger said some glowing things about them on AA in Nov. 2001, when he compared these with both Hexfreds and Harris Ultrafasts, but I still have been unable to find anyone who I regularly deal with who will let me have a few to try.

Those are the only bridges I got from IXYS and those are my most treasured ones. I didn't try them yet.

Did you see my comments about Jensens?