Hi there,
I am wondering if there's anything to be said in general about the sound of a gainclone
I built a clone a few years ago, as per Thorsten Loesch's schematics.
Inverted type, with just the 1000 uF caps close to the LM3875, simple metallic film resistors. Been quite happy with the amp, sound was fine to me.
Recently I changed my setup, bought a very nice oldskool preamp, Threshold SL10, which turns out to be much better than my previous pre, and makes the difference between my power amps much more clear.
Suddenly the clone sounds nasty, especially compared to a Hiraga le Monstre amp thats also happens to be hanging around in my basement.
The Hiraga sounds rather dark, sweet, maybe tube like, but at least very "right" to my ears.
The gainclone on the other hand is much more detailled, has more air, a stronger bass, but sounds as if it wants to play faster than the music.
In the words of my wife, the Hiraga sounds like an amp on XTC, while the clone is more like an amp on speed.
I like the concept of the chipamps very much, but haven't got a clue about which type of chipamp sounds like what, and how to change the sound character of a clone.
I am wondering if there's anything to be said in general about the sound of a gainclone
I built a clone a few years ago, as per Thorsten Loesch's schematics.
Inverted type, with just the 1000 uF caps close to the LM3875, simple metallic film resistors. Been quite happy with the amp, sound was fine to me.
Recently I changed my setup, bought a very nice oldskool preamp, Threshold SL10, which turns out to be much better than my previous pre, and makes the difference between my power amps much more clear.
Suddenly the clone sounds nasty, especially compared to a Hiraga le Monstre amp thats also happens to be hanging around in my basement.
The Hiraga sounds rather dark, sweet, maybe tube like, but at least very "right" to my ears.
The gainclone on the other hand is much more detailled, has more air, a stronger bass, but sounds as if it wants to play faster than the music.
In the words of my wife, the Hiraga sounds like an amp on XTC, while the clone is more like an amp on speed.
I like the concept of the chipamps very much, but haven't got a clue about which type of chipamp sounds like what, and how to change the sound character of a clone.
sound charecter
All amps have good points and bad, some all good some all bad.
I have built the Le Monstre and its a very layed back amplifier, tube like if you prefer, very easy to listen to.
Chip amps at least the LM overture series have alot of benifits via there internal construction, class A opperation up to the output, current mirror on the long tail pair, minimum components Quasi drive and output stage all on a monolithic chip with laser trimed resistors.
The overture series chip are fast with out proper construction technics you can have yourself an AM tranmitter, this makes them very up-front on high frequencies, maybe a little harsh to some.
Try a non-inverted circuit, use carbon film or comp resistors, use a high quality poly-metal input cap of at least 4.7uf, and use a feedback capacitor a 47uf silmic bypased with a 1uf poly, some people will disagree with this but it will help take some of the edge without loosing to much detail.
The speed and detail of the chip is also some of its drawbacks especially if your used to a slower class A amp like the Le Monstre.
All amps have good points and bad, some all good some all bad.
I have built the Le Monstre and its a very layed back amplifier, tube like if you prefer, very easy to listen to.
Chip amps at least the LM overture series have alot of benifits via there internal construction, class A opperation up to the output, current mirror on the long tail pair, minimum components Quasi drive and output stage all on a monolithic chip with laser trimed resistors.
The overture series chip are fast with out proper construction technics you can have yourself an AM tranmitter, this makes them very up-front on high frequencies, maybe a little harsh to some.
Try a non-inverted circuit, use carbon film or comp resistors, use a high quality poly-metal input cap of at least 4.7uf, and use a feedback capacitor a 47uf silmic bypased with a 1uf poly, some people will disagree with this but it will help take some of the edge without loosing to much detail.
The speed and detail of the chip is also some of its drawbacks especially if your used to a slower class A amp like the Le Monstre.
But, make it a nice tube buffer... the last one I tried, did exactly what A_SA said, but at the cost of clear highs... It didn't sound dull, but now that I have the j-fet buffer I can hear what I was missing...
Not giving up though, actualy bussy assembling a valve headphone amp, just came back with the last few components, and I allready have the next version lined up even before testing this one... its a 24V jobby, also saw some 12V and 9V circuits... so little time....
Noise and distortion appart, I don't think we will ever see silicon clipping as forgivingly as a tube does.
Not giving up though, actualy bussy assembling a valve headphone amp, just came back with the last few components, and I allready have the next version lined up even before testing this one... its a 24V jobby, also saw some 12V and 9V circuits... so little time....
Noise and distortion appart, I don't think we will ever see silicon clipping as forgivingly as a tube does.
There's no input cap on my amp, don't really see the need for it.
Building a tube buffer is a little bit too complicated for me, I'm afraid, but changing over to a non inverted design should be possible.
will adding big capacitor banks to the power supply change a lot in the sound character ?
Building a tube buffer is a little bit too complicated for me, I'm afraid, but changing over to a non inverted design should be possible.
will adding big capacitor banks to the power supply change a lot in the sound character ?
I did the opposite. I shrank the on board 1,000uF caps to VERY LOW ESR 470uF and have > 10,000uF per rail in the main supply with short twisted wires.
I found it cleaned up the sound some.. But that is MY OPINION.
I use the BrianGT 3875 and 3886 boards. I have not yet made digi01's. Maybe one day I will get around to it.
I found it cleaned up the sound some.. But that is MY OPINION.
I use the BrianGT 3875 and 3886 boards. I have not yet made digi01's. Maybe one day I will get around to it.
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