Regulated or non-regulated SMPS

longitude · 7th May 2007, 03:36 AM

I powered my 41Hz amp4 with a SMPS.

I read some articles and find that one better powered the class-D(T) amp with a "regulated" SMPS, but some of the SMPS is "not regulated"...

Can some one tell me how to tell my SMPS is regulated or not regulated?
This is my SMPS:
http://www.meanwell.com/search/S-100F/default.htm

Thanks~

Is SMPS with PFC regulated, and SMPS without PFC not regulated?

ssanmor · 7th May 2007, 02:52 PM

Discarding side effects, regulated is always better by definition: the output voltage will be stable independently on load and line conditions. That translates into cleaner sound, tighter and deeper bass, mainly.
The thing is that making a regulated SMPS is not an easy task, due to stability issues, and it is also a bit more expensive, that's why there are some people detracting them. There are also some manufacturers that consider regulated SMPS "the holy grial" and feel justified to skimp on capacitance reserve, etc.

We (coldamp) think that the best no-compromise (in terms of performance) solution is to have a regulated SMPS but still with high capacitance reservoir. This allows a simpler, slower loop that eliminates stability problems, peaking, etc, but still preserve the benefits of a high current capability during bass transients, etc. It is not, of course, the simpler nor the cheaper solution.

There is no relation between regulation and PFC: you can find regulated PSUs without PFC, and supplies with PFC but with a non-regulated output stage (still having slightly better line regulation due to the presence of PFC, but not as good as a PSU with regulation from the very output)

Hope this helps,
Sergio
www.coldamp.com

longitude · 8th May 2007, 11:44 AM

So...how to tell if my SMPS is regulated or not when I read its specification?
Thanks!

Pierre · 8th May 2007, 11:53 AM

Is the output voltage adjustable within some margin? If so, it is more than probably regulated.
If not, look for an optocoupler, if there is one, it is also regulated.

odnaizutra · 8th May 2007, 12:51 PM

interesting solution,regulated smps with a lot of capacitance in outup,but how different the feedback will perform?
Sergio,did you try that without inductor?

longitude · 8th May 2007, 03:02 PM

Yes...The voltage can adjust for about +/-5% with trimmer pot...
So I think it is regulated.
In the output...I connect it with two 10000uF capacitor.
In fact it is because 41Hz amp4 has onboard power supply with rectifier and 2 X 10000 uF bulk capacitors.
But I just use DC SMPS power supply.

Is there any benefit on the sound quality to use SMPS with PFC?

7th May 2007, 03:36 AM	#1
longitude diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Taipei	Regulated or non-regulated SMPS I powered my 41Hz amp4 with a SMPS. I read some articles and find that one better powered the class-D(T) amp with a "regulated" SMPS, but some of the SMPS is "not regulated"... Can some one tell me how to tell my SMPS is regulated or not regulated? This is my SMPS: http://www.meanwell.com/search/S-100F/default.htm Thanks~ Is SMPS with PFC regulated, and SMPS without PFC not regulated?

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7th May 2007, 02:52 PM	#2
ssanmor diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Madrid	Discarding side effects, regulated is always better by definition: the output voltage will be stable independently on load and line conditions. That translates into cleaner sound, tighter and deeper bass, mainly. The thing is that making a regulated SMPS is not an easy task, due to stability issues, and it is also a bit more expensive, that's why there are some people detracting them. There are also some manufacturers that consider regulated SMPS "the holy grial" and feel justified to skimp on capacitance reserve, etc. We (coldamp) think that the best no-compromise (in terms of performance) solution is to have a regulated SMPS but still with high capacitance reservoir. This allows a simpler, slower loop that eliminates stability problems, peaking, etc, but still preserve the benefits of a high current capability during bass transients, etc. It is not, of course, the simpler nor the cheaper solution. There is no relation between regulation and PFC: you can find regulated PSUs without PFC, and supplies with PFC but with a non-regulated output stage (still having slightly better line regulation due to the presence of PFC, but not as good as a PSU with regulation from the very output) Hope this helps, Sergio www.coldamp.com

8th May 2007, 11:44 AM	#3
longitude diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Taipei	So...how to tell if my SMPS is regulated or not when I read its specification? Thanks!

8th May 2007, 11:53 AM	#4
Pierre Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Paris	Is the output voltage adjustable within some margin? If so, it is more than probably regulated. If not, look for an optocoupler, if there is one, it is also regulated.

8th May 2007, 12:51 PM	#5
odnaizutra diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007	interesting solution,regulated smps with a lot of capacitance in outup,but how different the feedback will perform? Sergio,did you try that without inductor?

8th May 2007, 03:02 PM	#6
longitude diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Taipei	Yes...The voltage can adjust for about +/-5% with trimmer pot... So I think it is regulated. In the output...I connect it with two 10000uF capacitor. In fact it is because 41Hz amp4 has onboard power supply with rectifier and 2 X 10000 uF bulk capacitors. But I just use DC SMPS power supply. Is there any benefit on the sound quality to use SMPS with PFC?