Mr Pass...Some crazy ideas for your new amplifier...

[oon_the_kid]

Dear Mr. Pass,

I have not build an amplifier of your s yet, but hopefully when my schedule clears up, I would very much like to try one.
However on a different note, the sound quality of the entire system still depends on the rest of the partnering components (DACs, volume control etc) irregardless of how well your amplifers are designed.

Since you also design IV converters why not just merge your IV converter and your amplifier into one. Make it a power DAC. Volume control can be implemented digitally on one of those 24 bit DSPs that upsample from 16 bit. I think there are a few out there. The output of a 24 bit sigma Delta DAC could then be fed directly into your amp (differential input). This could effectively mean the only thing that stands between your DAC chip and your speakers is only one transistor/FETs (or maybe 2).Can't think of anything more direct...

There would then be no ambiguity on how the rest of the components will affect the sound...

Oon

[Nelson Pass]

Many of the suggestions I receive are in the form of how I can integrate
components together to form integrated amplifiers, amplifiers with crossovers
built in, power DACs, and so on.

However I am largely headed the other way, separating out power supplies,
output stages, and front end circuits into separate pieces so that they can
be mixed and matched at will. While it results in many more boxes, it
gives me a playing field to easily listen to the differences in component
sub-circuits and refine them while keeping other elements constant.

But then that's me. Someone else will likely be happy to integrate
components so as to make life easier for customers.

[osscar]

I also like stand-alone components - preamps, dacs, passive preamps, RIAA, power amps with no knobs . and if its a Saturday morning - I started to change boxes depending on the mood

[a.wayne]

Originally Posted by Nelson Pass

Many of the suggestions I receive are in the form of how I can integrate
components together to form integrated amplifiers, amplifiers with crossovers
built in, power DACs, and so on.

However I am largely headed the other way, separating out power supplies,
output stages, and front end circuits into separate pieces so that they can
be mixed and matched at will. While it results in many more boxes, it
gives me a playing field to easily listen to the differences in component
sub-circuits and refine them while keeping other elements constant.

But then that's me. Someone else will likely be happy to integrate
components so as to make life easier for customers.

Perfecto .........

[DJNUBZ]

So I guess there will never be a chip amp F5 then huh. I was thinking that would be a cool idea just the other day. In an IC everything could be a perfect match.

[tinitus]

Originally Posted by Nelson Pass

However I am largely headed the other way, separating out power supplies,
output stages, and front end circuits into separate pieces so that they can
be mixed and matched at will.

funny, the other day I thought about doing that

[oon_the_kid]

Dear Mr. Pass,

I respectly accept your opinions. In a hypothetical state if you were to build such and amp how would you go about doing it (DAC+amp) all in one. What sort of approach would you use?

1) use a combination your Zen I/V converter and your Aleph J amp?

2) use a bipolar to directly amplify the current from your DAC and couple that with a current source?

What sort of approach do you think makes the most sense....

Oon

[tinitus]

Originally Posted by oon_the_kid

(DAC+amp) all in one. What sort of approach would you use?

sound more like a class-D Hypex active speaker concept

[6L6]

Originally Posted by Nelson Pass

separating out power supplies,
output stages, and front end circuits into separate pieces

I think that is an outstanding idea!

But how do you keep grounding (loops, etc..) from becoming an issue?

[oon_the_kid]

Originally Posted by tinitus

sound more like a class-D Hypex active speaker concept

not quite true, there is no PWM involved.... I think it would be closer to using a gainclone power amp chip for I/V conversion.

I just think it would be cool if by addition of a few transistor we could directly drive a speaker using your DAC...

Oon