Power follower 99c Vs Zen

SIMONLEE · 21st May 2004, 01:14 AM

I am very curious how does a power follower 99C sound compared with a Zen? Some may know what I am talking about.
The circuit looks very simple. There are some advantages I know:

1: Lower value capacitors
2: Lower output resistance which means good dampling factor.
3: Higher output power.

Is it reallyworthy to spend money to built it? I plan to use it with a BOZ.

PMA · 25th May 2004, 09:51 PM

Sounds better.

kilowattski · 25th May 2004, 11:59 PM

For those who have no clue what a "Power Follower 99C" is, could you please clue us in?

moe29 · 26th May 2004, 12:07 AM

Single Ended Pure Class A Power Follower Amplifier
Designed by: Andrea Ciuffoli.

LINKY

As to the question... which ZEN???

and... the only way would be to build and compare for yourself

Nelson Pass · 26th May 2004, 08:35 PM

It's a fine amplifier with no voltage gain, if you can
deal with that.

altor · 27th May 2004, 07:37 AM

I've build Andrea's Follower some years ago - an original one and with some modifications (I've tried to use current source on mosfet and bipolar, I've tried to use bipolar power supply without the output capacitor, with DC-Servo), and I've tried original PassZen V3,V4, V3+tube input stage - and as for me (not only for me, but also for some of my friends) - the sound of Zen is better!

Thank You Nelson, for the genious design!

BTW, In my V3+tube there is some differencies from the original V3 shematic.
One of the differencies (according Fig.3 in Zen V3 pdf) - I take off C5 and put the upper pin of the R11 to the drain of the Q5 at first, then - to a separate lowpower supply (10 volts higher then Zen's main supply voltage)

The sound is better, as for me.

Nelson Pass · 27th May 2004, 06:48 PM

I think that the sound of a follower is generally better,
as it has the 100% degenerative feedback and the
distortion and bandwidth are better. The damping factor
is a little higher on the follower, but I haven't noticed
much difference in bass control.

PMA · 27th May 2004, 08:49 PM

I compared the follower (not Andrea's) and the ZEN (1st version) some 3 years ago. I would add to what Nelson said that the sound of follower did not depend that much on speaker used - probably because of the lower output impedance (0.3 Ohm approx) and the sound was more clean for complex music. But I have never heard ZEN V4.

Nelson Pass · 27th May 2004, 09:21 PM

Yeah, the only issue is a preamp having enough gain and
voltage swing. It takes about 9 Vrms input to put 10
watts into an 8 ohm load.

PMA · 28th May 2004, 06:33 AM

Exactly - needs Voltage Amplifying Stage

21st May 2004, 01:14 AM	#1
SIMONLEE diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto	Power follower 99c Vs Zen I am very curious how does a power follower 99C sound compared with a Zen? Some may know what I am talking about. The circuit looks very simple. There are some advantages I know: 1: Lower value capacitors 2: Lower output resistance which means good dampling factor. 3: Higher output power. Is it reallyworthy to spend money to built it? I plan to use it with a BOZ.

25th May 2004, 11:59 PM	#3
kilowattski diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Long Island, New York	For those who have no clue what a "Power Follower 99C" is, could you please clue us in? __________________ ----------------------------------------------- Kilowattski

27th May 2004, 07:37 AM	#6
altor diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Europe-Asia	I've build Andrea's Follower some years ago - an original one and with some modifications (I've tried to use current source on mosfet and bipolar, I've tried to use bipolar power supply without the output capacitor, with DC-Servo), and I've tried original PassZen V3,V4, V3+tube input stage - and as for me (not only for me, but also for some of my friends) - the sound of Zen is better! Thank You Nelson, for the genious design! BTW, In my V3+tube there is some differencies from the original V3 shematic. One of the differencies (according Fig.3 in Zen V3 pdf) - I take off C5 and put the upper pin of the R11 to the drain of the Q5 at first, then - to a separate lowpower supply (10 volts higher then Zen's main supply voltage) The sound is better, as for me. __________________ Regards, Alex

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25th May 2004, 09:51 PM	#2
PMA diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Prague, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka	Sounds better.

26th May 2004, 12:07 AM	#4
moe29 diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Florida	Single Ended Pure Class A Power Follower Amplifier Designed by: Andrea Ciuffoli. LINKY As to the question... which ZEN??? and... the only way would be to build and compare for yourself

26th May 2004, 08:35 PM	#5
Nelson Pass The one and only Join Date: Mar 2001	It's a fine amplifier with no voltage gain, if you can deal with that.

27th May 2004, 06:48 PM	#7
Nelson Pass The one and only Join Date: Mar 2001	I think that the sound of a follower is generally better, as it has the 100% degenerative feedback and the distortion and bandwidth are better. The damping factor is a little higher on the follower, but I haven't noticed much difference in bass control.

27th May 2004, 08:49 PM	#8
PMA diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Prague, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka	I compared the follower (not Andrea's) and the ZEN (1st version) some 3 years ago. I would add to what Nelson said that the sound of follower did not depend that much on speaker used - probably because of the lower output impedance (0.3 Ohm approx) and the sound was more clean for complex music. But I have never heard ZEN V4.

27th May 2004, 09:21 PM	#9
Nelson Pass The one and only Join Date: Mar 2001	Yeah, the only issue is a preamp having enough gain and voltage swing. It takes about 9 Vrms input to put 10 watts into an 8 ohm load.

28th May 2004, 06:33 AM	#10
PMA diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Prague, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka	Exactly - needs Voltage Amplifying Stage

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