Hi there,
I am a new starter and interested in building the Zen amp.
I have several questions regarding the building of the Zen amp:
1) Once the amp is built, according to Mr Pass's original Zen amp article, under section "V.Operation":
"Once built, turn the amp on. Then input signal and 8ohm load, adjust P1 for symetrical clipping. Readjust P1 after the amplifier has warmed up."
What I don't understand about this part is the meaning of symetrical clipping.What am I expect to see? Does it matter when P1 is turned to an extreme, eg 0 ohm or 10 Kohm when you turn the amplifier on?
2) My speakers are nominal 6ohms but can dip to 4 at some regions. It is 95dB efficient. Will the Zen sound ok with my speakers?
3) The supply voltage for the Zen amp is 35VDC. Why does all capacitors in the Zen part list specified as rated 35V? Shouldn't these capacitors be rated higher for safety reason?
Looking forward to your helpful comments.
I am a new starter and interested in building the Zen amp.
I have several questions regarding the building of the Zen amp:
1) Once the amp is built, according to Mr Pass's original Zen amp article, under section "V.Operation":
"Once built, turn the amp on. Then input signal and 8ohm load, adjust P1 for symetrical clipping. Readjust P1 after the amplifier has warmed up."
What I don't understand about this part is the meaning of symetrical clipping.What am I expect to see? Does it matter when P1 is turned to an extreme, eg 0 ohm or 10 Kohm when you turn the amplifier on?
2) My speakers are nominal 6ohms but can dip to 4 at some regions. It is 95dB efficient. Will the Zen sound ok with my speakers?
3) The supply voltage for the Zen amp is 35VDC. Why does all capacitors in the Zen part list specified as rated 35V? Shouldn't these capacitors be rated higher for safety reason?
Looking forward to your helpful comments.
Symmetrical clipping means that you'll need to use an oscilloscope to watch the output. When a sine wave clips, the rounded top (or bottom) flattens, making it appear more like a square wave. The upper and lower peaks will need to start flattening at the same time and at the same rate as you turn up the input signal.
Set the bias pot for the lowest voltage at turn-on. Since the MOSFET is an enhancement device, it will then be closer to the 'off' state, hence passing the least current. You can turn it up from there.
Whether the Zen will sound good with a given pair of speakers depends on a thousand factors, none of which can be predicted from where I sit (or anyone else, for that matter). How loud you listen. What kind of music you listen to. Etc. The fact that you have fairly efficient speakers is in your favor. I wouldn't get too worried about an impedance dip--most speakers have them, and frequently far worse than 4 ohms.
Cap voltage ratings have been done to death in at least three or four recent threads. I regularly run caps within 5% or less of their rated voltage. Others want 20% or more headroom. In part, it will depend on the stability of the AC where you live, again something that can't be predicted from here. Go read the other threads and make a choice that you feel comfortable with.
Grey
Set the bias pot for the lowest voltage at turn-on. Since the MOSFET is an enhancement device, it will then be closer to the 'off' state, hence passing the least current. You can turn it up from there.
Whether the Zen will sound good with a given pair of speakers depends on a thousand factors, none of which can be predicted from where I sit (or anyone else, for that matter). How loud you listen. What kind of music you listen to. Etc. The fact that you have fairly efficient speakers is in your favor. I wouldn't get too worried about an impedance dip--most speakers have them, and frequently far worse than 4 ohms.
Cap voltage ratings have been done to death in at least three or four recent threads. I regularly run caps within 5% or less of their rated voltage. Others want 20% or more headroom. In part, it will depend on the stability of the AC where you live, again something that can't be predicted from here. Go read the other threads and make a choice that you feel comfortable with.
Grey
You don't need a generator.Just use a normal audio signal.It can yield an increase in output power on the order of 1~2dB to adjust the clipping with an audio signal vs a signal generator.Likewise using a real speaker as the load vs an 8 ohm resistor." Fig.4 also suggests that if the .... output stage were dimensioned differently and optimized for these transient conditions instead of the usual steady-state sinewave condition, the heavy positive clipping could have been avoided. This deserves investigation, but that means a whole new project... " http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?357
fcel,
There's no real substitute for a signal generator, although I suppose you could contrive something out of a small transformer and a voltage divider to give a 60 Hz signal stepped down from wall voltage. Like a good meter, a signal generator and an oscilloscope are fundamental; there's no way to do audio work without them.
djk's link suggests using music to look at clipping, but assumes that you have a sampling scope. The article raises more questions than it answers, but is interesting regardless.
These days there are programs that work with sound cards in your computer. I have no opinion as to what's good in that area, as I have done no research. I still use a separate signal generator that I bought years ago. One way or another, you'll need to get or build something if you intend to do much DIY.
Grey
There's no real substitute for a signal generator, although I suppose you could contrive something out of a small transformer and a voltage divider to give a 60 Hz signal stepped down from wall voltage. Like a good meter, a signal generator and an oscilloscope are fundamental; there's no way to do audio work without them.
djk's link suggests using music to look at clipping, but assumes that you have a sampling scope. The article raises more questions than it answers, but is interesting regardless.
These days there are programs that work with sound cards in your computer. I have no opinion as to what's good in that area, as I have done no research. I still use a separate signal generator that I bought years ago. One way or another, you'll need to get or build something if you intend to do much DIY.
Grey
Ok, I put one side of DC voltmeter on drain of the MOSFET, and other one what, ground?
- Status
- This old topic is closed. If you want to reopen this topic, contact a moderator using the "Report Post" button.