I know it goes against current wisdom but...

martinab2 · 10th April 2004, 02:32 AM

Switch mode power supplies and single ended transistor amps can sound really good. There, I've said it! I'm currently using a 2n3055 / tip31 darlington SE amp powered by a modified atx supply - see http://www.mthain.dsl.pipex.com/mickey.html. Has anyone else tried this - Either my ears have gone faulty or I'm onto something interesting. Give it a try and let me know what you think

Bill Fitzpatrick · 10th April 2004, 03:01 AM

Two bad links out of two. Not bad.

BrianGT · 10th April 2004, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bill Fitzpatrick
Two bad links out of two. Not bad.

Take off the period...
http://www.mthain.dsl.pipex.com/mickey.html

the link works for me

--
Brian

HDTVman · 10th April 2004, 04:48 AM

I did something along these lines 30 years ago.

Parallel LM741s driving a 2n3055 as an emitter follower with a 50 watt Dale wire wound resistor as the current source. The power supply was not a switcher but a big transformer with a CLC filter.

As I remember it sounded very good for a 4 watt amp burning up about 75 watts. It got so hot in about 20 minutes that you couldn't touch it. Fans would have helped a lot I'm sure.

Later BZ

hacknet · 10th April 2004, 08:03 AM

looks very much like A BJT zen lite.

martinab2 · 10th April 2004, 10:37 AM

Yes, It's very much along the Zen lite theme - the amp circuit isn't unusual at all, but building it with a computer power supply makes it very inexpensive and nice and quiet (apart from the fan noise that is). Just a bit of fun really but I have built a few for friends and it has to be one of the cheapest ways of getting into SE class A. A lot more musical that your average cheapie integrated amp in my opinion.

Since drawing the schematic I tried moving things around with the lamp between the emitter and ground and the collectors connected directly to +24v. Also replaced the existing bias components with a single 220k pot between 24v and the base of the tip31. Seems to sound a bit smoother this way.

johnnyx · 10th April 2004, 10:54 AM

I should think that the lamp will be a non - linear load leading to distortion. You could use valve (tube) heaters instead of a lamp; - that would really confuse everyone who saw it.

Circlotron · 10th April 2004, 11:56 AM

On your home page you say:

Quote:

I was impressed by the way decay of sounds was captured

I know *exactly* what you mean. My memory of previous sound systems was that as a sound faded away it "crumbled" and deteriorated into dirty little pieces. I have had ~18 months of class A listening now, and the difference is that those decaying sounds are =absolutely= clean and detailed as they receed away into the ambience and the distance.

You know it's real if you weren't expecting it.

Roscoe Primrose · 14th April 2004, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BrianGT

Take off the period...
http://www.mthain.dsl.pipex.com/mickey.html

the link works for me

--
Brian

Gives a 404 error for me....

martinab2 · 14th April 2004, 07:04 PM

Yes, It's not working - sorry! My ISP is reporting a server problem which should be back online fairly soon.

10th April 2004, 02:32 AM	#1
martinab2 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: aberdeen, uk	I know it goes against current wisdom but... Switch mode power supplies and single ended transistor amps can sound really good. There, I've said it! I'm currently using a 2n3055 / tip31 darlington SE amp powered by a modified atx supply - see http://www.mthain.dsl.pipex.com/mickey.html. Has anyone else tried this - Either my ears have gone faulty or I'm onto something interesting. Give it a try and let me know what you think

10th April 2004, 04:48 AM	#4
HDTVman diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Chicago area	I did something along these lines 30 years ago. Parallel LM741s driving a 2n3055 as an emitter follower with a 50 watt Dale wire wound resistor as the current source. The power supply was not a switcher but a big transformer with a CLC filter. As I remember it sounded very good for a 4 watt amp burning up about 75 watts. It got so hot in about 20 minutes that you couldn't touch it. Fans would have helped a lot I'm sure. Later BZ __________________ What ever makes the tunes flow

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10th April 2004, 03:01 AM	#2
Bill Fitzpatrick diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Eugene, OR	Two bad links out of two. Not bad.

10th April 2004, 08:03 AM	#5
hacknet diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: sg	looks very much like A BJT zen lite.

10th April 2004, 10:37 AM	#6
martinab2 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: aberdeen, uk	Yes, It's very much along the Zen lite theme - the amp circuit isn't unusual at all, but building it with a computer power supply makes it very inexpensive and nice and quiet (apart from the fan noise that is). Just a bit of fun really but I have built a few for friends and it has to be one of the cheapest ways of getting into SE class A. A lot more musical that your average cheapie integrated amp in my opinion. Since drawing the schematic I tried moving things around with the lamp between the emitter and ground and the collectors connected directly to +24v. Also replaced the existing bias components with a single 220k pot between 24v and the base of the tip31. Seems to sound a bit smoother this way.

10th April 2004, 10:54 AM	#7
johnnyx diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: manchester	I should think that the lamp will be a non - linear load leading to distortion. You could use valve (tube) heaters instead of a lamp; - that would really confuse everyone who saw it.

14th April 2004, 07:04 PM	#10
martinab2 diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: aberdeen, uk	Yes, It's not working - sorry! My ISP is reporting a server problem which should be back online fairly soon.