Ultra-low Noise Valve Regulated PSU. How to?

Kenneth Zhu · 1st October 2010, 03:20 AM

Wanna build a MM amplifier? What troulbes me now is that most sources indicate that a valve regulated PSU will not perform as well as a solid state regulated PSU, in particular the noise level.

But in history, valve regulated PSU has been extensively used in various applications, including those high-precision instrumentation that demends ultra-low noise level?

So is there any professional article that covers this issue, i.e. how to build ultra-low noise valve regulated PSU, the know-hows, the noteworthy technical parameters, and the enabiling methods, such as tube selection, sheilding, chasis layout, wiring, etc.

Can anybody offer help to provide this kind of references? Thanks in advance.

kmtang · 1st October 2010, 06:51 AM

The HP 400D audio volt meter and the HP435C microwave volt meter have a very well designed tube regulated power supply built in.

Check them out.

Johnny

revintage · 1st October 2010, 08:52 AM

Janneman has the solution.

SY · 1st October 2010, 09:03 AM

Quote:

But in history, valve regulated PSU has been extensively used in various applications, including those high-precision instrumentation that demends ultra-low noise level?

In those applications, the signal circuits are designed to have high power supply rejection. Did you know that the original application of the topology that John Broskie markets as Aikido was for DC amplifiers, to accommodate poor heater supply regulation?

Jan's design is excellent and I'm using it in my next power amp, but if you're a tube purist, it won't do- the error amplifiers are solid state. I think Kevin Kennedy has posted his all-tube reg; I'd look at that. Also, since old Tektronix schematics are easy to come by, you might copy some of their old regs. But SS is still the performance champion for low noise, low impedance DC.

Kenneth Zhu · 1st October 2010, 01:19 PM

Thanks. Tubes have inherent noises that can hardly be overcome, but my goal is very simple: to find a tube regulated PSU as slient as possible for my preamplifier. It seems that the PSU used in HP instrumentation will satisfy this need.

peranders · 1st October 2010, 02:40 PM

What's All This Ripple Rejection Stuff, Anyhow? (Part 1)

kevinkr · 1st October 2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenneth Zhu

Thanks. Tubes have inherent noises that can hardly be overcome, but my goal is very simple: to find a tube regulated PSU as slient as possible for my preamplifier. It seems that the PSU used in HP instrumentation will satisfy this need.

The HP stuff is well designed, mine was designed expressly for the criteria important in low noise line and phono stage applications. A lot of them have been built by me and others..

LinuksGuru · 1st October 2010, 06:08 PM

You can also take power supply schematic from L1-3 or L3-3 Russian vacuum tube tester.

jan.didden · 5th October 2010, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenneth Zhu

Thanks. Tubes have inherent noises that can hardly be overcome, but my goal is very simple: to find a tube regulated PSU as slient as possible for my preamplifier. It seems that the PSU used in HP instrumentation will satisfy this need.

I don't think it beats this:

jan didden

MarcelvdG · 5th October 2010, 07:18 PM

If you want low noise at audio frequencies, why don't you just filter the supply? If you need an accurate DC voltage, make a regulator and put a filter between the regulator and the circuit that needs the low-noise supply.

Most voltage references are pretty noisy: that holds for valve solutions like a neon discharge reference as well as for solid-state versions like a "zener" diode operating in the avalanche region or a band gap reference (noisy because a small VBE difference is multiplied by a large factor). If you want really low noise, usually filtering either the reference or (preferably) the supply voltage is the most practical solution.

1st October 2010, 03:20 AM	#1
Kenneth Zhu diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Deyang, Sichuan, P.R.China	Ultra-low Noise Valve Regulated PSU. How to? Wanna build a MM amplifier? What troulbes me now is that most sources indicate that a valve regulated PSU will not perform as well as a solid state regulated PSU, in particular the noise level. But in history, valve regulated PSU has been extensively used in various applications, including those high-precision instrumentation that demends ultra-low noise level? So is there any professional article that covers this issue, i.e. how to build ultra-low noise valve regulated PSU, the know-hows, the noteworthy technical parameters, and the enabiling methods, such as tube selection, sheilding, chasis layout, wiring, etc. Can anybody offer help to provide this kind of references? Thanks in advance.

1st October 2010, 02:40 PM	#6
peranders Electrons are yellow and more is better! diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Blog Entries: 4	What's All This Ripple Rejection Stuff, Anyhow? (Part 1) __________________ /Per-Anders (my first name) or P-A as my friends call me Tube Buffered Gainclone in work \|Thread

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
ultra-low noise transistors.	PCP	Solid State	45	29th December 2012 04:39 PM
Ultra low noise measurement amp	tschrama	Solid State	20	22nd September 2008 04:28 PM
12au7 who has the best ultra low noise ???	prorms	Tubes / Valves	3	23rd August 2008 12:40 AM
valve regulated psu	KevinTams	Tubes / Valves	10	25th December 2006 12:18 AM
Ultra low noise filters	tiroth	Solid State	14	21st May 2002 10:19 PM

New To Site?	Need Help?
Register to Participate Search Privacy Statement Contact Us	Frequently Asked Questions Did you forget your password? Mark Forums Read


	Please consider donating to help us continue to serve you. Ads on/off / Custom Title / More PMs / More album space / Advanced printing & mass image saving

1st October 2010, 06:51 AM	#2
kmtang diyAudio Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Vancouver	The HP 400D audio volt meter and the HP435C microwave volt meter have a very well designed tube regulated power supply built in. Check them out. Johnny

1st October 2010, 08:52 AM	#3
revintage diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2007	Janneman has the solution.

1st October 2010, 01:19 PM	#5
Kenneth Zhu diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Deyang, Sichuan, P.R.China	Thanks. Tubes have inherent noises that can hardly be overcome, but my goal is very simple: to find a tube regulated PSU as slient as possible for my preamplifier. It seems that the PSU used in HP instrumentation will satisfy this need.

1st October 2010, 06:08 PM	#8
LinuksGuru diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2008	You can also take power supply schematic from L1-3 or L3-3 Russian vacuum tube tester.

5th October 2010, 07:18 PM	#10
MarcelvdG diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Haarlem, the Netherlands	If you want low noise at audio frequencies, why don't you just filter the supply? If you need an accurate DC voltage, make a regulator and put a filter between the regulator and the circuit that needs the low-noise supply. Most voltage references are pretty noisy: that holds for valve solutions like a neon discharge reference as well as for solid-state versions like a "zener" diode operating in the avalanche region or a band gap reference (noisy because a small VBE difference is multiplied by a large factor). If you want really low noise, usually filtering either the reference or (preferably) the supply voltage is the most practical solution.