Well, they have "gain" in the title, and in the photo of the back of the board one can see where a chip with legs seems to be attached. Since the rest is surface mount I guess that's about all we know.
Looks to me like someone else has discovered how good chips can sound!
Looks to me like someone else has discovered how good chips can sound!
I think these soldered pins are actually from a socket that connects the visible PCB to other PCB above it
The text and the specs make me think about some high quality VCA chips connected in series to achieve that gain range and a DC servo for DC compensation
And a lot of pseudo-science marketing...
The text and the specs make me think about some high quality VCA chips connected in series to achieve that gain range and a DC servo for DC compensation
And a lot of pseudo-science marketing...
They say P.T. Barnum put a sign reading "EGRESS" over a door in his early shows. Folks bought into that one too.
"A stage with Pure Resolution™ and no compromises. " Please.
"A stage with Pure Resolution™ and no compromises. " Please.
Looks like the world's biggest op-amp, but not so flexible.
I must say that their marketing is very good though. After reading the article I almost wanted to experience Pure Resolution™ myself!
I must say that their marketing is very good though. After reading the article I almost wanted to experience Pure Resolution™ myself!
My WAG from the typical McGowan market-speak hyperbole -
a TI THS41x1 fully differential ic (or TI's audio specific TPAwhatever) surrounded by a Wolfson WM8816 for 'non-attenuating' volume control.
Revolutionary? Hardly. But it does seem a nice approach.
'the culmination of 25 years of work...'
Possibly, but not work done by PS Audio.
a TI THS41x1 fully differential ic (or TI's audio specific TPAwhatever) surrounded by a Wolfson WM8816 for 'non-attenuating' volume control.
Revolutionary? Hardly. But it does seem a nice approach.
'the culmination of 25 years of work...'
Possibly, but not work done by PS Audio.
Let 'em try to patent it......
Anyone here read John Curl's post on how some guy that he showed the fully-complimentary differential input stage tried to patent it?
Yeah........audio is full of.............(fill in the blanks).
Jocko
Anyone here read John Curl's post on how some guy that he showed the fully-complimentary differential input stage tried to patent it?
Yeah........audio is full of.............(fill in the blanks).
Jocko
Re: PS Audio "Gain Cell"
Yeah, they ripped off the name. Quatre used "Gain Cell" for a line of amplifiers and preamplifiers back in the 1970s.
se
loudandclear said:
Yeah, they ripped off the name. Quatre used "Gain Cell" for a line of amplifiers and preamplifiers back in the 1970s.
se
jam said:
Reverse engineering???? We don do no steeenk'n reverse engineering. I suggested this exact architecture to a small manufacturer about 2 years ago.
McGowan canna hep hisself, and he includes enough 'meat' in his hyperbole that if you think about it, you can suss out what he is doing.
Same goes for his 'unique' Balun, the UltraOutlet, which is simply a common mode choke.
But if I do implement the sucker using those fully differential ICs from TI, is Nelson going to come after me for violating his patents on that use of folded cascodes?
I don't think there is a wolfson 8816 in it since that is 'digital' sort of. And they said 'pure analog' (unless they re-interpreted standard English..).
How is that gain controlled? A pot? DC control? That should give another clue.
Jan Didden
How is that gain controlled? A pot? DC control? That should give another clue.
Jan Didden
Would make a good DIY project though.......................anyone up to the challange? 🙂
...with Mr.Pass's permission, of course........
...with Mr.Pass's permission, of course........
Jan,
You may well be right. But given Mr. McGowen's interesting approach to English usage, he could well argue (if indeed they're using the Wolfson) that the signal path is indeed purely analog. As the voulume and balance controls are operated via a remote control, and I see no motororized pots, I don't see it as a stretch to call it purely analog. Otherwise, he could be using a VCA, which I doubt, or simply a pga between the phases, but that might be considered 'attenuation". Dunno, but the Wolfson in conjuction with the TI THS41x1 does seem like the logical (and quite interesting) approach.
You may well be right. But given Mr. McGowen's interesting approach to English usage, he could well argue (if indeed they're using the Wolfson) that the signal path is indeed purely analog. As the voulume and balance controls are operated via a remote control, and I see no motororized pots, I don't see it as a stretch to call it purely analog. Otherwise, he could be using a VCA, which I doubt, or simply a pga between the phases, but that might be considered 'attenuation". Dunno, but the Wolfson in conjuction with the TI THS41x1 does seem like the logical (and quite interesting) approach.
"What’s inside the Gain Cell
So revolutionary is the Gain Cell design that we’re not going to publish what’s inside nor do we intend to patent it. Instead, we have chosen to protect the technology by encasing the circuitry in non-conductive epoxy (known as potting), thus keeping our competitors completely in the dark."
Epoxy cant stop me... someone get one of these and crack it open.
btw the main chip has 16 pins, then the jumpers must be for signal/power. ?
So revolutionary is the Gain Cell design that we’re not going to publish what’s inside nor do we intend to patent it. Instead, we have chosen to protect the technology by encasing the circuitry in non-conductive epoxy (known as potting), thus keeping our competitors completely in the dark."
Epoxy cant stop me... someone get one of these and crack it open.
btw the main chip has 16 pins, then the jumpers must be for signal/power. ?
"What’s inside the Gain Cell
So revolutionary is the Gain Cell design that we’re not going to publish what’s inside nor do we intend to patent it. Instead, we have chosen to protect the technology by encasing the circuitry in non-conductive epoxy (known as potting), thus keeping our competitors completely in the dark."
Epoxy cant stop me... someone get one of these and crack it open.
btw the main chip has 16 pins, then the jumpers must be for signal/power. ?
Sorry for digging out of the dirt such an old thread, but I have to ask...
Does anyone by now knows what is it all about?
I saw a comercial amplifier from PS audio using B&O Icepower modules with a pair of these...
Since I have two ASP1000 I would like to try these wonder gain cells to see how does it really improve the overall sound.
Or if you have any other sugestions for my input stage, they are very wellcome.
Cheers,
Tiff
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