I mostly see big advantages with a SMPS over a "linear":
An SMPS is normally regulated, meaning it keeps the voltage under load.
-This is not true for a "linear" PSU and this calls for large caps to help keeping the voltage constant under load.
-There have been amps both DIY and commercial implementing a regulated linear PSU, but the PSU becomes as big and complex as the amp itself
The SPMS is normally cheaper and much smaller for the same wattage compared to a "linear"
The ripple on an SMPS is typically determined by the ESR of the output caps, so if you want lower ripple go for types with lower ESR. Actually talking about grade, then the term "computer grade" caps actually refers to low EST and high Ripple Current capability, and was a term coming up in the 80'es or there around, as caps at that time where for sure not all suited to fit into a PC SMPS 😉
Problems with SMPS are if they are not of really good quality, that overloading them might kill them with a bang ..... have tried it a few times ..... most of the over current circuites are not really working the way they should.
Today I would for sure not bother with a linear PSU for an amp. ..... look at the pro market ...... they go for performance and high capacity .... with amps capable of delivering many kW continuasly from a SMPS ... go for it 😉
An SMPS is normally regulated, meaning it keeps the voltage under load.
-This is not true for a "linear" PSU and this calls for large caps to help keeping the voltage constant under load.
-There have been amps both DIY and commercial implementing a regulated linear PSU, but the PSU becomes as big and complex as the amp itself
The SPMS is normally cheaper and much smaller for the same wattage compared to a "linear"
The ripple on an SMPS is typically determined by the ESR of the output caps, so if you want lower ripple go for types with lower ESR. Actually talking about grade, then the term "computer grade" caps actually refers to low EST and high Ripple Current capability, and was a term coming up in the 80'es or there around, as caps at that time where for sure not all suited to fit into a PC SMPS 😉
Problems with SMPS are if they are not of really good quality, that overloading them might kill them with a bang ..... have tried it a few times ..... most of the over current circuites are not really working the way they should.
Today I would for sure not bother with a linear PSU for an amp. ..... look at the pro market ...... they go for performance and high capacity .... with amps capable of delivering many kW continuasly from a SMPS ... go for it 😉
I accidentally briefly shorted the negative output to 0v yesterday.
I expected the smps fuse to blow, or to have damaged something but it carried on working normally so it seems robust.
I expected the smps fuse to blow, or to have damaged something but it carried on working normally so it seems robust.
I can't take this reaction serious also...
Wel if it measures good, it must be good. The new generation hifi people i guess
Good luck with your hifi SMPS stuff.
The problem with a supply that actually does that is when your amp/speaker briefly demands more current than that. It will cause the amp to drop out, and not in a nice way. Unless of course the supply is oversized so this never happens. Good luck with that, hope you have deep pockets. The bean counters that design the consumer and even pro stuff never do. The worst offenders are the junk they put in powered speakers.
1) The amp is Class A so relatively constant current until the amp switches ito AB if it does.
2) The psu is overspecified (10times the amp's RMS power) and each channel has it's own.
3) I'm using it for mid drivers in a fully active system (150-3kHz)
4) As I said erarlier, I probably wouldn't chose one for an AB amp for the reason you mention, i.e transient response - can an smps respond fast enough for a bass drum kick for example?
I'm keeping an open mind and if I don't like the results I'll reconsider but at least I am going to try rather than speculate on how good/bad an smps might be.
2) The psu is overspecified (10times the amp's RMS power) and each channel has it's own.
3) I'm using it for mid drivers in a fully active system (150-3kHz)
4) As I said erarlier, I probably wouldn't chose one for an AB amp for the reason you mention, i.e transient response - can an smps respond fast enough for a bass drum kick for example?
I'm keeping an open mind and if I don't like the results I'll reconsider but at least I am going to try rather than speculate on how good/bad an smps might be.
There is an overly romantic view of things old, I think.
A well constructed / implemented SMPS will handle transients much better than a linear supply, simply because it is regulated and will keep the voltage constant.
Can you deplete it of energy, sure thing, but with normal music (not test signals) with a normal crest factor, this will not happen.
If you have been to a big concert recently you will have felt the transients of the kick drum or bass guitar. With a probability of ca 95%, produced by class d amps with SMPS.
Today serious pro speakers are designed for really high power, which can only be delivered by class d/smps.
Class A for smps, here you for sure need to ensure it will be able to support the power sustained. A factor of x10 sounds reasonable. Heat will be the first problem to secure.
A well constructed / implemented SMPS will handle transients much better than a linear supply, simply because it is regulated and will keep the voltage constant.
Can you deplete it of energy, sure thing, but with normal music (not test signals) with a normal crest factor, this will not happen.
If you have been to a big concert recently you will have felt the transients of the kick drum or bass guitar. With a probability of ca 95%, produced by class d amps with SMPS.
Today serious pro speakers are designed for really high power, which can only be delivered by class d/smps.
Class A for smps, here you for sure need to ensure it will be able to support the power sustained. A factor of x10 sounds reasonable. Heat will be the first problem to secure.
Some truly amazing engineering using SMPS
https://www.l-acoustics.com/products/la-rak-iii/
62kW in a 9 unit 19" rack
👍
https://www.l-acoustics.com/products/la-rak-iii/
62kW in a 9 unit 19" rack
👍
It has much more chances to be good. And in majority of cases it is true.
It’s about all people with open, unbiased mind.The new generation hifi people i guess
From all your messages, I understand only a single "drawback" of SMPS - it’s low price. Here I agree: one not be able to came to audiophiles club, and use the check from purchased SMPS as a fetish there.
Tolik, I agree. I have no time for nay sayers who have not even tried the products they condemn.
Social media and forums are full of these 'armchair experts' sadly.
Social media and forums are full of these 'armchair experts' sadly.
And it used to be done with Iron Pigs. Biggest ones were about 5kW, compared to 15 kW class D. Yiu just needed more of them. And don’t go thinking that cute little SMPS in your consumer equipment or the ones you buy at Digikey or heaven forbid Aliexpress can compete with them (even watt for watt). By the time you get to those power levels, and can sustain those kick drum hits at those concerts without misbehaving, they cost as much or MORE than their iron pig equivalents. Even for powering a 200 W/ch home stereo amp properly, you are going to spend $300 on it, same as buying a 1kVA toroid and pair of 22,000 uF/100V caps. A $39.95 special will misbehave on every kick drum hit. But even a good one will be smaller and lighter. They cram 15kW into 2U these days, but the price tag will set you back more than what four CA18’s cost NEW. And used they are under a grand these days as everyone gets rid of them.
I would be very happy, if SMPS would be more expensive than toroid based supplies, as I own a ton of such gear. The reality today is different.
If you buy wise you can get incredible output from modern SMPS, that you can not distinguish from an "iron pig" with real music.
Those subjective "fast attacks" of bass drums etc in fact are very slow signals, closer to DC than to a real "fast" frequency.
Modern SMPS deliver what they need to do. Sure there are Chinese ones that in reality do not even have half the power they claim. If you go for a well established brand, even quite price effective examples have an unbeatable power/ wheight ratio. Just attach a load resistor to them and measure the output current and voltage. Have in mind that a sine wave only is a fraction of a DC load! So if such a supply can give you 600 Watt DC, it will not break down powering an amp.
That may hurt some that have spend all their life with heavy transformers and banks of capacitors, but we have 2025! Their will be no revival of heavy iron and copper powered amps. Sure there will always be some "transformer only" fanatics, just like our valve amp fans, just like flat earthers...
If you buy wise you can get incredible output from modern SMPS, that you can not distinguish from an "iron pig" with real music.
Those subjective "fast attacks" of bass drums etc in fact are very slow signals, closer to DC than to a real "fast" frequency.
Modern SMPS deliver what they need to do. Sure there are Chinese ones that in reality do not even have half the power they claim. If you go for a well established brand, even quite price effective examples have an unbeatable power/ wheight ratio. Just attach a load resistor to them and measure the output current and voltage. Have in mind that a sine wave only is a fraction of a DC load! So if such a supply can give you 600 Watt DC, it will not break down powering an amp.
That may hurt some that have spend all their life with heavy transformers and banks of capacitors, but we have 2025! Their will be no revival of heavy iron and copper powered amps. Sure there will always be some "transformer only" fanatics, just like our valve amp fans, just like flat earthers...
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