I have said before (in the Hafler 200/220 forum) and feel very strongly, that revisions, improvement and address of the certain and fundamental limits of the stock power supplies, warrants and very much needs attention. The audio circuits render the multitudinous P/S implementations (several dozen) each have shown improvements... are all worthwhile. That said I have stuck with beefy, expensive, large, heavy [point to point wired] linear supplies. *I am not interested in SMPS...
I am not trying to build to a budget, or even constraints of the chassis. I am trying to advance the performance capabilities to the very highest order possibly... comparing (my modest home build) results to inordinately expensive solid state and even vacuum tube gear... OTL amps. This is how I spend my time in retirement.
(Image 1) I initially planned to build a chassis from scratch, but instead chose to think and work outside of the box and chose the extruded frames. I am so glad that I chose this route... I am mocking up layout with some spare Nichicon LNT caps... while waiting for the Mundorfs.
Still using (at this point) the Hafler heatsinks / output configuration with Musical Concepts PA7 driver boards (for proof of concept testing) it has been easy to scale each step and compare the evolution along the way, staying with the basic amplifier modules that I have been using for many years.
I continue to hear notable improvements with each progressive step... I cannot promote enough, the level of attention to the power supply, regardless of whether Linear or SMPS... the circuit will respond, merit the work [if implemented well]
At present, I have 2 supply builds, using the Mundorf MLytic HC and *traditional* United Chemi-Con electrolytic, in the next post. The Mundorfs are .so expensive. However, they are nearly a break through in performance... the best caps, that I have tested or heard. *I like them even better than the Jensen 4-pole caps [another discussion]
My P230 has evolved into the test chassis, which is mocked up on plywood (do not ridicule me) as I wanted to test concept on cheaper material than 1/8" sheet aluminum, as there is a great likelihood of changes in the layout as I evolve with this project... I will likely isolate and go vertical with the power transformer and inductors.
The choice of 8020 extrusion for mocking up a frame, for my proof of concept CLC power supplies permit unlimited flexibility to change and easy adaptation. The open chassis also permit easy access to work on the piece from any angle, versus being confined to a box. I now feel spoiled with this design concept.
The choice to test (image 3 and 4) with identical Hafler power modules allowed me to test the CLC supplies, side-by-side the stock chassis and amps that I have been using. Working with a known quantities. Admittedly, it may look funky, ill-chosen… It is effective and planned as incremental steps. *I have not clipped / shortened / twisted or dressed the AC wiring, I want to have the flexibility to rework it... with a few added ideas that I have come to...
(image 3) the Hafler P230 mono with the Mundorf MLytic HC caps and a toroid devoted to running only one channel turned out to be an amazing built. It became my motivation the build from scratch monoblocks, as shown. *I have flat heatsinks, and a bunch pf TO-247 / TO-264 Exicon MOSFETS that I will eventually commit to these chassis's... all in due time.
I am not trying to build to a budget, or even constraints of the chassis. I am trying to advance the performance capabilities to the very highest order possibly... comparing (my modest home build) results to inordinately expensive solid state and even vacuum tube gear... OTL amps. This is how I spend my time in retirement.
(Image 1) I initially planned to build a chassis from scratch, but instead chose to think and work outside of the box and chose the extruded frames. I am so glad that I chose this route... I am mocking up layout with some spare Nichicon LNT caps... while waiting for the Mundorfs.
Still using (at this point) the Hafler heatsinks / output configuration with Musical Concepts PA7 driver boards (for proof of concept testing) it has been easy to scale each step and compare the evolution along the way, staying with the basic amplifier modules that I have been using for many years.
I continue to hear notable improvements with each progressive step... I cannot promote enough, the level of attention to the power supply, regardless of whether Linear or SMPS... the circuit will respond, merit the work [if implemented well]
At present, I have 2 supply builds, using the Mundorf MLytic HC and *traditional* United Chemi-Con electrolytic, in the next post. The Mundorfs are .so expensive. However, they are nearly a break through in performance... the best caps, that I have tested or heard. *I like them even better than the Jensen 4-pole caps [another discussion]
My P230 has evolved into the test chassis, which is mocked up on plywood (do not ridicule me) as I wanted to test concept on cheaper material than 1/8" sheet aluminum, as there is a great likelihood of changes in the layout as I evolve with this project... I will likely isolate and go vertical with the power transformer and inductors.
The choice of 8020 extrusion for mocking up a frame, for my proof of concept CLC power supplies permit unlimited flexibility to change and easy adaptation. The open chassis also permit easy access to work on the piece from any angle, versus being confined to a box. I now feel spoiled with this design concept.
The choice to test (image 3 and 4) with identical Hafler power modules allowed me to test the CLC supplies, side-by-side the stock chassis and amps that I have been using. Working with a known quantities. Admittedly, it may look funky, ill-chosen… It is effective and planned as incremental steps. *I have not clipped / shortened / twisted or dressed the AC wiring, I want to have the flexibility to rework it... with a few added ideas that I have come to...
(image 3) the Hafler P230 mono with the Mundorf MLytic HC caps and a toroid devoted to running only one channel turned out to be an amazing built. It became my motivation the build from scratch monoblocks, as shown. *I have flat heatsinks, and a bunch pf TO-247 / TO-264 Exicon MOSFETS that I will eventually commit to these chassis's... all in due time.
