adding a smaller transformer for pre amp stage in an integrated amplifier

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Amazing that something like that amp sold for a couple thousand $$$$....
When I can slap together something that does the same thing for less than $300.
😱

In what way is this amazing? There is a multiplier of about 10 to the cost of parts for most luxury type electronic equipment. In the high end this multiplier is much higher.

Besides, what you can slap together will not look the same and arguably will not sound the same either, unless you clone it.
 
I'm familier with that amplifier already.
There is nothing spectacular about the build quality.... it's an amplifier... plain and simple.
But as things are, once you put a "name" on it that excites people, toss in some fancy features, you can price it to the moon.
Yet....... it's STILL just an amplifier.
Boring too, with only a volume and selector control.
No tone controls to "dial in" a particular sound preference.


....and that's all it suppose to be, an amplifier and to my ears it's a very good one.

If there is a "hype" around Exposure brand... 🙄 well...that's something I never heard before.
 
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Hi All,


I've been rolling an idea in my head of separating the pre amp and the power amp section by adding a small torodial transformer to my Exposure 3010S integrated amplifier that will "push" only the pre amp stage in the integrated amp.
The torodial transformer in the 3010S rated as 400VA and my idea is to add a smaller (60-80VA torodial transformer) transformer.

Is there any real benefit in doing this?
How do you think it will affect the amplifier soundwise?


Thanks
No sound change at all.

If that´s your objective, waste of time.

As side note, I bet the original PT was put where it is to minimize electromagnetic interference ; the new one, which has significant size, will have to fit somewhere else, place chosen by space availability only, andprobably an inconvenient one from the point of view of electromagnetic interference.

That alone (plus the zero gain result) adds to it being not even neutral, but possibly worse.

I was thinking about "cleaner" power to the pre amp stage.
Not cleaner since you will keep the current power supply (presumably regulated).

If it were my amp and i had the space i would do it in a flash. The subjective sound improvement is substantial even if the front end is opamp based.
Then why plug in a soldering iron at all?
Just put some snake oil component on or below or near the amp and enjoy the *subjective* improvement.

You will reach the subjective quality of separates without the drawback of an interconnect cable.
If we keep subjective, anything will do.
It´s Faith based of course.

I would also experiment with a few different transformers and caps.
12VAC is 12VAC, no matter where it comes from.
Cap replacement is forbidden by this Game rules, since it´s stated "not modding the power supply".
You lose 1 turn.

Then again, for the majority of members here, this would be a complete waste of time and effort
Waste a couple minutes thinking about why most would think that 🙄
 
If it were my amp and i had the space i would do it in a flash. The subjective sound improvement is substantial even if the front end is opamp based.

You will reach the subjective quality of separates without the drawback of an interconnect cable. I would also experiment with a few different transformers and caps.

Then again, for the majority of members here, this would be a complete waste of time and effort 😎
You wouldn't believe some of the things I waste my time and effort on. Just offhand, the subject of women comes to mind. :spin:
 
OK, I've misunderstood the power supply (couldn't find schematic). Your pix in post 37(?)
show a separate winding (orange&purple wires) that you say provides about 12VAC.
Separate winding is almost as good as a separate transformer, this is as "good" as it gets.


The scenario of dropping resistor off mail rail with smoothing cap and zener is for another amp.


Certainly give the amp a critical listen, where does it fall short. If the amp is not 30+ years old I would hold back on recapping. Maybe buy a vintage piece and refurbish that.
 
In what way is this amazing? There is a multiplier of about 10 to the cost of parts for most luxury type electronic equipment. In the high end this multiplier is much higher.

Besides, what you can slap together will not look the same and arguably will not sound the same either, unless you clone it.


What you're referring to is merely blatent over-charging for parts.
In other words, ripping people off under the mask of "high end" and "ultimate quality", which is what marketing and hype are used for.
It's all about superficiality, looks, what manufacturers bank on.


I've seen the inside guts of "high end" plenty of times at the shop, and trust me, it's all a bunch of BS designed around a name and marketing.


The asian-produced equipment is one of the biggest offenders of overpricing for crap.
For instance, a high-end Yaqin CD player, listed to sell for over $700, with heavy, fancy, sculptured aluminum casing designed to be "admired", and with tubes protruding from it, is junk in a snazzy coat.

Internally, the parts where the suckered-in consumer never sees, contain a simple cheap circuit board, and a cheap CD mechanism with the same part number as in a Sony boombox - replacement cost a mere $8!
I assume Yaquin bought a load of them dirt-cheap from Sony "old stock" and their idea was to lure the "high-end" folks with the fancy case design.
That's their idea of making money, big money, and in my opinion, it's wrong, and slimy business dealings.
There are plenty of others that pull this crap as well, and plenty of people to stick up for that practice and nevertheless praise the equipment.
That doesn't impress me.


I've also seen chinese "high end" amplifiers with stunning ouside appearances.
Massive transfomer housings intended to impress people, and price points to make jaws drop.
And, inside those impressive transformer housings is a tiny inexpensive transformer - you could fit three of them in that housing with room left over, but the room is taken up by tar instead, to add weight and keep the prying eyes from discovering the lies they advertise.


AND........


A fancy "upper crust" table radio came in the shop for service once - I remarked how heavy it was to the customer.
When I opened it up to troubleshoot it, I found a solid block of molded concrete fastened inside.
Along with a cheap transistor radio circuit board and cheap speaker.
But the outside was snazzy. 😱
 
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