Dear supporters,
I woluld like to have more gain from my Aleph 2 monobloks.
I know that single ended connection give us 26db gain but rest of my equipment is balanced, and that‘s the only way I’ll go.
Please suggest….
1. maybe good preamp (Aleph P1.7 or other)
2. …or maybe (I don’t know) I could play with 10k input resistors (lower values)
3. …or something else 🙂
Tnx a lot
Tony,
I woluld like to have more gain from my Aleph 2 monobloks.
I know that single ended connection give us 26db gain but rest of my equipment is balanced, and that‘s the only way I’ll go.
Please suggest….
1. maybe good preamp (Aleph P1.7 or other)
2. …or maybe (I don’t know) I could play with 10k input resistors (lower values)
3. …or something else 🙂
Tnx a lot
Tony,
can you describe rest of your system, upstream of Aleph 2?
26db of gain is respectable figure from such simple circuit, there is no much leeway to increase it further without increase in distortion, simply because open loop gain isn't especially high (increasing closed loop gain goes with price of decreasing already modest feedback, so distortion is rising, same as damping factor)
now, 26db is practically 20V/V
as Aleph 2 is 100W@8R, that means for full blast you need measly 1.41Vrms to balanced input
pretty much any balanced source nowadays is having at least that much, so if you need any sort of preamp it can be either simple buffering stage or preamp with moderate gain - 6db or so
26db of gain is respectable figure from such simple circuit, there is no much leeway to increase it further without increase in distortion, simply because open loop gain isn't especially high (increasing closed loop gain goes with price of decreasing already modest feedback, so distortion is rising, same as damping factor)
now, 26db is practically 20V/V
as Aleph 2 is 100W@8R, that means for full blast you need measly 1.41Vrms to balanced input
pretty much any balanced source nowadays is having at least that much, so if you need any sort of preamp it can be either simple buffering stage or preamp with moderate gain - 6db or so
Tnx Zen Mod on Your reply…
Aleph’s are driven by Cambridge Azur 851N network streamer in preamp mode and Monitor Audio Platinum 100II speakers…so far, sound is fantastic but I tought that little bit gain would be nice. Any how…I’m enjoying the sound a lot. I’ve asked because recently I’ve tried passive balanced volume control (Silk Audio) with +6db on XLR and it was beautiful 🙂.
Tnx a lot,
Tony
Aleph’s are driven by Cambridge Azur 851N network streamer in preamp mode and Monitor Audio Platinum 100II speakers…so far, sound is fantastic but I tought that little bit gain would be nice. Any how…I’m enjoying the sound a lot. I’ve asked because recently I’ve tried passive balanced volume control (Silk Audio) with +6db on XLR and it was beautiful 🙂.
Tnx a lot,
Tony
no technical facts about balanced level for Cambridge, neither on-line nor in user manual
in any case, hard to believe that Cambridge is not having at least 1.41Vrms at output, but anything could happen if taking in account that many audio files aren't exactly all the time redlining 0db
anyhow, why not just obtaining Silk and be done with it?
of course, if you're eager to DIY something, that's another issue
btw. Balanced Iron Pre is exactly what you need, if going DIY
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...ya-store-register-your-interest.390509/latest
in any case, hard to believe that Cambridge is not having at least 1.41Vrms at output, but anything could happen if taking in account that many audio files aren't exactly all the time redlining 0db
anyhow, why not just obtaining Silk and be done with it?
of course, if you're eager to DIY something, that's another issue
btw. Balanced Iron Pre is exactly what you need, if going DIY
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/...ya-store-register-your-interest.390509/latest
Yes… Balanced Iron Pre is the way to go…. waiting for a long time to be available at shop 🙂
As always…You are very helpful,
Tnx,
As always…You are very helpful,
Tnx,
Sorry for hijacking this thread, but it was the youngest.
I have theese aleph 2 boards and tested them today with 15 volt, just like regular nmos test.
I wrote the currents in each emitter resistor under each device, a few boards look of, but are they to way off?
I know half is CCS other half gain , but could be swapped.
Number way down is the collective load current.
I have theese aleph 2 boards and tested them today with 15 volt, just like regular nmos test.
I wrote the currents in each emitter resistor under each device, a few boards look of, but are they to way off?
I know half is CCS other half gain , but could be swapped.
Number way down is the collective load current.
looking in quartets, all numbers are more than close enoughfew boards look of, but are they to way off?
if you're going to combine quartets to get octets, just choose closest quartets to pair
so, you're good to proceed
note - I'm looking at 8somthing numbers, assuming that's mV across 1R
worse case is 827 vs. 845, inside quartet ...... and that's under 2.5%
nothing to worry
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Thanks zenmod for verifying what I thought. I will pair them up to match best , and that's it, I do have more irfp240 from same batch but the win of more matching is negligible.
Just for fun, I have many of the emitter resistors, they are 5% I could level out the worst boards, with well chosen resistors or ?
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