Michael,
Sound reproduction systems are, to a high degree, up to personal taste and preferences, what sounds excellent to one may sound mediocre to another. Also, there is matter of integration between components, especially between pre-amp, power amp (or integrated amp) and speakers.
Many tube amps are colored, however, those designs which sound clean and neutral are really excellent – to my taste and preferences. Most SS amps I heard are "analytical", "lifeless" "not musical". That being said, right now my phono stage and pre-amp are tubes and the power amp is SS – and my setup sounds to me excellent. However, the amps I use at the moment are not the final word and I intend to give a try to some others. I have a tube power amp which sounded great with my previous speakers but exaggerates low frequencies with my present speakers. So, to a high degree it's a matter of integration.
Sound reproduction systems are, to a high degree, up to personal taste and preferences, what sounds excellent to one may sound mediocre to another. Also, there is matter of integration between components, especially between pre-amp, power amp (or integrated amp) and speakers.
Many tube amps are colored, however, those designs which sound clean and neutral are really excellent – to my taste and preferences. Most SS amps I heard are "analytical", "lifeless" "not musical". That being said, right now my phono stage and pre-amp are tubes and the power amp is SS – and my setup sounds to me excellent. However, the amps I use at the moment are not the final word and I intend to give a try to some others. I have a tube power amp which sounded great with my previous speakers but exaggerates low frequencies with my present speakers. So, to a high degree it's a matter of integration.
Well said, Joshua. Even though I have never made a commercial tube design, I was taught tube design in college (yes, I am that old), and used tubes primarily for my first 10 years in hi fi, and for 5 years before that even, with a 1938 Gibson tube amp (pp6L6) open loop, and an electrodynamic magnetic coil speaker. (what comes around, goes around). I have listened to McIntosh, Marantz, Dyna, and Fisher for decades. Still do, sometimes, yet I just don't have that much to contribute to tube design. I like complementary circuits, because I can think 'upside down' unlike some friends of mine. ;-) Only solid state gives me that advantage.
Do you like complementary circuits because its allowing complementary distortion cancellations?
But for this purpose each stage (both side up and down devices) must operate in class A.
If each device operate in class AB there is much odd distortion at the end, i think.
Francesco.
It must be pointed out that single ended is ALWAYS Class A, Complementary design gives you a choice to bias Class A , Class AB, or even Class B. Class A is always best, but you do get more power from Class AB or Class B.
All my discrete preamps are Class A throughout. My power amps are Class A up to the output stage, which is usually Class AB, in order to get more power from a given heat sink.
All my discrete preamps are Class A throughout. My power amps are Class A up to the output stage, which is usually Class AB, in order to get more power from a given heat sink.
Thanks John.
In order to obtain minus distortion, other a complementary circuit, you also arrange a mix of different devices? What are?
As you know, gm of jfet and mosfet tends to be arise from higher current, meawhile gm of bipolar tends to be as contrary to higher current.
Francesco.
In order to obtain minus distortion, other a complementary circuit, you also arrange a mix of different devices? What are?
As you know, gm of jfet and mosfet tends to be arise from higher current, meawhile gm of bipolar tends to be as contrary to higher current.
Francesco.
No, Fet's go roughly as the square root of current and bipolars are directly proportional to current. There are limits, but not of interest for small signal amplifiers.
Hi John
How about the internal signal wiring choice of Blowtorch ? Would that be same today ? or different ? your experiences with signal wiring is something that we can learn
kannan
How about the internal signal wiring choice of Blowtorch ? Would that be same today ? or different ? your experiences with signal wiring is something that we can learn
kannan
Not really. The BLOWTORCH was special in that the case was thick enough that we did not really need shielded cable in the interior, so long as we kept our leads separated in the air from each other. Most here will not go so far as to make a case this thick, for this purpose, use cable so expensive, break in the cable on the spool itself for 30 days or more, before cutting and wiring it in, and finally, this special silver cable is not available, anymore.
Thanks John
I do not intend to bring any controversy in to this thread but was curious about it, that is all
kannan
I do not intend to bring any controversy in to this thread but was curious about it, that is all
kannan
No problem, as a moderator you will move the discussion to the cables thread.
It is not that important to talk about cables in this case. It is really what we did with hookup wire, rather than interconnect cables.
Given the tone of this website, it is better to avoid talking much more about this particular subject.
Given the tone of this website, it is better to avoid talking much more about this particular subject.
Can we talk about output impedance?
- as we see more Hi end preamps today can drive less than 100 Ohm load. Is it advantageous to have lower impedances ?
Kannan
- as we see more Hi end preamps today can drive less than 100 Ohm load. Is it advantageous to have lower impedances ?
Kannan
The output impedance of the BLOWTORCH is 1K ohm It is too high for some, low enough for others. Tubes usually have this sort of output impedance. Feedback preamps have a lower drive impedance.
Actually there are legitimate issues about internal wiring that have nothing to do with magical properties of unobtainable conductors. There is a lot to be considered around input/output isolation, chassis-signal grounding, influence of the shield enclosure on the signal performance, etc. Anyone who has calibrated a long scale AC voltmeter or wide band scope has seen the effects of removing the shield cover from the AC circuitry. Also issues around vibration affecting the conductors (especially biased conductors) and the associated shields/grounds can be very significant. In the Blowtorch with relatively low gain and a heavy enclosure these issues will be reduced a lot but not eliminated.
I think these above are very important issues, never enaugh understdood.
Can anyone suggest/explore his experiences in these questions here or these are OT?
Francesco.
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