John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier part III

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I have some in PSUs that are 30 years old and fine. I've noticed that newer caps are smaller, does this decrease their lifespan?

I usually use Nippon ChemiCon SMH parts (85°C). No problems with them. Sometimes 105°C (they are bigger), but not always.
 

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Hi Damir, I know why it goes so, but would have to be "politically incorrect" if I explained that in open English.

Okay, at least I was the one who opened your file. Just let me know if the result is the same as you get.

Hi Pavel, yes your result is same as mine. As I said this circuit (current conveyor) distortion and noise is mostly defined with R19 and R1. Lower the resistor value lower the noise, but increase in distortion. This is just quick simulation not finished circuit to show some of it's advantage.
 
Hi Pavel, yes your result is same as mine. As I said this circuit (current conveyor) distortion and noise is mostly defined with R19 and R1. Lower the resistor value lower the noise, but increase in distortion. This is just quick simulation not finished circuit to show some of it's advantage.

Hi Damir, distortion is very low and keeps low values even for heavier loads, I tried 1k. Regarding stability, there is some peaking about 70MHz inside the structure, but probably not harmful. Did you have a chance to build a functional sample, or are you in a simulation step?
 
I have some in PSUs that are 30 years old and fine. I've noticed that newer caps are smaller, does this decrease their lifespan?
Yes, diameter is important, ie diameter of rubber bung.
A few years back I rebuilt a wall of power amps that had been in continuous operation for 20+ years.
Except for main reservoir 'beer can' caps all caps were same make/model series.
The caps 10mm and less diameter were all bone dry, diameters 12.5mm and above measured fine....I replaced them regardless.
IME the diameter/compliance of the rubber of the bung of electro caps is critical.

Dan.
 
Hi Damir, distortion is very low and keeps low values even for heavier loads, I tried 1k. Regarding stability, there is some peaking about 70MHz inside the structure, but probably not harmful. Did you have a chance to build a functional sample, or are you in a simulation step?

Hi Pavel, not this one but similar preamps with current conveyor gain block, look in my signature GainWire mk3 CFA, but also mk2 with no GNFB. I use different output buffer to drive headphones better.
 
Max Headroom said:
Is not dielectric non linearity the driver of DA ?.
That piece you quoted contradicts itself. It says that DA is nonlinear, then says that it can be modelled with a linear network. Maybe the writer is one of those people who scares himself by looking at the 'nonlinearity' caused by a perfect filter, when seen in the time domain?

So what is the overall time behaviour and the detailed noise/spectral/stepping behaviour of this lossy charge and discharge parasitic energy storage mechanism.....that might be the key to why different dielectrics sound different apart from the readily observed THD and IMD behaviours.
Time behaviour is rather slow. If we assume normal exponential relaxation of the polarisation (which is what seems to be observed) then this does not explain why some dielectrics appear to sound different from others. As I keep saying, DA may be a marker or proxy for something we can hear but we can't hear DA itself - it is too slow and too linear.
 
A line stage that might be discussed in a line level preamplifier thread (though in Lounge).

The optimal S/N ratio can be maintained by choosing parts with close tolerances.

🙄

Seriously, a line stage where the gain of the amplifier is changed rather than set at max gain with an attenuator in front is worth some attention. A decent low cost one here: T15

EDIT - The microphonic input coupling needs work.
 
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I noticed that Stereophile has reviewed the JC-3jr (well Fremer). Interestingly he really seems to rate products by price tag as his current reference phono stage is $50k and therefore much better than the JC-3 or JC-3jr. Sadly being a Fremer review no measurements. I reckon John needs to come up with a new reference product as the market seems to be happy to support wincingly expensive!
 
Would you mind mentioning cap producer company name? At least, if not the type. Without such info, I am skeptical to your observations.
The amplifiers were BGW, I forget which model, 750?? maybe.
The caps were light blue, I did not take note of manufacturer, perhaps somebody here knows what BGW used at the time.

This situation is not unique to BGW, small diameter electros are always the first to suspect in all gear, particularly those near to regulators.

Dan.
 
Bill,

The Contstellation Orion phono stage is John’s best commercially avaiable phono stage (on a very limited) basis for reasons of device availability (and selling price of about $70k was the last I heard)

But I believe John likes the Blowtorch phono stage even more, but
It is even harder to find appropropriate idss NOS Toshiba input devices for.
 
🙄

Seriously, a line stage where the gain of the amplifier is changed rather than set at max gain with an attenuator in front is worth some attention. A decent low cost one here: T15

EDIT - The microphonic input coupling needs work.

Yes, the noise performance of this preamp is not perfect, to stay politically correct.
Do not you also think that higher noise level might be, in fact, preferred by many listeners? (Though unintentionally). Do I need to explain why?
 
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