Regulate HV preamp with floating LM317?

[kacernator]

Hi,

I have working all-octal Aikido headphone amplifier. Would there be benefit regulating the power supply with floating LM317 like this:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/atta...h-voltage-regulator-projects-hivoltsupply.gif

I know I would probably gain more tighter bass and less PS ripple. But are the overall sonics better with or without this floating LM317?

Thank you.

 

[Arnulf]

What kind of benefit ? Aikido is suppsoed to have superb PSRR (according to its author, at least). Why bother with additional voltage regulation then ?

If you're encountering noise from B+, you should IMO make sure that noise injection is working properly, with correct magnitude.

 

[SY]

If you have PS noise in the circuit (the PSR of the Aikido is good, but not anywhere near perfect), it may be of some help; I regulated one of mine just for that reason. If your rails aren't bouncing around and the preamp is quiet, it's probably not worth the bother.

 

[kacernator]

Preamp is quiet. I thought about regulation just for sonic benefit. Good shunt regulation would gain gain sonics benefits for sure, but I am not sure about floating LM317 series regulator.

 

[SY]

Nope, most of the sonic improvements come from the choice of tube and operating conditions; as long as the power supply is reasonably quiet and your line voltages don't vary much, the reg is a "nice to have" but not a game-changer.

 

[kacernator]

I know that using regulator will not drastically change sound. But if this series regulator will improve already good sound then I will do it.