"But the hifi world is very conservative, so..."
Slow and stubborn are the words I'd use.
Slow and stubborn are the words I'd use.
Really? Then why use inefficient, non hifi pass amps(tube amps also), go for class d.
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Hmmm, “slow and stubborn”, I don’t agree. Not all situations have an adequate smps for the job. I have several diy builds, DAC’s to power amps, successfully powered with smps. But, I recently tried an smps that supplies the HV and filament voltage for a tube preamp, not good results. I reverted back to my slow and stubborn thinking and replaced the smps with a linear psu….excellent results, No odd noises heard. This doesn’t mean all smps’s are bad, but I haven’t found one suitable for HV applications yet.
I don't know of any PA amp that is not powered by a SMPS, modern line arrays also come with integrated amps now If you told that someone in the industry 15 years ago they would have just laughed at you. And they are just better products in ANY way: performance, durability, sound quality, weight. My colleagues are half audio engineers and half network technicians now. And venues are mapped and the line array is calculated before the trucks unload. That's how it works nowadays.
There are thousands of PA amplifiers in 'so called' third world countries still using traditional linear PSU. On the other hand it's not only about quality but longevity, reliability.
That is correct, but you could make that argument on every topic... Windows 98 is still in use too...
Even the smaller models of western pa amp (QSC GX or Crown XLi as example) still use linear psu's. But it's changing fast as mass producing a good smps is cheaper than those big toroids they need.
Smps for commercial PA use make business sense, cheaper to produce and lighter for transportation and shipping.
But, personal home use has a different set of parameters. Cost/weight not most important on my list, Sound quality is top priority, whether it’s smps or linear.
But, personal home use has a different set of parameters. Cost/weight not most important on my list, Sound quality is top priority, whether it’s smps or linear.
I could have stated more clearly that my observations are derived from state-of-the-art, and usually very expensive PA systems, like d&b l-Acoustics, Meyer etc. usually build for big venues and audiences.
But my point is, that there is a shift in technology over the past decade in an industry where reliability and performance are very important factors to choose a product. Therefore it can be assumed that SMPS can be used in other similar markets with success as well .
But my point is, that there is a shift in technology over the past decade in an industry where reliability and performance are very important factors to choose a product. Therefore it can be assumed that SMPS can be used in other similar markets with success as well .
Hi I work with high to very high power SMPS for industrial use on a daily basis. I would not want otherwise.
Consumer quality chinese built wall warts is an entirely different category. Certainly for DACs, preamps etc. so below let’s say 50 VA these make no sense when one desires quality in many aspects and reliability regardless what famous person X thinks about it. That is apparently a decisive factor.
As these also lack a power switch one can have nasty surprises of which I can show a few examples if desired.
Their strongest quality is low price.
Consumer quality chinese built wall warts is an entirely different category. Certainly for DACs, preamps etc. so below let’s say 50 VA these make no sense when one desires quality in many aspects and reliability regardless what famous person X thinks about it. That is apparently a decisive factor.
As these also lack a power switch one can have nasty surprises of which I can show a few examples if desired.
Their strongest quality is low price.
Very true. SMPS are used to save space and often enclosed in small places and whilst efficient still need good ventilation. Also the the high energy switching causing rapid charge and discharge is not kind to components such as capacitors.
Although it is true that SMPS has many advantages but a good switch mode power supply(for audio) is still much more expensive than a similar performing transformer based PSU. Also SMPS is a very advanced tech so not easy for DIY but anyone with knowledge of basic electronics can assemble a traditional linear PSU.
You can get smps that can handle capacitor banks if that is what you are saying.
If not then your comment makes no sense. The end product is an amp and it is fun to try new things and mix technologies to get to that point. If you take not going all or nothing to the extreme then you'd have to come up with hybrid film and electrolytic capacitors otherwise each one is an all or nothing....
It is diy, you can try or not try anything you want, but dismissing what other people want to try seems narrow minded.
