Suppose I wanted to build a high-voltage solid-state amplifier, say, for electrostatic speaker direct-drive operation. . .
As in, the voltage out of the amplifier is on the order of 1 kV, and the total power comes out around 100 W (giving 0.1 amps of output current). What would I need to consider that would make it different from a standard solid-state 100 Watt amp? Is it even possible for solid-state output devices to handle this kind of voltage? Can I parallel/series the output devices to share the voltage, and still have a decent sounding amplifier? Is it complete folly to even consider this an option, when direct-drive tube amplifier construction is possible (if not easy)?
I seem to remember seeing at least one solid-state amplifier specifically made for electrostatics, like http://www.innersound.net/amp_whitepaper.htm , though I don't think the speakers these were aimed at were transformerless.
Also, the stats on that amp quote the deliverable power to electrostatics in Volt-amps, and to all normal speakers in Watts. The above whitepaper defines a volt-amp as voltage time current, though "the voltage and current are out-of-phase with each other". I assume they mean you take the voltage and current at their respective maximums. So what does this mean for an amplifier? Will an amplifier which is able to consistently and cleanly deliver current and voltage out of phase with each other be different in design? This will be a necessary feature, since the amplifier will be directly tied to the ESL panels, and these offer a mostly capacitive load.
Thanks everyone for any help you can offer.
- Jonathan
As in, the voltage out of the amplifier is on the order of 1 kV, and the total power comes out around 100 W (giving 0.1 amps of output current). What would I need to consider that would make it different from a standard solid-state 100 Watt amp? Is it even possible for solid-state output devices to handle this kind of voltage? Can I parallel/series the output devices to share the voltage, and still have a decent sounding amplifier? Is it complete folly to even consider this an option, when direct-drive tube amplifier construction is possible (if not easy)?
I seem to remember seeing at least one solid-state amplifier specifically made for electrostatics, like http://www.innersound.net/amp_whitepaper.htm , though I don't think the speakers these were aimed at were transformerless.
Also, the stats on that amp quote the deliverable power to electrostatics in Volt-amps, and to all normal speakers in Watts. The above whitepaper defines a volt-amp as voltage time current, though "the voltage and current are out-of-phase with each other". I assume they mean you take the voltage and current at their respective maximums. So what does this mean for an amplifier? Will an amplifier which is able to consistently and cleanly deliver current and voltage out of phase with each other be different in design? This will be a necessary feature, since the amplifier will be directly tied to the ESL panels, and these offer a mostly capacitive load.
Thanks everyone for any help you can offer.
- Jonathan