Here are my thoughts on embracing some new technology.
What are yours?
1.Surface Mount Components
Positives:
The equipment gets smaller.
Don't need to drill so many holes.
Less susceptible to mechanical stress.
Circuits can be made more compact decreasing lead length and associated interconnect capacitance/inductance.
Negatives:
Higher level of skill required to solder (damn those 402 pckgs).
Not many choices in a high quality film caps, nor a high value cap.
Danger of inhaling 402 packages (ha!).
Hard to see, and no room for informative nomenclature like the value. Personally I try to stick with 1206 size for DIY if at all.
2. SMPS power supplies over torroid/rect/filter
Positives:
Size and weight are much less.
Cost is coming down - you can get a >200W +/-50v supply from China for $30.00.
Negatives:
Complex.
Possibly quite noisy.
A greater level of knowledge in magnetics and in general required to design or trouble shoot.
3. Class D power amps vs A/B or A
Positives:
Much smaller size
Much less weight
Negatives:
I can't comment because I have no experience.
Highly integrated solutions:
Positives:
Inexpensive
Quick and simple to assemble.
Negatives:
Can sound bad
May have limited dynamic range.
Are no fun.
I guess in general, even though I design a lot of modern stuff for aviation and industrial for a living using the latest technology, I tend to stay safely on the trailing edge of technology for DIY audio.
What are yours?
1.Surface Mount Components
Positives:
The equipment gets smaller.
Don't need to drill so many holes.
Less susceptible to mechanical stress.
Circuits can be made more compact decreasing lead length and associated interconnect capacitance/inductance.
Negatives:
Higher level of skill required to solder (damn those 402 pckgs).
Not many choices in a high quality film caps, nor a high value cap.
Danger of inhaling 402 packages (ha!).
Hard to see, and no room for informative nomenclature like the value. Personally I try to stick with 1206 size for DIY if at all.
2. SMPS power supplies over torroid/rect/filter
Positives:
Size and weight are much less.
Cost is coming down - you can get a >200W +/-50v supply from China for $30.00.
Negatives:
Complex.
Possibly quite noisy.
A greater level of knowledge in magnetics and in general required to design or trouble shoot.
3. Class D power amps vs A/B or A
Positives:
Much smaller size
Much less weight
Negatives:
I can't comment because I have no experience.
Highly integrated solutions:
Positives:
Inexpensive
Quick and simple to assemble.
Negatives:
Can sound bad
May have limited dynamic range.
Are no fun.
I guess in general, even though I design a lot of modern stuff for aviation and industrial for a living using the latest technology, I tend to stay safely on the trailing edge of technology for DIY audio.