One possible tube amp alternative , Yamazaki SS amp which design tightly follow and is tightly based on the original J.Futterman H-3 OTL tube amp.
, here`s schematic partially corrected by me , but I think that schematic also hide couple of minor mistakes to .
, here`s schematic partially corrected by me , but I think that schematic also hide couple of minor mistakes to .
Attachments
banat,
Very interesting!
Vacuum Tube OTL, versus Solid State OTL (most solid state are OTL).
A double blindfold listening test of many solid state amplifiers, and one Futterman vacuum tube OTL amplifiers was done several decades ago.
There was no statistaclly significant detectable difference between all the amplifiers;
and notably there was no significant difference in the Futterman versus solid state amplifiers.
Everybody can disagree with who the different listeners were, the music selections, the signal source, the loudspeakers, and the room that was used for the double blindfold listening tests.
But, good or bad listeners, good or bad music, good or bad equipment and room, it still remains that the amplifiers statistically all sounded the same.
So what are the 3 Common Factors of the Futterman and All the solid state amplifiers they auditioned?
1. OTL
2. High global negative feedback
3. Totem Pole Output (for all the solid state, and the Futterman)
Draw your own conclusions.
But if you disagree with the validity of that very old test . . .
Then get your local audio club to set up a double blindfold listening test with your own selection of listeners, music, signal source, loudspeakers, and room.
Be sure to find a selection of good vacuum tube OTL that have totem pole outputs and high levels of global negative feedback; and versus a selection of good solid state OTL that have totem pole outputs and high levels of global negative feedback.
I hope someone will repeat this test with modern vacuum tube OTL, versus modern solid state amplifiers, with both types using the same architecture . . . high negative feedback and totem pole OTL outputs.
Just my opinions.
Very interesting!
Vacuum Tube OTL, versus Solid State OTL (most solid state are OTL).
A double blindfold listening test of many solid state amplifiers, and one Futterman vacuum tube OTL amplifiers was done several decades ago.
There was no statistaclly significant detectable difference between all the amplifiers;
and notably there was no significant difference in the Futterman versus solid state amplifiers.
Everybody can disagree with who the different listeners were, the music selections, the signal source, the loudspeakers, and the room that was used for the double blindfold listening tests.
But, good or bad listeners, good or bad music, good or bad equipment and room, it still remains that the amplifiers statistically all sounded the same.
So what are the 3 Common Factors of the Futterman and All the solid state amplifiers they auditioned?
1. OTL
2. High global negative feedback
3. Totem Pole Output (for all the solid state, and the Futterman)
Draw your own conclusions.
But if you disagree with the validity of that very old test . . .
Then get your local audio club to set up a double blindfold listening test with your own selection of listeners, music, signal source, loudspeakers, and room.
Be sure to find a selection of good vacuum tube OTL that have totem pole outputs and high levels of global negative feedback; and versus a selection of good solid state OTL that have totem pole outputs and high levels of global negative feedback.
I hope someone will repeat this test with modern vacuum tube OTL, versus modern solid state amplifiers, with both types using the same architecture . . . high negative feedback and totem pole OTL outputs.
Just my opinions.
I think we get to the heart of the matter there.
it is indeed very interesting.
the question is: what makes us love a tube amp and what makes us love a transistor amp?
I would really be very curious to try a "modern" version of the Yamazaki SS (with something other than BSS125 and BUZ45 not found at a reasonable price and not counterfeit)
it is indeed very interesting.
the question is: what makes us love a tube amp and what makes us love a transistor amp?
I would really be very curious to try a "modern" version of the Yamazaki SS (with something other than BSS125 and BUZ45 not found at a reasonable price and not counterfeit)
6A3sUMMER
I believe that was no big if any audible difference between many SS amps and that Futterman OTL tube amp on that test , anyway IMHO ...
This Yamazaki SS amp is very very different from tons of ordinary designed AB class SS amp ,
-SEPP orTotem Pole OPS work with very high unipolar voltage +350V
-OPS constantly dissipate around 70W , which make him pretty much A class biased amp ,
- front end work with +400V and is AC coupled to OPS
- two negative GNFB loops is by definition CFA for input (Singleton) BSS125 but in the same time represents strong positive bootstrap loop for second split load P.I. BSS125 , and that was always standard J.Futterman OTL architecture which Julius never changed ,
- both Yamazaki and Futterman likes higher 16 ohm loadspeaker impedance
,on the end I can say that except this Yamazaki amp another SS amp which follows similar but not the same Futterman architecture is JLH1969 A-class amp.
I believe that was no big if any audible difference between many SS amps and that Futterman OTL tube amp on that test , anyway IMHO ...
This Yamazaki SS amp is very very different from tons of ordinary designed AB class SS amp ,
-SEPP orTotem Pole OPS work with very high unipolar voltage +350V
-OPS constantly dissipate around 70W , which make him pretty much A class biased amp ,
- front end work with +400V and is AC coupled to OPS
- two negative GNFB loops is by definition CFA for input (Singleton) BSS125 but in the same time represents strong positive bootstrap loop for second split load P.I. BSS125 , and that was always standard J.Futterman OTL architecture which Julius never changed ,
- both Yamazaki and Futterman likes higher 16 ohm loadspeaker impedance
,on the end I can say that except this Yamazaki amp another SS amp which follows similar but not the same Futterman architecture is JLH1969 A-class amp.
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I've read a couple comments on the 2nd, one being its presence effect the apparent dynamic range, another being its phase effect the apparent soundstage; assuming depth. Exactly how it does this I assume no one knows.
One would think via DSP this distortion level and phase could be controlled via a user setting. Beyond that, DSP can implement n individual bands of dynamic range expansion per channel, which IMHO is a pretty thrilling effect in itself. There's only one plug-in that can do this, as far as I know; ReaXcomp by Cockos. Ever heard it doing 8 bands of expansion?
When I press "play from RAM" on my Daphile player, it takes a few minutes before ready. I'm sure in the future, some DSP box can render musical dynamic properly, after having "learned" what recording compression does, examining and re-rendering an entire album as it loads into RAM for playback.
Along with everything else the user desires; distortion, overall EQ, room impulse convolution. Just wonder if most audio issues will be conquered in my lifetime. Not that I could afford to buy it! ;')
Tripath
http://lampizator.eu/AMPLIFIERS/CHINA/Miniamplifier.html
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or something totally different.
I built three TDA 7377 amps with PIO, MKT, Sprague Bathtub caps.
I've had these for over 5 years no problems. You could build with a larger heatsink. I'm powering my Ariels with the BathTub Caps amp. I like the Oil caps then the MKT.
For this post I listened to a song with the Bathtub cap, sounded good, then I added my 6sn7(or 6fq7) reg ps preamp- same song sounded good as well, I couldn't tell much difference. YMMV
http://lampizator.eu/AMPLIFIERS/CHINA/Miniamplifier.html
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or something totally different.
I built three TDA 7377 amps with PIO, MKT, Sprague Bathtub caps.
I've had these for over 5 years no problems. You could build with a larger heatsink. I'm powering my Ariels with the BathTub Caps amp. I like the Oil caps then the MKT.
For this post I listened to a song with the Bathtub cap, sounded good, then I added my 6sn7(or 6fq7) reg ps preamp- same song sounded good as well, I couldn't tell much difference. YMMV
With Neural Networks, nothing is out of reach.
However, one needs to remember that using DSP makes the system a more complex Mixed-Domain one: Digital and Analogue with accompanying PSU and Power Distribution issues to take care of, as well as everything having to do with Clock and Clock Distribution, PCB layouts, etc... DSP itself as it is running on the digital device is quite a complex thing, add to that all the possibilities of messing up Sound Quality when doing Mixed Domain like this (ADC, DAC, amplification stages, etc...).
BTW, I use Reaper myself. I have Pro Tools but found their upgrade policy quite stingy.
I rarely use Virtual Instruments & FX nowadays, unless I am looking for a specific synthesis method, or a quick way of A/Bíng with and without FX. I prefer hardware: for FX I re-use the Kurzweil Digital FX in my K2500XS as well as a Lexicon LXP-15 I restored. The Kurzweil when set on AUX sends on my analogue mixer, has special configurations to make it one of the most advanced effects boxes ever made, easily rivaling the best Lexicons or Eventide because I can also use the Synthesis DSP sections in the effects chain if I want to.
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jjasniew,
It is hard to predict what will happen to the state of audio reproduction/playback in anybody's lifetime.
But I have noticed one of the worst characteristics that gets in the way of audio nirvana . . .
Given any of a number of very good sounding playback systems, there often is someone who does not like one or more characteristics of the sound of that system.
Often, the one who is displeased is the owner of that system; but sometimes it is someone else instead.
This happens, even though so many of those multiple systems do sound different from each other, there does not seem to be one perfect system for all (surprised?).
The point is, so many owners and listeners are so critical and so analytical, that they can not just relax and enjoy the music (sorry I 'stole' that term . . . "enjoy the music").
Even a "perfect system" is likely to displease someone.
I suspect that some listeners who know the system that is being auditioned is extremely complex, which knowledge will cause them to be even more focused on analyzing it instead of just listening to the music.
And, yes today's amplifiers may have the same architecture as the old Futterman and/or the old solid state amplifiers;
But with the addition of a new twist, circuit change, new parts, or two types of solid state outputs (NPN and PNP, or N-MOSFET and P-MOSFET, versus NPN only or N-MOSFET only, etc.).
I am not aware of any 'P-JFET-like' vacuum tubes, they all seem to be somewhat 'N-JFET-like' vacuum tubes, so there is no complementary symmetry with vacuum tubes . . .
at least that has not changed over the years.
Just my opinions.
It is hard to predict what will happen to the state of audio reproduction/playback in anybody's lifetime.
But I have noticed one of the worst characteristics that gets in the way of audio nirvana . . .
Given any of a number of very good sounding playback systems, there often is someone who does not like one or more characteristics of the sound of that system.
Often, the one who is displeased is the owner of that system; but sometimes it is someone else instead.
This happens, even though so many of those multiple systems do sound different from each other, there does not seem to be one perfect system for all (surprised?).
The point is, so many owners and listeners are so critical and so analytical, that they can not just relax and enjoy the music (sorry I 'stole' that term . . . "enjoy the music").
Even a "perfect system" is likely to displease someone.
I suspect that some listeners who know the system that is being auditioned is extremely complex, which knowledge will cause them to be even more focused on analyzing it instead of just listening to the music.
And, yes today's amplifiers may have the same architecture as the old Futterman and/or the old solid state amplifiers;
But with the addition of a new twist, circuit change, new parts, or two types of solid state outputs (NPN and PNP, or N-MOSFET and P-MOSFET, versus NPN only or N-MOSFET only, etc.).
I am not aware of any 'P-JFET-like' vacuum tubes, they all seem to be somewhat 'N-JFET-like' vacuum tubes, so there is no complementary symmetry with vacuum tubes . . .
at least that has not changed over the years.
Just my opinions.
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