Note: I could be completely wrong on all my assumptions, so please correct me if so 😛
My understanding is the original M2 design was push-pull and produced 25W into 8 ohm. If the Mountain View front end is used, it makes the amp into a SET configuration, right? In which case, the power output should change, right? If so, what is the new output figure with this front end board?
My understanding is the original M2 design was push-pull and produced 25W into 8 ohm. If the Mountain View front end is used, it makes the amp into a SET configuration, right? In which case, the power output should change, right? If so, what is the new output figure with this front end board?
Well, you are completely wrong.🙂
The front end is a unity buffer, feeding the Edcor transformer and push-pull output stage. The amplification remains the same regardless of the front end card.
From The diyAudio First Watt M2x
Now all this goings on about the differences input stage is quite possibly for nought, because in the M2 the voltage gain is provided by the autoformer - the active stage in front of it is merely a buffer, to make sure that the autoformer is driven by a well-behaved low-impedance signal. And the voltage gain in an amplifier gives much more impact to the sonics than a buffer.
The front end is a unity buffer, feeding the Edcor transformer and push-pull output stage. The amplification remains the same regardless of the front end card.
From The diyAudio First Watt M2x
Now all this goings on about the differences input stage is quite possibly for nought, because in the M2 the voltage gain is provided by the autoformer - the active stage in front of it is merely a buffer, to make sure that the autoformer is driven by a well-behaved low-impedance signal. And the voltage gain in an amplifier gives much more impact to the sonics than a buffer.
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Oddly enough, the various unity gain buffers manage to sound significantly different from one another. I happen to like the Austin and Mountain View. Haven’t had time time to build the IPS6 yet, need to build an external PSU first.
That was the main goal...so each front end do sound different. If they sound the same, what would be achieved by swapping them.