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Calculating HiEnd Audio supplies Tube Audio gear seems to be the last topic, which is not occupied by SMPS (switch-mode power-supply). Most Audio aficionados - as well as critics - look like to be convinced, that the switching leaves artifacts to the sound and therefore it should be avoided ... Anyway, I read so much nonsense about this at the web, that I decided to try out, which is truth or false. And - OTOH - I for more tried to answer the question, if the behavior and/or the performance of any supply (standard CLC or SMPS) can be calculated to a predictable measure. One thing in advance: You will not find here any recommendation for "WonderCaps" et al, so please do not be disappointed. But you really can improve any supply by using NOS MIL (e.g. Russian) PIO caps (RuPIO) in parallel to the supply's C2. That's true for the moment at the lab, but that's a further story too ... ---------------------------------------------------------- I stepped into this topic when I tried to make an otherwise splendid sounding vintage guitar amp quiet for recording. Because only the tube heater was the part that needed to be fixed in this case, it was easy to be successful. So it was only a small step to try this feature on Audio gear too. You can believe me, that even I was rather astonished about the big improvements which are possible. But please read this chapter by yourself ... ---------------------------------------------------------- I need to thank my friends Jeff Scheid and David Halbakken for their correction work on my bad English -> Many THX to Jeff and Dave! |
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| SMPS in HiEnd-Tube-Audio | |||
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... why and how to use them SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supplies) are standard issue in commercial and, especially, consumer equipment. No modern TV set, personal computer, or laser-disc, etc., would be without one. Nearly all consumer electronics are supplied by them. There are benefits, and nobody can deny those benefits, but are they suitable for high-end tube audio, too? |
„HiEnd SMPS“ |
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| Part 1: Standard Supplies | |||
… too small is not so
good, but too big again
limits performance
Some designers tend to offer supplies that show too big capacitance. When
comparing vintage schematics we always find caps with a value that
is too small.
What is the right value, and is it possible to
calculate a predictable performance?
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"Standard Supply" |
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| Part 2.1: The heater supply | |||
… the way to a perfect solution In this article I shall explain the design and calculation of a perfect tube heater supply. |
"SMPS_tube_heater" |
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... article to come soon There is a problem with the availability of the module I initially used in my test. Therefore I tested another one as a substitute. Now I need to change the text and figures of my article as well as the pictures used with it. So please be patient ... |
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| Part 3: Improving the B+ supply | |||
... article to come soon Tests are not finished yet, so please be patient ... |