RE: Tube Power Amps ... power supply capacitance.

Posted by drlowmu (M) on April 12, 2014 at 23:57:53

In Reply to: Tube Power Amps ... power supply capacitance. posted by bjh on April 9, 2014 at 17:06:55:

I thought Dennis Fraker and I covered this on A.A. over the last ten years.

Caps are the WORST part in the audio chain. In a good amp, it is best to make them as small as possible. Ideally, it would be nice to use none at all, but thats impossible !!!

Also, the best sounding filter chain to the finals is ALWAYS...... L1/C1/L2/C2, it simply can't be beat. Chokes need to be under 2 HY, under 20 Ohms, always under 20 Ohms, and under 2 pounds. Caps need to be 50 uF or less.

Also, the impedance of the cap on recharge is MUCH lower than the impedance of the Finals tube, so, when a instantaneous transient hits, and the supply TRIES to supply the tube, the tube really doen't get the peak current needed, on time. Why, because the large uF - lower Z cap HOGS the current.

There is storage time in large uF caps and large HY inductors, that some of us now KNOW about in 2014, which , ideally, needs to be avoided at all costs. It is demonstratable when listening to a properly designed and executed supply and amp, such as I have outlined.

Most of the better from-scratch amp builders I know of, won't use more than 50 uF of capacitance in a tube amp at any one spot. It will be something good like a ( discontinued ) Blackgate WKZ, or a modern film cap, such as the new flat plate films, WIMA DC Link, etc.

In all cases, I am discussing State Of the Art Design and Executions, to make the reproduction as realistic as possible, particulary in dynamic terms, unbridled dynamic terms.

Have fun learning !!

Jeff Medwin

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Tube Power Amps ... power supply capacitance. - bjh 17:06:55 04/09/14 (17)

RE: Tube Power Amps ... power supply capacitance. - drlowmu 23:57:53 04/12/14 (0)

Thanks! nt - bjh 17:55:52 04/10/14 (8)

Interesting subject matter that should be taken to heart that is often misunderstood. - Michael Samra 22:32:38 04/10/14 (7)

RE: Interesting subject matter that should be taken to heart that is often misunderstood. - banpuku 06:14:41 04/11/14 (2)

Before or after the choke is an important point. - JJ Triode 11:12:02 04/11/14 (1)

RE: Before or after the choke is an important point. - Michael Samra 19:35:18 04/11/14 (0)

With all due respect... - Steve O 04:18:21 04/11/14 (3)

RE: With all due respect... - Bill Way 16:41:04 04/13/14 (1)

RE: With all due respect... - armin.linzenich 02:20:15 04/17/14 (0)

RE: With all due respect... - Michael Samra 19:31:11 04/11/14 (0)

Two brands I favor - E-Stat 10:35:33 04/10/14 (0)

I have two rebuilt baby British classic stereo power amps - Timbo in Oz 04:25:29 04/10/14 (0)

RE: Tube Power Amps ... power supply capacitance. - hahax@verizon.net 20:40:57 04/09/14 (0)

RE: Tube Power Amps ... power supply capacitance. - AJ 18:28:16 04/09/14 (0)

RE: Tube Power Amps ... power supply capacitance. - Tom Bavis 17:50:40 04/09/14 (1)

There's your answer - andy evans 07:18:58 04/10/14 (0)

RE: Tube Power Amps ... power supply capacitance. - FenderLover 17:27:31 04/09/14 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: Tube Power Amps ... power supply capacitance. - drlowmu 23:57:53 04/12/14 (0)

RE: Tube Power Amps ... power supply capacitance.

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