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Simplest amp tube design? In SS, it's hands down the

174.22.4.52
Posted on October 25, 2009 at 14:04:59
tinear
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Posts: 26567
Location: Willamette Valley OR
Joined: April 9, 2006
 47 gaincard with its minimalist design, few parts, and ultra-short connections.
Are there any tube-designers that have created products similarly with the "less is more" philosophy?

RE: Simplest amp tube design? In SS, it's hands down the, posted on October 28, 2009 at 20:05:57
casouza
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Posts: 486
Joined: March 18, 2008
 Yes, most SET (single-ended triode) amplifiers.
My 845 monoblocks have about 15 parts from input to output!

Gordon Rankin's "Bugle" 45 SET amp has to be up there..., posted on October 25, 2009 at 22:53:09
darkmoebius
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Location: Los Angeles, California
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Jeremy Epstein's "Free Lunch" (6C45pi/2A3)
47 gaincard - hardly the simplest SS design...., posted on October 25, 2009 at 16:03:38
AbeCollins
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 I counted over two dozen semiconductor equivalent devices per channel in the LM3886 chip that it is based on. A Pass Labs amp and many others that use discrete components are technically a lot simpler.

I think it is an LM3875,, posted on October 26, 2009 at 12:22:01
rickmcinnis@dogwoodfabrics.com
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Posts: 725
Location: Atlanta
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 nonetheless, there is probably a very circuitous path for the signal to travel inside of that chip.

Not to say they cannot sound very good. I have used the chips for the last two years and am just now getting tired of it. Making the jump to another paragon of simplicity, the FIRST WATT J2.

He doesn't understand, posted on October 26, 2009 at 12:21:26
E-Stat
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 the concept of integrated circuits or gain stages.

rw

You're befuddled by "simple." nt, posted on October 28, 2009 at 20:38:17
tinear
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Posts: 26567
Location: Willamette Valley OR
Joined: April 9, 2006
 f

Not in the least, posted on October 28, 2009 at 20:45:23
E-Stat
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 Can you count gain stages and semiconductors?

rw

You neglected to answer my quite simple question but to clarify my egregious sin (to you):, posted on November 1, 2009 at 09:41:53
tinear
Audiophile

Posts: 26567
Location: Willamette Valley OR
Joined: April 9, 2006
 I have to rely on inmates, designers, and reviewers.
From the 47 website, regarding the Gaincard:
"World's smallest number of parts - 9 parts per channel ( excluding attenuators )
World's shortest signal pass length - 32 m/m ( including the length of parts )
World's shortest NFB loop length - 9 m/m ( including the length of the resistor )
World's smallest filter/condenser - 1000µF, (50W version - 2200µF)."

This is the information I considered in using the 47 as an example of a "simple" design. I imagine there are various ways to interpret the term but a reasonable person should understand it.
It all depends upon how you count parts, posted on November 1, 2009 at 19:14:11
E-Stat
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 One Boeing 747 is but one device, but made up of over two million parts. Large scale integrated circuits comprise hundreds, if not thousands of discrete components arrayed in multiple gain stages.

You cannot build an amplifier with nine discrete components. You can, however, when one component contains hundreds of individual pieces contained within its monolithic structure. A true simple design would be a First Watt amplifier which has not only a minimal true parts count, but employs only two gain stages.

rw

Bottlehead (nt), posted on October 25, 2009 at 15:44:20
Marc Bratton
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Posts: 4582
Joined: June 15, 2000
 Don't think it gets too much simpler.

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