76.0.57.20
In Reply to: RE: Some question about sound differences between direct coupling and interstage posted by gordan on April 13, 2009 at 01:05:24
Hi Gordon,
You are asking excellent questions !! Here is MY opinion.
If you optimally adjust the topology of each amp type, the DC amp is NEVER a three stage amp, ever. It is a two stage amp, as in a Loftin-White, or variant thereof. Its been said about 30% of the DIY amps in Japan are L-Ws.
This gives the well executed two stage DC amp a huge advantage, because it can have a transparency, by eliminating the third stage, that NO three stage amp, no matter how well optimized, will have. Less, is more !! Go to three stages, in ANY amp topology, and you lose transparency, assuming optimum construction techniques are applied to both topologies.
DC versus Transformer coupled :
If one optimizes a DC amp and a transformer coupled amp, at the highest possible levels, the DC amp will win-out every time !! It hasn't the (1) bandwidth limitations that all transformers have, and it (2) does not have the phase shift problems an added transformer will inherently have.
The "rub" is, in a practical sense, very few people, if ANY, have ever truly optimized either type of topology, but the opinions I share herein is assuming one HAS totally optimized the amps' executions, in which case, I believe nothing will ever top a two stage DC SE amp.
YMMV, and that is fine with me. I understand.
Jeff Medwin
Follow Ups:
Post a Followup:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2009, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
[ Go Green ]
[ Take5 ]