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In Reply to: RE: Lew, I'll try to explain posted by ahendler on December 23, 2015 at 17:46:10
The noisier the environment, the more important it is to go balanced. In the home the presence of a digital source might be all the justification needed.
More components, more to go wrong. Believe me a Shindo single ended pre is as good or better than any balance pre. Also the balanced stuff cost more money for no real improvement in performance
I don't believe you. Our preamps are OTL preamps, in that they don't use an output transformer to drive a balanced line (nor do they use coupling caps). With regards to the signal path, it is simpler and lower distortion/wider bandwidth at the same time. There is only one stage of gain in the line section and two in the phono section.
The coupling cap at the output of traditional preamps, such as the Shindo, is a limiting device no matter how good the capacitor (the limit is imposed by stray capacitance and the inductance of the part, not the materials from which it is made; IOW its a mathematical thing for which there is no workaround by going with better materials).
In practice, we've had plenty of Shindo customers tell us our preamps sound better; being anecdotal that should not be taken as actual proof by any means. However, the fact of the coupling cap (and the additional complexity it represents to the signal) can. The result of direct coupling the output is improved performance which is instantly audible, particularly in the bass region, but additional transparency is also heard in the mids and highs. Its been our opinion for many years that it makes a bigger difference for the preamp to be OTL-OCL than it does for the amps! If you loose information upstream it does not matter how good your amps and speakers are- you won't recover the lost resolution.
This may explain why the MP-1 is our most popular product, often outselling all of our amplifier products put together.
Follow Ups:
It is too bad the late Ken Shindo isn't around to discuss theis with you. I always have problems with the OTL forum because it really is more the Atmasphere forum. So many ofRalph's answers to questions turn out to be a sales pitch for his products. Wonder how many Shindo owners have told Shindo that they like there preamps better than the Atma-Sphere preamps.
Being anecdotal that should not be taken as actual proof by any means. I have heard both. Your preamp is wonderful, I prefer My Shindo.
Alan
Yes, well, that's nice. Are there really bushels of folks who have owned both an MP1 and a Shindo preamplifier, at the same or at different times in their audio lives? I would think not, but perhaps I am mistaken. Nevertheless, I doubt that the late Ken Shindo could prove on the sheer basis of polemics that his preamplifier was superior to some other well designed preamplifier, balanced or otherwise. By saying this, I mean him no disrespect; such a debate rarely leads anywhere except back to the listening seat.
Like I said elsewhere in this thread, I am not fixed on a balanced topology for preamplifiers (or amplifiers) over all else, but I have heard a wide variety of preamplifiers in my home system, and I find I prefer the MP1 over any of them, still after 20 or so years of ownership of the same MP1, which I've updated myself in parallel with some of Ralph's ideas and some of my own crazy ones. Is the MP1 great because it is balanced or for other reasons? I don't know. Of course, my experience and preferences are colored by the fact that I am an ESL type of guy. OTLs (amplifiers of course) and ESLs mate particularly well, as you may know.
The only reason for you not to post here might be that none of Shindo's designs were OTL amplifiers, let alone OTL preamplifiers. There are several guys who do post here who prefer Futterman type (SE) OTLs or Transcendent OTLs. And now and then, Graaf. All commercial OTL amplifiers that are "not circlotron" in concept are derivative of the Futterman circuit. I think it would be great if such folks were to post more frequently. I myself owned nothing but Futterman amplifiers between about 1972 and the mid-1990s, and I loved them matched with KLH9s or M-L ESLs. You cannot blame Ralph for posting in order to answer questions posed on this site that are specifically about his products, and in the process, his particular bias always does come through. So does yours.
I also happen town a pair of David Berning ZH270 power amps driving Maggie 3.6 speakers. The Bernings use a large output capacitor instead of output transformers. I don't think I hear any downside to this design. They are spectacular amps. I realize that the planar forum has become basically a Maggie forum and although I own Maggies I wish there was a greater diversity of planar speakers discussed on that site.
Alan
Futterman amplifiers are capacitor-coupled. The Berning ZOtl amplifiers are not; they work by raising the audio signal so it "rides" on a frequency around 250 KHz, then the carrier frequency is filtered out at the output by use of a small inductor, rather than an output transformer. Because the carrier frequency is so high, only a small inductor is required which makes it possible to achieve very wide bandwidth and low distortion. I'm sure this is a gross over-simplification, but for sure David Berning is a brilliant guy. Pretty much nothing he designs is ordinary. Absent that small inductor, the Berning ZOtl amps are direct-coupled.EDIT. I'm sure there's an electronic network involved too, in filtering out the carrier frequency, not just an inductor.
Edits: 12/25/15
Of course you are correct on all counts. I was thinking of the single ended OTL by Transcendent sound that uses a big output capacitor. The Berning just has a small input capacitor to keep DC out. Direct coupled the rest of the way
Alan
"Of course you are correct on all counts. I was thinking of the single ended OTL by Transcendent sound that uses a big output capacitor. The Berning just has a small input capacitor to keep DC out. Direct coupled the rest of the way"Looking at the ZOTL patent, it seems that the MOSFETS in the output stage, which are actually switching the high currents that pass through the loudspeaker, are DC isolated from the previous stage (which is vacuum tube), by the high-frequency transformer.
I think one way one can view the ZOTL is that what is essentially a switching-mode power supply is producing a high voltage output, which is then loaded by the "output" tubes. As the anode current drawn by the output tubes increases, so too the current draw in the low-voltage MOSFET switching circuit side of the "switching-mode power supply" must increase. The change in current on the low-voltage side is correspondingly much bigger than the change in current on the high voltage side. The high current on the low voltage side passes through the loudspeaker, and thus a large current change through the loudspeaker is produced as a result of a much smaller current change through the "output" tubes. In effect, the "switching-mode power supply" acts as an impedance matcher between a high impedance "output" tube and the low impedance speaker.
It is true that the impedance matching operates all the way down to zero frequency, so I suppose in a sense one could say it behaves as if the output side with the loudspeaker is DC coupled to the input side with the "output" tubes, even though there is a high-frequency transformer isolating one side from the other.
It's an ingenious design, and although I don't think it is fair to call it OTL, it certainly has a novel way to impedance match a tube "output" stage to a low--impedance speaker, without requiring the tubes to pass the high currents needed by the speaker. So it achieves the impedance matching without a conventional OPT.
What is not clear to me, though, is why such a MOSFET/tube hybrid amplifier is likely to be any better than a more conventional type of MOSFET/tube hybrid amplifier, in which vacuum tubes are used in order to drive a conventional MOSFET output stage.
People say it sounds very good, and I'm sure they're right. But probably conventional MOSFET/tube hybrids can sound very good too.
Chris
Edits: 12/27/15
For your far superior explanation of the ZOtl circuit. When I wrote my own response, I was in no position to research the subject, was relying on fragmentary memory of an early review of the first such amplifier to come from DB; I think it was in Positive Feedback. This is not to say that I understand the circuit as well as you apparently do.
Help!
There are single ended (SET)amps. A single tube for amplification. 2A3, 45, 300B, 1605, etc.
There are parallel single ended amps. They use two tubes, paralleled, for amplification. Twice the power.
If this is true; a single ended OTL can use only one tube for amplification.
Question. Is the 2A3, 45, etc. a gain stage?
Could a 6SN7 be replaced in one of Ralphs amps by a 2A3? (I know there's wayyyyyy more to it then that, but in theory, could it be done?)
Cousin Billy-Question. Is the 2A3, 45, etc. a gain stage?
- In conventional SET amplifiers 2A3 ,45 ,and similar output power triodes connected as anode follower gains both voltage and current gain , resulting in specific output power gain ,
however those SET amps usually needs at least one more voltage gain stage to work properly , since voltage gain only from those output power triode tubes is not enough to interface with low level signals coming from standard sources , as CD player , pre-amp ,PC card , etc ,....-Could a 6SN7 be replaced in one of Ralphs amps by a 2A3? (I know there's wayyyyyy more to it then that, but in theory, could it be done?)
- No
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BTW ,
in some way all Atma-Sphere OTL power amps can be considered as two same SET-OTL power amp units joined together forming unique OTL Circlotron Push-Pull balanced power amplifier unit .
__
"Art which does not have the appearance of art is true art."
- Old Roman saying -
Edits: 12/26/15 12/26/15
Your explanation was perfect.
When I read about SET OTL's, I scratch my head. By their very nature, A-S OTL's are a type of SET.
I remember once asking another manufacturer 'your SET amplifier has an XLR, but is it a true balanced circuit?'. 'No', was the response, 'it would be too expensive to build. It would need another amplifier built in, and another output transformer'.
The single ended OTL by transcendent sound is no longer made Each channel had a driver tube and 4 output tubes in Parallel. 1-1/2 watts per channel. You can do a search for single ended OTL and see a lot of info about this amp
Alan
David Berning makes an SE OTL, called the "Seigfried". I think it utilizes his ZOtl technology, but I am not sure.
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I have the Atma-Sphere MA-1 set up. 140 watts.
I have the Tenor WP75 waiting for another chance. 75 watts.
If the Transcendent was 1.5 watts, with 4 output tubes, then SET's are most often low powered.
The obvious exceptions being the 211, 845, 1605 etc tubes.
I believe I'm starting to understand.
by paralleling more and more output tubes, but inevitable mismatching among the output tubes and additional requirements of power handling in the output transformer, are said to result in a deterioration and loss of SE "magic", such as it is. 100W would be about the practical limit, though. Those Kron amplifiers from Europe were an interesting attempt at high power SET. SE amplifiers are best mated with very high efficiency, and high input impedance, speakers, such that low power output is more than adequate. Real aficionados seem to feel that the lower the power output, the better the amplifier will sound.
Have you auditioned those Tenor amplifiers? I am curious to hear them some time.
Lew
You are right ! , since my experience with DIY SET amps are that 10W max is top optimum limit , SET with more output power than 10W cause SET magic to gone ,
and of course that those low power SET amps have to be very carefully matched with very high-efficiency LS for best sonic results ,
IMHO the best SET amps are those simple two stage based ,RC coupled ,
any way , except hyper liquid treble sound which come from typical SET amp I was never impressed or big fun of that sort of amps , there is so many things that miss for me , special at reproduction of lower bass range same as at highest sonic range ,
Best Regards !
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General Warning , I have no intention to start OTL vs SET war with nobody !
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__
"Art which does not have the appearance of art is true art."
- Old Roman saying -
Tenors claim to fame was 'Harmonic Structural Integrity'.
To that end they succeeded.
However, the Atma-Sphere's do most of the other stuff better.
Once my new speakers are complete, I'll try the Tenor's again.
My second hand information leads me to believe the Tenors used voltage regulation on the output stage, unlike most tube amplifiers, let alone Atma-sphere amplifiers. And they use a 12AX7 for voltage gain at the input, instead of a cascode a la Atma-sphere. And they are not dual-differential at the input, I don't think. But it's dangerous to assume from design or specs that one can therefore judge the amplifier. It may be excellent and does have its adherents.
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