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Re: When does a better mouse trap turn distasteful carboncopy cloning?

82.35.153.106

Konnichiwa,

Some basic facts first. The AZ Amp-1 DOES NOT AT ALL use the same circuit, design etc of the gaincard.

The designer clearly aknowledges the debt to the gaincard in principle (primarily external layout, small size and IC Amp). However, the circuit is based on one presented to the public and which is in the public domain and it is VERY DIFFERENT from the Gaincard. I would go as far as noting that some of the observed differences in the review are the result of using this different circuit.

And for completeness, much of the Circuit of the AZ Amp-1 was suggested by ME on a discussion board that covered Chip Amplifiers. To be specific, the Circuit uses the IC in Inverting more, eliminating certain distortions that invariably appear in the non-inverting circuit. However, I cannot claim to have "invented" the inverting mode for Operational Amplifiers either, the earliest use of this in Amplifiers (IIRC) was in a John Curl designed Mark Levinson Amplifier.

I used "inverting mode" Chip Amplifiers in the mid 1980's, based around the then brand spanking new TDA2030 or rather the East German clone A2030 of this Chip. So, Inverting Amp's and Chipamps BY FAR predate the Gaincard. I suppose if I managed to dig out my published Designs from the 1980's I could go around claiming that Kimura San copied me, which would of course be perposterous, as I am sure Kimura San was not aware of my work (few people inside former East Germany are, probably non outside...).

The AZ Amp-1 uses the same IC Chip as the Gaincard, a mass produced commodity item from National Semiconductor extensively used in TV's, Active Studio Monitors (JBL, Genlec among others) and other stuff. Many other people use the same IC too, do they all also copy the Gaincard?

The passive parts in the AZ Amp-1 are also considerably different from those used in the Gaincard, they are usually considered "better" and are more expensive among other things.

So, the AZ Amp-1 does use a different circuit AND different parts from the gaincard. To claim it is a "copycat" item is to claim that all Car makers that happen to have 4 Wheels on their cars copy the Ford Model T.

Anyway, my zwei pfennig.

Sayonara

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