Not IMO. By improving the quality of the PS, I mean using the best-sounding, 'rightest'-sized parts.

Posted by jeffreybehr (A) on March 1, 2007 at 23:33:02

In Reply to: is that testable? posted by njjohn on February 22, 2007 at 18:50:28:

For instance, the best-sounding PS might include tubed rectification, the highest-quality caps money can buy, low-DCR, correct-inductance chokes, etc., and all sized correctly. Also the same should be done for the supply/supplies for the frontend* and maybe the bias and heater (if DC) supplies too.

I think a super-high-quality PS would have NO 'lytics (but for BlackGates) in it and be composed of all film (or PIO) caps, carefully selected, of course. Conrad-johnson has been doing this ('this' being using NO 'lytics and using 'propylene and 'styrene caps in HV PSs) for years now, and I think their reputation for excellent sound is due at least partially to that.

I do NOT want to sound pendantic**; these are only my opinions, but they guide what I do with my own stuff.

* I THINK (but don't KNOW) that ASL got that right in the AQ1006(845) with its vacuumtube-regulated PS (using a paralleled-sections 6SN7 error amp and a triode-wired 6L6 as a series-pass device) for the 2 'N7 Voltage-gain/driver tubes.

** and I written many times that I'm NOT golden-eared, in the sense that I cannot easily hear subtle differences that others apparently hear. But I do hear cumulative differences and improvements (or 'disprovements') thereto, to the point that I've managed to build, with lots of advice from Jeffrey Glowacki of Sonic Craft, the best-sounding system I've ever heard...anywhere...anytime. Of course, ALL other systems start with a handicap--they're not tuned for MY sonic preferences. :-)
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http://community.webshots.com/user/jeffreybehr

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - astrostar59 00:36:40 02/19/07 (20)

Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - RGA 22:39:38 02/20/07 (1)

Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - astrostar59 15:11:40 02/21/07 (0)

No way, just the measurements...... - Rod M 21:02:14 02/20/07 (3)

"Just the measurements" -Surely you jest! - Thomas Martens 16:05:02 02/21/07 (2)

Re: "Just the measurements" -Surely you jest! - Rod M 20:39:11 02/21/07 (1)

Re: True... - Dave-A 19:18:25 03/01/07 (0)

Transformers? Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - Dr Deville 01:23:54 02/20/07 (4)

Good sounding SET is easy... - Thomas Martens 15:48:15 02/21/07 (0)

Assuming we're starting at some quality level we all would call high-end, I think the powersupply... - jeffreybehr 01:54:31 02/20/07 (2)

is that testable? - njjohn 18:50:28 02/22/07 (1)

Not IMO. By improving the quality of the PS, I mean using the best-sounding, 'rightest'-sized parts. - jeffreybehr 23:33:02 03/01/07 (0)

Even a 5" hookup cable makes huge difference, not to mention quality parts - stewcle 18:30:50 02/19/07 (0)

Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - Michael Samra 16:16:33 02/19/07 (0)

Oh, yeah. - elektron 12:49:53 02/19/07 (0)

Everything matters - njjohn 07:47:01 02/19/07 (0)

One part design, one parts, one implementation - Gordon Rankin 06:23:10 02/19/07 (1)

Amen! (nt) - Naz 20:36:07 02/20/07 (0)

Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - Vinnie 03:27:27 02/19/07 (2)

Re: Amplifier design and quality parts, does it matter? - Tre' 09:56:55 02/19/07 (1)

That was a joke. Nobody got it. - Tre' 14:04:38 02/21/07 (0)

Follow Ups

Not IMO. By improving the quality of the PS, I mean using the best-sounding, 'rightest'-sized parts. - jeffreybehr 23:33:02 03/01/07 (0)

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