2. amps-preamps
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Transformer coupled vs Capacitor coupled?

Guys,

I’m sure their are different schools of thoughts on these typologies but are transformer coupled better in terms of sound quality in regard to pre-amps.

Thanks,
Wig
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wig's avatar
wig OP
1,267 posts
 
Thank you all for your informative posts, I now have a better understanding of those designs and their limiting factors utilized for cost saving measures.

Wig 👍


bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 
Tim de Paravicini uses transformers on the balanced/XLR inputs and outputs of his EAR-Yoshino 868 and 912 pre-amps, but of course not on the RCA's.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Tim de Paravicini uses transformers on the balanced/XLR inputs and outputs of his EAR-Yoshino 868 and 912 pre-amps, but of course not on the RCA’s.
I’m not 100% sure (please correct me) but I was told once, that was just to get xlr input and an output connections, but everything inside in the active tube circuit is SE (single ended) in between those input and output transformers.

Cheers George
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 

That is correct George. The EAR-Yoshino circuits themselves are single-ended, the transformers are just to provide balanced connections, as is standard in recording studios, where Tim does a lot of work (Roger Waters’/Pink Floyd’s studio in England being one such).

Roger Modjeski provides a balanced input (only) on his Music Reference RM-200 amplifier, but he told me he did that with discrete components, not transformers. The RM-200 is also a single-ended circuit.

Ralph Karsten’s Atma-Sphere designs are true dual-differential balanced circuits, as far as I know unique amongst currently-available tube amps and pre-amps.

I believe it is Ralph’s contention that balanced circuits themselves provide benefits over single-ended, Tim and Roger that balanced transmission is what they find of significant value, not the circuit itself. About that I may be mistaken ;-) --- Eric.

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 
I believe it is Ralph’s contention that balanced circuits themselves provide benefits over single-ended, Tim and Roger that balanced transmission is what they find of significant value, not the circuit itself. About that I may be mistaken ;-) --- Eric.
I doubt that either Roger or Tim would deny the benefits of balanced differential circuits- in a nutshell, rejection of power supply noise and also rejection of noise induced in the interconnect cables.
A secondary benefit is lower distortion as even ordered harmonics are cancelled with each succeeding stage. This means that the primary distortion product is the 3rd harmonic, which is treated by the ear in a similar manner to the 2nd (contributes to 'warmth' and 'bloom') but its level is at about 1/10th of a circuit that has the 2nd harmonic as its primary distortion component. So distortion components are not compounded from stage to stage as the signal progresses through the signal chain- this results in less coloration.
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