Dear Spirit of music;
Please don’t misunderstand what I have written - in over 45 yeas of designing and manufacturing audio, I NEVER tell anyone what they can, or cannot hear. I am speaking strictly from a TECHNICAL standpoint. I am NOT disputing your claims. I am strictly saying that analog supplies are far cleaner than switching supplies, by a long shot. I totally dislike switching supplies, save for their ease of use. What I am saying is that a simple analog supply, filtered by lots of capacitance, then regulated, then filtered some more, coupled with power supply rejection circuitry commonly found in IC’s, results in excellent performance from an IC. That is NOT to say that a more sophisticated PS is a fools errand. On the contrary, there have been many articles written on the noise generated by IC regulators themselves, which an external supply has minimal effect upon.
I did conduct a blind listening test between a laboratory grade dual DC supply against the wall analog supplies we ship, by a group of listeners years ago. At that time, we could not hear the difference. I am well aware that a battery supply (or the technical equivalent) can easily outperform high grade lab supplies, and similar. So I am by no means dismissing your claim - I am in fact, supporting it. I have had many report to us that the phono preamps we design and manufacture sound much better with battery supplies than the DC wall supply that comes with them. I will never dispute that claim - it is a low cost upgrade.
Bear in mind that the "entry level" Strain Gauge series I produce are expensive to build, and I must do everything I can to keep the costs as low as possible to be able to market these to our world-wide distribution channels. We DO make a Signature Series line of products, including Power Amplifiers and Strain Gauges designs which feature a higher end SG and circuit design, the SG-400,410,600,610 and 810, all of which feature an outboard unit that serves as a high performance dual power supply, designed and produced by Soundsmith. Far from dismissing your claims, I support them with this PSU we make, but always taking cost effective measures where I can, and must. It would be of interest to compare by blind test the WWE filter I designed and our analog supplies with your new supply to see if the WWE is a cost effective alternative. I say this, not knowing the cost of what has been custom built for you.
I am glad that the Strain Gauge and the modifications to the power supplies is increasing your enjoyment of recorded music. That, first and foremost, is my primary goal.
Peter Ledermann/Soundsmith
Please don’t misunderstand what I have written - in over 45 yeas of designing and manufacturing audio, I NEVER tell anyone what they can, or cannot hear. I am speaking strictly from a TECHNICAL standpoint. I am NOT disputing your claims. I am strictly saying that analog supplies are far cleaner than switching supplies, by a long shot. I totally dislike switching supplies, save for their ease of use. What I am saying is that a simple analog supply, filtered by lots of capacitance, then regulated, then filtered some more, coupled with power supply rejection circuitry commonly found in IC’s, results in excellent performance from an IC. That is NOT to say that a more sophisticated PS is a fools errand. On the contrary, there have been many articles written on the noise generated by IC regulators themselves, which an external supply has minimal effect upon.
I did conduct a blind listening test between a laboratory grade dual DC supply against the wall analog supplies we ship, by a group of listeners years ago. At that time, we could not hear the difference. I am well aware that a battery supply (or the technical equivalent) can easily outperform high grade lab supplies, and similar. So I am by no means dismissing your claim - I am in fact, supporting it. I have had many report to us that the phono preamps we design and manufacture sound much better with battery supplies than the DC wall supply that comes with them. I will never dispute that claim - it is a low cost upgrade.
Bear in mind that the "entry level" Strain Gauge series I produce are expensive to build, and I must do everything I can to keep the costs as low as possible to be able to market these to our world-wide distribution channels. We DO make a Signature Series line of products, including Power Amplifiers and Strain Gauges designs which feature a higher end SG and circuit design, the SG-400,410,600,610 and 810, all of which feature an outboard unit that serves as a high performance dual power supply, designed and produced by Soundsmith. Far from dismissing your claims, I support them with this PSU we make, but always taking cost effective measures where I can, and must. It would be of interest to compare by blind test the WWE filter I designed and our analog supplies with your new supply to see if the WWE is a cost effective alternative. I say this, not knowing the cost of what has been custom built for you.
I am glad that the Strain Gauge and the modifications to the power supplies is increasing your enjoyment of recorded music. That, first and foremost, is my primary goal.
Peter Ledermann/Soundsmith