Preamplifier power supply


Hi folks, should a preamplifier have a BIG (that is: an overkill power supply) to sound dynamic and authoritative? I'm asking this because some experts would say "yes" while others would say "no". Recently a well known audio journalist (Anthony Cordesmann?) said that the preamplifier doesn't have to have a big power supply because it doesn't have to deliver lots of energy (in the form of current). A preamplifier can sound "dynamic" even with very modest power supply --> for example the built in preamplifier in the Benchmark DAC. But some manufacturers rely on a truly overkill power supply in their reference preamplifiers: MBL, First Sound Audio, BAT, VTL, LAMM, Mark Levinson. So who is right?

Chris
dazzdax
Of course, all those who have never experienced the control power gives can never ‘get’ it. However, once experienced never forgotten. The unfortunate aspect of these forums is that most contributors simply don’t have access, have never experienced, reference grade components. So their comments are only correct and of value to those who have similar limited performance units. Nothing new here. (But today I find it annoying that shills and charletans make great “to do’s” about the utterly minutes differences between red black or blue wall plugs. As if they have power supplies and systems that can identify the virtually, no, non- existent differences. Crass purveyors and promoters of these ridiculous cash grabs should post some technical support for their fanciful, or should I say, Fantasy claims. Off topic, but, after all, this is just a forum :)

Anthony Cordesman is a classy audiophile gentleman who I've had the pleasure of listening with as he used and reviewed my products many moons ago. A shout out to Anthony!

Now about transformers. My answer would be somewhat different than those who go with bigger is better only. Innovation in audio is being advanced at a more progressive pace over the last 15 or so years and I see and hear design improvements leaning toward smaller transformers.

I look at transformers the same way I look at speaker crossovers, more and bigger parts is usually a result of something not working up to par somewhere in the chain.

Michael Green

http://www.michaelgreenaudio.net/


Interesting comments.  In repairing and building gear I have found that just because something may seem "over built" to some, the manufacturer has designed it that way to work with his component.  Think back to Counterpoint.  The basic preamps were build with really nothing power supplies so that they were simply built to a price point. As you went up the line, separate power supplies came into play.  One simple reason to move the transformer out of the main chassis was noise.  The separate power supplies also had better parts to complement the preamp that made the sound better.  Tube regulation, tube rectification, etc., were added to improve the sound.  You can build a power supply to regulate the AC with a resistor and many cheaper preamps have just that.

My power supplies are about 30lbs for my DAC and preamps.  Probably more than the amps most of you are using.  It is not that they are overbuilt, but necessary to get the sound I wanted each component to reproduce, plus noise, etc.  Parts quality are also part of the equation.  Dueland capacitors for example, are much larger than other standard capacitors, they also weigh more so not so much over build but in there for sound which requires more space.  Each part has a sonic impact.  That was why Counterpoint used Plitron transformers as a recommended upgrade.  Expensive and larger (and quieter) that the stock ones Counterpoint originally used.  Does all this make a difference in sound quality, to me YES, to others, I cannot answer for them.  But if anyone used Counterpoint gear and went up the ladder, they heard the differences.  So I do not think that this means that something is not working up to par somewhere in the chain, this is part of the design implementation.  Speakers may need to be of a more simple design with quality parts, but when filtering AC and making the sound quiet, dynamic, micro/macro swings, control bass, clarity extension of high frequencies, etc., it may be what makes one component sound better that the other.  Solid State versus tube designs also require different implementation.  So my point is, try doing that with a resistor to control the AC.  

How many manufacturers use point-to-point wiring?  Do you think that you could hear the difference in your components if they were point-to-point wired?  Is that overkill/overbuilt or a better design implementation?

Happy Listening.

       
Regarding power transformers, real audio engineers/designers like Tim de Paravicini (EAR-Yoshino) and Roger Modjeski (Music Reference) have much to say on the subject, not just silly things like smaller is better. Roger winds his own for some of his amplifiers, and Tim says he can predict how an amp sounds by looking at it’s transformer (he is of the opinion that, generally speaking, bigger is better). Everyone knows that the trade-off (good engineering is all about balancing trade-offs) with a larger transformer (for better low frequency reproduction) is the tendency to limit high frequency extension. There is no free lunch. Anyone offering glib, easy answers is most likely and almost certainly a charlatan.