2. amps-preamps
  3. 140029-80294

Does anyone care to ask an amplifier designer a technical question? My door is open.

I closed the cable and fuse thread because the trolls were making a mess of things. I hope they dont find me here.

I design Tube and Solid State power amps and preamps for Music Reference. I have a degree in Electrical Engineering, have trained my ears keenly to hear frequency response differences, distortion and pretty good at guessing SPL. Ive spent 40 years doing that as a tech, store owner, and designer.
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Perhaps someone would like to ask a question about how one designs a successfull amplifier? What determines damping factor and what damping factor does besides damping the woofer. There is an entirely different, I feel better way to look at damping and call it Regulation , which is 1/damping.

I like to tell true stories of my experience with others in this industry.

I have started a school which you can visit at http://berkeleyhifischool.com/ There you can see some of my presentations.

On YouTube go to the Music Reference channel to see how to design and build your own tube linestage. The series has over 200,000 views. You have to hit the video tab to see all.

I am not here to advertise for MR. Soon I will be making and posting more videos on YouTube. I don’t make any money off the videos, I just want to share knowledge and I hope others will share knowledge. Asking a good question is actually a display of your knowledge because you know enough to formulate a decent question.

Starting in January I plan to make these videos and post them on the HiFi school site and hosted on a new YouTube channel belonging to the school.


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ramtubes's avatar
ramtubes OP
460 posts
 
@nitewulf 

Thoughts on the Stereophile measurements of this Luxman solid state amp?

https://www.stereophile.com/content/luxman-l-509x-integrated-amplifier-measurements


Looks like a very good amp. Luxman makes good stuff. Havent seen them mess up yet. There are some companies you can count on, this is one.
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic
1,113 posts
 
Roger - I own a pair of king sound - King v1 and a pair of King sound ks17 . This direct drive amp you spoke of , how does that work ? do I have to bypass the step up transformers , and do the speakers need to be modified to use that amp ? 
toddcowles
140 posts
 
Wondering what your thoughts are on the most significant transition/design element that has improved overall sound quality in today's amplifiers.
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic
1,113 posts
 
Also wanted to add this is a breath of fresh air on Audiogon , Real discussion of real topics , Not the silly fuse and cable type discussions . Thanks for taking the time to post here.
ramtubes's avatar
ramtubes OP
460 posts
 
@csontos

Hey Roger. What are your thoughts on designing a ss amp to drive ESLs directly? I'm currently listening to Acoustat Monitor 3 with direct drive servo charge OTL monos. It seems the ultimate comparison between ss and tubes would be a shootout with such. I find directly driven ESLs to be the ultimate in transparency and so the ultimate test bed between the two major topologies.


Many thoughts, mostly of replacing lots of fused silicon.

5,000 volts is a dangerous environment for SS devices. There are no devices over 1,500 volts and they are mostly switches or horizontal output transistors. 

I dont think that is the application to have a shootout. At high voltages tubes make more sense and are more reliable.

Horizontal output tubes are plentiful, inexpensive and very reliable. They lend themselves to a much simpler circuit. 

I have worked on many of the original Servo amps. There are many improvements that can be made to their design. I once offered a drop in board with all tube driver. Perhaps I will again.
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