Dreaming of a DIY 8W Class A amp designed by Nelson Pass?
I've been experimenting with a bunch of sources and preamps over the last few months. @jayh - I built these with my kids as well. Our second or third project. Even my 7 year old participated. System photo: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RG7oFzBtF1pH-ViMwFv83GhkWPTNIU6-/view?usp=sharing |
Upon returning from the CAF audio show with good sounds freshly implanted in the memory bank, I was greeted by two Zerozone 24V/5A linear supplies from Hong Kong. Even without break-in they improve on the stock Meanwell SMPS. Increased dynamics. Weighty and extended LF. The slight opaqueness, politeness, and soft-focus of the stock unit is gone. Soundstage is larger and more dimensional. Resolution is increased across FR. Mids are supple and SET-like. There is a vivid tactile quality as heard with top echelon amps. Well worth the $450. |
@lou_setriodes Nelson understands the importance of lower ordered harmonics since you can't eliminate distortion altogether (this is a lot bigger topic than there might be room for on this thread!). So his stuff doesn't have that dryness to which you allude above. But a good tube preamp shouldn't be particularly warm- just neutral :) Perhaps using the word "warm" to describe tube sound isn't the right word. Sweet sounding might be better, at any rate, with tubes, there's a certain something there - warm, sweet, euphonic whatever it is that just sounds so right and is to me more appealing than listening to solid state. Maybe even order distortion is the term I'm looking for. |
Even without break-in they improve on the stock Meanwell SMPS. Increased dynamics. Weighty and extended LF. I have found that going from switching power supply to a linear with a very large capacitor bank will yield significant improvements in bass strength and body. Along with all the other improvements! lol |
Pass ACA measurements and review. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/pass-aca-class-a-power-amplifier-review.9... |
