Congratulations Atmasphere!

Congrats Ralph!!!!!!
always fantastic when the frontier is pushed out and up!!!!
best
jim

I expect it will have no issues driving Alexias! :-)
Congratulations.

atmasphere7,779 posts11-25-2019 11:43am

So, If I understand what Al has written, Ralph has created a symmetrical bridged class D tube amplifier.... Of course, I’m guessing, but I’d love to hear more.

@timlub The tube part isn’t right, but otherwise, yes. Essentially the invention is a Circlotron class D amplifier. Prior to this the prior art was either half-bridge or full-bridge; the former needing two output devices which are arranged in a ’totem-pole’ configuration (and is a fairly simple circuit), the latter being two half bridge circuits driven in opposition. Now there is a third means, the Circlotron, which has more in common with a half bridge circuit except for two important changes: its symmetrical and the output devices are not directly in series with each other. Its the latter bit that is the most interesting, as this essentially reduces shoot-through currents which allows for a circuit with less dead time. In a nutshell its a method of reducing distortion in a class D design.

I wonder. TACT made an amplifier that was essentially a power DAC. It took a digital signal and converted it to a PWM at I believe it was 9 mHz 
This was converted to analog in the output stage. Volume was controlled by raising and lowering the voltage to the output stage with all the digital remaining a 0 dB, the highest resolution. It was a great sounding amp.
I wonder if this is what Ralph has in mind. Since he now has the patent I wonder if he would care to elucidate? Earth to Ralph, you out there?

Mike

@mijostyn No, its nothing like that.

The first rule of avoiding patent challenges is to say as little as possible about the invention after the patent issues.  So I won't ask any questions, because if I were Ralph, I wouldn't say anything the patent doesn't say.  But I do wish to offer my congratulations to Ralph.  It will be quite interesting to see how products based on this invention perform.   

I could not be happier (perhaps ignorance is bliss) with my M-60s.  I'd be at a loss to imagine how they could be improved upon with respect to sound.   Not saying the M-60s are the worlds best sounding amps, just saying that my 3.3s with the current tube complement have not been bettered by anything I personally have heard at any price. 

Now if the new technology closely approached the sound of my 3.3s, had better stability into low impedance loads, and produced less heat, I'd be willing to take a hard look.   

Duke observed that Ralph has a special gift for understanding what is important to the ear.  I agree based on my experience with the M-60s and also based on his astute contributions to this forum.  So I'm expecting that any product that comes out of his shop is going to sing sweetly.  I'll be following any new product releases.