Simplest Linear PSU?

@itsjustme Well to be clear - simple is not always better no, but SMD packages and their industrial solder joints wreck havoc on audio information. (As well as their non-audio grade THT versions). And not amplitude measurements, but sonic information. So while you can solve some problems with more complex circuits, you have to be mindful of the materials being used.

My theory of why most audiophiles prefer simple circuits, whether they know it or not, actually comes down to the physical quality of the components available in discreet, THT layouts, especially when you are shopping ones designed for audio. In short, a circuit is like the schematic for a deep space telescope - the angles of the mirrors, magnifications, and other math has to be right to transport the light from one end to the other and be mechanically stable, but the real quality of the information retrieved will be determined by the physical materials of the mirrors and glass. Just ask Leica. Once I understood that sound and light work the same way, in this regard, it totally opened my mind to building better audio systems. Just my experience!

@pwayland  yeah, I'm checking out Andy's PSU kit!

@clustrocasual

Obviously buy what you like, and what makes you comfortable.  But the purpose of these sites is to share info, and I'm trying to counter what i see as knee-jerk reactions to modern technology.  Some SMD IS bad.  But some can be very good. I want as many as i can impact ot understand that.

I found your reply hard to follow -- full of vague analogies (some off base) and such. I design with both and have listened extensively and find pretty much the opposite. The short, tidy connections i can achieve with SMD, combined with more up to date components, are (and its a tiny difference) superior. Some packages demand THT - for size, weight or simply historical reasons. So my boards are most often actually hybrid.

In an LPS, in particular, some components simply require size and mass (thermal mostly). But i doubt any serious design tries to use SMD for high power levels. So i’m not sure if you have some deep secret knowledge, or are just defending your position... if its the former please share, if its the latter, you might benefit from being mroe open minded and looking into the details of each design and what is appropriate. I had reservations (in some instances still do) but have worked through to find what better (most) and what’s not (long random list). discrete R2R dacs for example would be impractical on many counts without SMD. resistor tolerances, size, complexity of assembly, bad noise immunity (exposed surface area/difficulty in shielding) to name 4.

-G

Where are your data that show “most audiophiles prefer simple circuits”? Most have no clue regarding circuit design. In certain applications, SMD have some advantages, such as reducing stray inductance and capacitance that can arise because of longer lead length and layout of through hole parts. Also, are you looking for tube rectified PSs? Because SS rectifiers can be construed to be semiconductors. Finally most commercially available LPSs are going to use semiconductors for regulating the V output, unless you want unregulated.

If I wanted simple I wouldn't have researched and picked out my Audio Research SP8 ver5 preamp with it's multiple regulated power supplys. Talk about complex, but it all part of what makes that preamp so good.

Want a great power supply on the cheap? Ebay is full of high quality used laboratory power supply's such as Power Designs, Lamda, etc. Fully adjustable, and some have voltage stability down into the microvolt range.

BillWojo