Modifying amplifiers...
09-14-2004, 12:57 PM
#22
The only way to improve 'SQ' of an amp is going to be by increasing output unless there is a problem in the first place... re-wrap the transfomrmer for more current or voltage.. adding caps to the rails is supposed to help stabalize them when running difficult loads... adding larger caps to the powersupply output is typically done in home audio to increase headroom.... we typically do this in car audio by adding capatance at the input... [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
Unless you have a failing component... simply switching stuff out for higher quality components or ones with a better tolerance isn't going to do anything audible....
Unless you have a failing component... simply switching stuff out for higher quality components or ones with a better tolerance isn't going to do anything audible....
09-14-2004, 04:42 PM
#23
Yankee
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,599
The only way to improve 'SQ' of an amp is going to be by increasing output
[ September 15, 2004, 05:20 PM: Message edited by: JohnVroom ]
09-15-2004, 06:35 AM
#25
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 73
Some very good comments here.
But apparently some of us are using ChinaMan's original (worthwhile) inquiry as an excuse to drag us into the ridiculous discussion about whether all amps sound the same. [Full disclosure: from my own extensive listening experience (at home and in the car) they most certainly do not.]
But guess what: nobody cares what I think about this. And nobody should care what anyone else thinks! Because it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. What matters is WHAT YOU HEAR. I don't hear what pinhead hears, or Keith, or JohnVroom, and they don't hear what I hear.
So let's just agree to disagree. And stop trying to 'save' people -- a few of us sound like (typically ignorant) missionaries trying to convince the rest of the world that they should just believe us. For what purpose? This is not an interesting discussion. Get over it already.
Sometimes I wish that I had never heard what reproduced music could sound like. I'd have a lot more money for vacations... But then I remember how wonderful live music (especially when it is NOT AMPLIFIED) can sound -- the emotions that it provokes. And how every once in a while, a sound reproduction system provokes a shadow of those emotions. And I remember why I am going to all this trouble, investing all this time, and spending all this money (especially in my 2 cars -- talk about an expensive exercise in futility; just ask my long-suffering wife).
ChinaMan, the best way to answer your question is to educate yourself about the topic. Get a couple of good texts on electronic circuits, psychoacoustics, music theory. (By the way, I've decided to take my own advice here, partly because I'm tired of blindly throwing money at audio). Because the best way to make good decisions is to become educated about the topic at hand. This forum is a start, but it is merely a poor substitute for making that investment.
But apparently some of us are using ChinaMan's original (worthwhile) inquiry as an excuse to drag us into the ridiculous discussion about whether all amps sound the same. [Full disclosure: from my own extensive listening experience (at home and in the car) they most certainly do not.]
But guess what: nobody cares what I think about this. And nobody should care what anyone else thinks! Because it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. What matters is WHAT YOU HEAR. I don't hear what pinhead hears, or Keith, or JohnVroom, and they don't hear what I hear.
So let's just agree to disagree. And stop trying to 'save' people -- a few of us sound like (typically ignorant) missionaries trying to convince the rest of the world that they should just believe us. For what purpose? This is not an interesting discussion. Get over it already.
Sometimes I wish that I had never heard what reproduced music could sound like. I'd have a lot more money for vacations... But then I remember how wonderful live music (especially when it is NOT AMPLIFIED) can sound -- the emotions that it provokes. And how every once in a while, a sound reproduction system provokes a shadow of those emotions. And I remember why I am going to all this trouble, investing all this time, and spending all this money (especially in my 2 cars -- talk about an expensive exercise in futility; just ask my long-suffering wife).
ChinaMan, the best way to answer your question is to educate yourself about the topic. Get a couple of good texts on electronic circuits, psychoacoustics, music theory. (By the way, I've decided to take my own advice here, partly because I'm tired of blindly throwing money at audio). Because the best way to make good decisions is to become educated about the topic at hand. This forum is a start, but it is merely a poor substitute for making that investment.
09-18-2004, 12:29 PM
#29
2000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,026
Originally posted by sac:
. . . a few of us sound like (typically ignorant) missionaries trying to convince the rest of the world that they should just believe us. For what purpose? . . .
. . . a few of us sound like (typically ignorant) missionaries trying to convince the rest of the world that they should just believe us. For what purpose? . . .
Apples and Oranges?
09-22-2004, 06:11 PM
#30
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 381
not all amps sound the same, I've started playing around with building both home and car amps, and components and design can have a large impact on the resulting sound, but how different parts of the total sound system interact maybe have a bigger impact. I have a very simple inexpensive HOME test setup right now using and Eclipse ecd-415 (old school sq deck) amp I built (100x2 @ 4 ohm unregulated class ab) and a pair of PSB alpha b's (small bookshelf speakers) the combination is magical (after everything warms up, this is the first time I've been able to tell the difference between warmed up and not) I've tried different speakers and sources (home and car) and it doesn't have the same magical sound. I'm sure some of it is my "taste" but also the components, and how each component changes the sound as a whole. I've also tried changes within the amp (going to tightly regulated, which made the setup have too much bass, and lost the magic) different caps, rectifiers, all had minor impacts on the sound, some were better, some were worse, but I'd say a big part of it is "your taste" look at a tube amp, the damping factor is small, distortion is high, but some people love the sound. I'd say try modifying it. but remember simple sounds better (most of the time) getting rid of eq's x-overs and crap would probably have a bigger impact on the sound then changing all the caps and resistors in the amp.
