I just love topics which spring from my mind without warning . ? Anyway here's a fun topic and electronic minded guys opinions and viewpoints would be awesome in this post.
Sitting here this morning I wondered with the new electronics tech thats available, and has been hugely used in light weight D Class amplification for PA amplifiers and bass amplification, can it not be used to power tube amps and make them lighter ? The earliest switch mode supplies were noisey and only used in computers as they induced switching frequency noise into audio circuits. That all changes now and I own a Crown XLS Class D amplifier which is so quiet and clean that if the power leds weren't on you wouldn't even know it was switched on. I am talking about the power supply section. I bet the only gripe most players have with tube amps is their ridiculous weight.
Yes I know we are talking different voltages for tubes and AC voltage is required for tube heater elements etc. Switch mode PSU's are very flexible and can be designed to output high DC voltages. Also tube amps need an output transformer but here they could utilize some new light weight magnet technology?????. Even if the psu can be initially replaced and the output transformer kept unti technology provides us with output solutions???
Some of you are probably going to mention that the sag in a standard transformer psu does affect the tone in a tube amp but advanced switch mode psu technology could simulate tube rectifier sag as per Mesa Rectifier.
Oh and if any amp manufacturer uses my idea I reguire royalties TA muchly ? LOL
Sitting here this morning I wondered with the new electronics tech thats available, and has been hugely used in light weight D Class amplification for PA amplifiers and bass amplification, can it not be used to power tube amps and make them lighter ? The earliest switch mode supplies were noisey and only used in computers as they induced switching frequency noise into audio circuits. That all changes now and I own a Crown XLS Class D amplifier which is so quiet and clean that if the power leds weren't on you wouldn't even know it was switched on. I am talking about the power supply section. I bet the only gripe most players have with tube amps is their ridiculous weight.
Yes I know we are talking different voltages for tubes and AC voltage is required for tube heater elements etc. Switch mode PSU's are very flexible and can be designed to output high DC voltages. Also tube amps need an output transformer but here they could utilize some new light weight magnet technology?????. Even if the psu can be initially replaced and the output transformer kept unti technology provides us with output solutions???
Some of you are probably going to mention that the sag in a standard transformer psu does affect the tone in a tube amp but advanced switch mode psu technology could simulate tube rectifier sag as per Mesa Rectifier.
Oh and if any amp manufacturer uses my idea I reguire royalties TA muchly ? LOL