Let me introduce you to the new amp

Elk · March 29, 2015, 7:39pm

Welcome!

A great question.

tony22 · March 30, 2015, 3:45am

Welcome, Chris. I’ve heard the Sanders Magtech amp (which like the ESL amp has regulated power supplies) driving his own electrostatics. Based on what I did hear I’d observe that the amp mated very well to those speakers.

What I can say from personal experience is whether regulated power supplies actually seems to mean anything. My own amp - the Van Alstine FetValve 600R - also uses a “local” regulated power supplies approach. There are regulated supplies for the tube heaters, each plate in the tubes, and for each power MOS-FET output circuit. I lived with earlier versions of the FetValve, none of which had this type of embedded active regulation. While they were all good amps, the 600R is exceptional. It has a level of control and finesse the earlier versions did not have, and it can drive my own speakers (which go down to a little under 2 Ohms in the bass region) better than I’ve ever heard. I’ve also heard the 600R drive various Salk speakers at recent audio shows. While I don’t think the Salks are exceptionally hard to drive, I think the amp brings to these a similar level of control and finesse.

Is it all due to regulated power supplies? I suspect not, but whatever that part of the circuit is doing seems pretty useful. smile

Paul · March 30, 2015, 4:29am

christopherfrank said Paul can you tell us if the new amplifier has a regulated power supply section?
I have read numerous columns regarding the necessity for having this to drive electrostatic speakers

Apparently very few solid state amplifiers have a regulated power supply

We use a combination of regulated supply and unregulated supply in the BHK Signature. The tube and all drive circuitry is regulated and with a separate transformer as well. The output circuitry, the actual big MOSFETs are not regulated.

tedsmith · April 9, 2015, 7:52am

I wouldn’t mind it, but I use mono blocks so it would have to be two (or three if he were extra generous - one more being stereo for my rear speakers)

Maybe if I buy some P10’s he’ll throw in some amps

Paul · April 9, 2015, 10:21am

We’ll have to see if Ted’s been naughty or nice…

emailists · April 9, 2015, 1:29pm

On a serious note it would be great if Ted was developing future DS upgrades using the new amp as a reference.

Elk · April 9, 2015, 10:16pm

Only if Ted finds this a better reference than his current setup, which may or may not end up being the case.

rusty-jefferson · April 10, 2015, 3:41pm

Is there a specs/features page on the website about the amp yet? What are the input and output impedance?

Thanks

Brodric · April 10, 2015, 5:02pm

emailists said On a serious note it would be great if Ted was developing future DS upgrades using the new amp as a reference.

I thought an oscilloscope was his reference with the DS software development work?

Streets_Still_Works · April 10, 2015, 7:28pm

Rusty Jefferson said Is there a specs/features page on the website about the amp yet? What are the input and output impedance?
Thanks

Under construction, I think. The specs aren’t published yet. Let me nudge Paul and see if he can post anything for you.

–SSW

Paul · April 11, 2015, 5:11am

PerfectWave Amplifier

Specifications

General

Color Options Black

                                            Silver

Voltage Options Japan 100V

                                            North America           120V                          

                                            Europe/Asia              230V

Mains Power Input IEC C14

Accessories Included Line cord(s) US (NEMA 5-15P) (all versions)

                                                                                Schuko (CEE7/7) (230V version)

                                                                                UK (BS1363) (230V version)

Audio Inputs RCA (Unbalanced)

                                            XLR (Balanced)

Speaker Outputs Gold Binding Posts (2 pair per channel)

Other DC Trigger input 3.5mm 5-15VDC

Performance (All measurements with both channels driven)

Output Power (120VAC Mains, 1KHz, 1% THD)

8Ω 250W minimum

                                            4Ω                               500W minimum

Gain 30.5dB +/-0.5dB

Sensitivity 1.2V

Input Impedance Unbalanced 100KΩ

                                            Balanced                    200KΩ

Output Impedance 50Hz, 2.8VRMS <0.1Ω

Frequency response @2.8VRMS 10Hz – 20KHz +/- 0.1dB

                                                                                10Hz – 200KHz +0.1/-3.0dB

THD 1KHz, 1W/8Ω < 0.01%

                                            20-20KHz, 1W/8Ω   < 0.1%

                                            1KHz, 200W/8Ω       < 0.1% (120VAC Mains input)

                                            1KHz, 400W/4Ω       < 0.1% (120VAC Mains input)

Noise 100-20KHz <-85dBV

Power Consumption Ready 75W

                                            Idle                             175W

                                            Rated power 8Ω        850W

                                            Rated power 4Ω        1600W

Mechanical

Width 17.1”

Height 8.7”

Depth 14.0” (chassis only)

                                                                    15.1” (including connectors)

Weight 83lbs

Shipping Width 21.5

Shipping Height 13.0”

Shipping Depth 19.0”

Shipping Weight 92lbs

Elk · April 11, 2015, 5:29am

A nice set.

This is a great example of how specifications tell us essentially nothing as to how an amp will sound.

Paul · April 11, 2015, 5:38am

Yes, a top of the line Yamaha might look even better, sound far worse. Specs tell you zero.

Elk · April 11, 2015, 6:25am

Indeed. Just like shopping for a car based on specs alone. You can glean some basics, but very little which is truly meaningful.

Brodric · April 11, 2015, 10:28am

Elk said A nice set.
This is a great example of how specifications tell us essentially nothing as to how an amp will sound.

There weren’t any specs mentioned there that grabbed my attention…

pmotz · April 11, 2015, 8:04pm

Specs say “Power Consumption Ready 75 watt”, “Idle 175 watt”, presume “Ready” means Standby (tube shut off) and “Idle” has tube energized, is that correct?

alekz · April 12, 2015, 2:52am

Paul McGowan said PerfectWave Amplifier
Specifications

Output Power (120VAC Mains, 1KHz, 1% THD)

8Ω 250W minimum
4Ω 500W minimum

In another place on the PS-Audio site:

250 watts per channel 8Ω Stereo 250 model
400 watts per channel 4Ω Stereo 250 model
400 watts per channel 2Ω Stereo 250 model
Less than 0.1% thd 20Hz to 20kHz at rated power

So, which specifications are correct?

Paul · April 12, 2015, 5:14am

pmotz said Specs say "Power Consumption Ready 75 watt", "Idle 175 watt", presume "Ready" means Standby (tube shut off) and "Idle" has tube energized, is that correct?

That is correct.

Paul · April 12, 2015, 5:24am

Alekz said
Paul McGowan said PerfectWave Amplifier
Specifications

Output Power (120VAC Mains, 1KHz, 1% THD)

8Ω 250W minimum
4Ω 500W minimum

In another place on the PS-Audio site:

250 watts per channel 8Ω Stereo 250 model

400 watts per channel 4Ω Stereo 250 model

400 watts per channel 2Ω Stereo 250 model

Less than 0.1% thd 20Hz to 20kHz at rated power

So, which specifications are correct?

The 500 watts is correct.

wglenn · April 12, 2015, 5:44am

-3dB at 200KHz? Can’t you do a little better than this?? 21_gif

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Let me introduce you to the new amp

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