Bombaywalla, I'm familiar with class G principle of operation. And you're right - their "invention" is pretty much class G. It does not matter if you switch signal or supplies - it is still switching operation. Rowland (IMHO) is the leader again with unpopular, while great sounding choices.
Can SMPS based preamps/amps sound organic ?
Lately I have been reading about some well known companies who make amps and preamps based on switch mode (digital) power supply. Nagra, David Berning, Linn, Crayon Audio comes to mind. I have heard a couple of their products but I always seem to hear some kind of switching noise which comes through as "digital" sounding. The organic quality is somewhat robbed and replaced with some hash. I wonder if there are any designs using SMPS that can actually sound natural and organic ?
To me it seems mostly a matter of convenience to use SMPS but I would love to discuss.
To me it seems mostly a matter of convenience to use SMPS but I would love to discuss.
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Interesting references. FYI, I tried to find Mr. Sanders’ patent or patent application for his regulated power supply design, which would have provided more information about it. But extensive searching at the Patent Office website (uspto.gov), using numerous search terms that seemed likely to be relevant, turned up nothing. So unless I somehow missed it the application has apparently not yet been submitted. Best regards, -- Al |
Hi Almarg, please see this blurb that appeared in Stereo Times in 2013 that clearly says that the Magtech regulated power supply is patent pending: http://www.sanderssoundsystems.com/latest-news/219-january-2013-sanders-magtech-amplifier-receives-the-stereo-times-most-wanted-components-2012-award |
Almarg, found 1 patent application for Roger Sanders re. ESL loudspeakers (not the regulated power supply): http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=4&p=1&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&S1=sanders-roger$.IN.&OS=in/sanders-roger$&RS=IN/sanders-roger$ |
Thanks, Bombaywalla. Let me first make clear that I was not implying anything negative about Mr. Sanders or his design. I was just reporting that I looked for the patent or patent application, in the hope of finding further detail about the design, and couldn’t find it. The mention of "patent pending" appears in numerous articles on the web, as well as in Mr. Sanders white paper that you referenced earlier. Presumably all of those statements were based on inputs he provided, at the times the articles were written. Regarding the unrelated patent application you linked to just above, which was filed in 2003, I can find no indication that a corresponding patent was ever issued. I suppose there are all kinds of possible explanations for these non-findings, ranging from issues with the Patent Office’s website and/or its search functions to decisions he may have eventually made to not pursue the applications, for whatever reasons. Best regards, -- Al |
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