2. amps-preamps
  3. 124847-369

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.
pani

Showing 1 response by jaybe

jaybe
808 posts
 
Got a bit off track, sorry. The LPSs I referred to are external LPSs and not built into pre/amps.

But here is a good link to an article written by Nelson Pass touching on regulation and SMPSs in amplifiers.

https://passlabs.com/articles/power-supplies-commentary-for-consumers

And I admit I'm over my head on this so will sit in the sidelines. :)
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