Digital Amplifier Questions


I've been wondering the following:

1. Do digital amps benefit from being left on 24/7in the same way the ss amps do?

2. Is plugging a digital amp into a different outlet as your preamp as crucial compared to a ss amp?

3. Do digital amps have small transformers? If so, is distancing equipment from one another less important? (My peachtre Nova Pre/220 look best stacked)

4. When upgrading power cords on a digital amp, do you look for cords that do well with digital gear like your preamp and dac, or do you still go for a beefy cord?

I apologize ahead of time for my ignorance on the matter! Thanks!
b_limo

Showing 3 responses by kijanki

RF leak thru power cord depends on the type of power supply. Rowland's supplies have zero current switching and power factor correction presenting load similar to resistive. No narrow current pulses. Ref1000m, a second generation uses also power factor correction. In contrast linear power supplies are, in reality, a very primitive switchers operating at 120Hz. They produce a lot of electrical noise since switching is done at max voltage (producing narrow current spikes of high amplitude). Higher switching frequencies of SMPS are easier to filter. Linear supplies in power amps require a lot of capacitors not only to filter out 120Hz but also to reduce voltage drops since they aren't regulated (line or load). For that reason Jeff Rowland uses zero current switching (+PFC) supplies operating at 1MHz, even in class AB amplifiers (Models 625, 725).

One comment on Damping Factor. Speakers are mostly resistive meaning that 4ohm rated speaker will measure likely 3ohm with DC ohmeter. This resistance is in the circuit limiting effective DF to less than 3. Adding 1/10 (0.3ohm) equivalent to DF=27 should not affect the sound. Above that it is only spectmanship. In class D amps very high DF, especially for low frequencies, is caused by the fact that one of the output switchers (Mosfets) is always connected to low impedance point (GND or Vs), making low output impedance to start with. Feedback reduces it even further.

Also, transition from A to B in class AB is audible - it is only matter of extend. It is because trans-conductance (Iout/Vin) is different for one transistor (class B) operating at given time vs two transistors (class A). It is called "gm doubling" and it adds to distortions in class AB amplifiers. It is also the reason why extending area of class A operation (increasing bias) increases distortions.
My class D amp switches at 500kHz. This square wave is filtered by the Zobel network at about 60kHz. Harmonics are most likely filtered out and main problem is about 1% residue of 500kHz switching frequency present on the speaker cable. This 500kHz frequency represents wavelength of 600m. Antenna below 1/10 of the wavelength becomes very ineffective - and that is 60m. Typical 3m cable is practically non-radiating. It is still a good idea to keep cables apart to avoid capacitive coupling.
For something that has absolutely nothing to do with the sound of your system, RF interference/leakage testing is sure a pain in the butt; mainly since I'm handicapped and walk with a cane.

RF itself is way above our hearing range but different frequencies can mix on any non-linear element in the system, producing new frequencies that might be audible. Al mentioned it many times. Keep your system clean from interference (shielding, keeping things apart, using different outlets etc.). Anything can be the gateway, including speaker cables.