Transformer coupled vs Capacitor coupled?

Like I said ask Ralph (atmasphere) he the one who says he has a direct coupled tube preamp, whether it's "dc coupled from input to output" only he can say, and what tubes he uses.

Do you know of any reasonably priced DC pre-amps I can read up on and possibly add to my system?

Nearly all "good" solid state preamp should be DC coupled with dc servos, from input to output. It should say it in the features and specs (dc coupled throughout)

PS: Just looked at the Atmasphere preamps, they are "not direct coupled from input to output", there are capacitors in the signal path.
He only says the output is direct coupled. (just the output has no caps or transformers)

Cheers George

wig OP
This is awesome and at some point would like to hear a direct coupled tube pre in my system!

I believe from what he says, "maybe" Atmasphere’s pre "could" be "direct coupled from input to output" ask him precisely that.
I can’t believe there’s no coupling cap/s somewhere between input and output somewhere.
But then it’s a shame if the rest of the system is not true direct coupled also?

C or EI cored signal and power transformers are phenomenal but are pricey and would cost almost half of the cost of the pre if they are truly direct coupled.

Don’t get into the thinking that "coupling transformers" and "coupling caps" are some kind of "magic music making components", their not, they are in many designs a necessary evil to have. Proper direct coupling using a good dc servo control, nails them every time in all avenues of music reproduction except for one "coloration".

Cheers George

Sound quality
1st Direct coupled using a good dc servo (most transparent/dynamic)
2nd a Good quality Cap (large enough not to roll off the bass too early)
3rd Transformer coupled (using good transformers)

Cost to make, lowest first.
1st Direct coupled ($10-20)
2nd Cap coupled
3rd Transformer coupled.

Least distortion/coloration’s (lowest first)
1st Direct coupled (always lowest, if good design)
2nd Capacitor coupled
3rd Transformer coupled

Lowest output impedance (good to drive next piece of equipment)
1st Direct coupled (lowest from DC to wherever)
2nd Capacitor coupled
3rd Transformer coupled.


No-brainer, direct coupled wins out, cap comes in second.

Cheers George

Tim de Paravicini uses transformers on the balanced/XLR inputs and outputs of his EAR-Yoshino 868 and 912 pre-amps, but of course not on the RCA’s.

I’m not 100% sure (please correct me) but I was told once, that was just to get xlr input and an output connections, but everything inside in the active tube circuit is SE (single ended) in between those input and output transformers.

Cheers George

wig
Transformer coupled vs Capacitor coupled?

So long as the stage before is good in design low output impedance and has more than enough current and all your doing is stopping any dc offset, then a good cap is far better than a good transformer that will always have coloration’s.

But then doing a dc servo instead and having it all dc coupled, is then better than both.

Cheers George