2. amps-preamps
  3. 185890-8818

What do you hear with a better/bigger power supply and output capacitors in same amp?

Start by assuming a good stereo power amp with a proper-sized toroidal transformer and a good supply of output storage (good capacitors).  One option might be to merely enlarge both toroidal transformer and cap supply. What do you hear?

Another option is taking that amp and bridging to mono (I’m not knowledgeable; but I have ears) and using two as mono power amps. For all practical purposes each channel has twice the toroidal watt capacity and output cap capacity as before. (Another question, unrelated; what improvements can be claimed from using both L&R sides of the signal path board together?)

Typically more watts claim more headroom on transients and long loud passages. But what else do you get from this? I changed amps and my ‘new to me’ amp (avoiding names) sounds audibly better in at least five distinct ways from my prior (and decent) power amplifier (admittedly on rather good speakers).  I hear more bloom/air, tonal texture, detail, micro-dynamics, and low bass ‘growl’ than before. If I move to mono-blocks will I get something more, or not? How audible?

musicaddict

Showing 2 responses by gumbedamit

gumbedamit
97 posts
 

@jji666 TNT200'S are stable below 2ohms. Roy Esposito was one of the original engineers for Acoustat he is the person who rebuilt and upgraded my Amps and Speakers. 

gumbedamit
97 posts
 

I purchased 2 Acoustat TNT200’s to have rebuilt and converted to Monoblocks.

They were purchased to power my Acoustat Spectra 33’s, which I also have rebuilt and upgraded. Before the conversion I used 1 amp in stereo mode to power the Spectra 33’s and a Acoustat passive sub that came with the panels. Sub sounded bloated soft and slow. The panels alone sounded good but did not deliver what I was expecting from all the hype surrounding these panels. I was ready to sell the lot. Fast forward, panels are rebuilt, amps are rebuilt, pushing somewhere around 900watt @4ohms per side. These things sound spectacular, airy, controlled and Soundstage that puts you right there. Base on your comment, no not a bigger transformer or larger caps, rebuilt transformers and new caps. Each amp is now a monoblock which essentially more than doubles the power rating. This makes a big difference at low listening levels. Dynamics from a Electrostats is rare. IMO, improving the power supply and larger caps associated with what’s required for those upgrades, would give you a better sounding amp. Converting them to monoblocks would be enjoyment ×2....

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