I'm speaking in regard to my experience with older chrome bumper Naim Audio gear. IME, the difference between using a Naim NAC 42.5 preamp and NAP 110 power amp on their own vs with a dedicated HICAP power supply: Lower noise floor, greater sense of control, better PRAT. At first differences are subtle but appear to be more noticeable over time. I never regretted spending the extra money for the HICAP.
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?
- ...
- 18 posts total
- 18 posts total