Recent content by DonH50
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How Does the Output Voltage of DAC Affect the System's Sound Quality? Does it Matter if One is Using a Quality Preamp?
Short answer: I don't know. But note the transformer's max input spec does not matter unless you are pushing it; what you need to know is the voltage required at the input of your amp to produce full-scale output. Transformers get very nonlinear (distorted) when overdriven so applying no more...- DonH50
- Post #13
- Forum: Digital Audio Forum: DAC, Transports, Digital Processing Forum
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How Does the Output Voltage of DAC Affect the System's Sound Quality? Does it Matter if One is Using a Quality Preamp?
Yes to the voltage, with the caveat that amplifiers typically deliver more voltage (with higher distortion) than their rated specifications. As for ESLs, older Quads would not handle a lot of power, but I have not kept up with their current line. Sound Labs, Sanders, perhaps other ESLs can...- DonH50
- Post #11
- Forum: Digital Audio Forum: DAC, Transports, Digital Processing Forum
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How Does the Output Voltage of DAC Affect the System's Sound Quality? Does it Matter if One is Using a Quality Preamp?
400 W into 8 ohms is 56.57 Vrms and given 28 dB(25.12 V/V) gain requires 2.25 V for full-scale output. I would try the DAC's 2 V output setting. That provides 399 W, barely under rated spec, without overdriving or significantly underdriving the amplifier. Using 0.6 V only provides 28 W from the... -
How Does the Output Voltage of DAC Affect the System's Sound Quality? Does it Matter if One is Using a Quality Preamp?
What is the input sensitivity of your amplifier? The equations get a little complicated, but I'd start by choosing the DAC output that most closely matches the amp's rated input, erring on a little more voltage from the DAC. -
How Does the Output Voltage of DAC Affect the System's Sound Quality? Does it Matter if One is Using a Quality Preamp?
Specs for audio components are usually Vrms (and Arms for current). Power is normally average power in W (there's no such thing as rms power). The noise floor is often a lower limit on DAC performance, so the only practical way to provide higher SNR and SINAD (~THD+N) is to increase the output... -
It Finally Happened: Not One, but TWO Heart Attacks
Scary tale, glad you are recovering!- DonH50
- Post #14
- Forum: Health And Fitness Forum
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ARC SP-6A Tube Preamp
I doubt an extra 10~20% in capacitance is enough, may be something else going on. Without tools and techie knowledge it may be hard to figure out the root cause; it may be a combination of things. Could even be tubes drawing a little more current that, added to everything else, is just enough to...- DonH50
- Post #17
- Forum: Audio Research Forum
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ARC SP-6A Tube Preamp
A bit of technical babbling, got long, sorry, but may be helpful for some. Many DIY mod folk do not realize adding a lot of decoupling (power supply) capacitance also increases the current and places stress on the power supply. In addition to blowing fuses, regulators (SS or tube), wiring and...- DonH50
- Post #14
- Forum: Audio Research Forum
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Benchmark ABH2 Mono Block Configuration
Ah, I was looking at your comment from the wrong perspective. The actual (speaker) load impedance does not change; the impedance at the speaker terminals is the same whether the amp is bridged or not. I agree, the effective load seen by the amplifier does change, however, and is halved. I...- DonH50
- Post #19
- Forum: Power Amplifiers and Preamplifiers Forum
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Benchmark ABH2 Mono Block Configuration
Bridging doubles the output impedance, not halves it, but yes damping factor is halved. DF = Zload/Zamp and Zamp is doubled. For short peaks most clipping is voltage-based IME.- DonH50
- Post #13
- Forum: Power Amplifiers and Preamplifiers Forum
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Benchmark ABH2 Mono Block Configuration
I used one many years ago and have touched on them now and then since but not recently. They are very reliable, old-school amps (heavy and hot). Sonically they bested Crown that was all the rage for high power back then and also Phase Linear (the least-reliable amp I have ever owned). Bryston is...- DonH50
- Post #9
- Forum: Power Amplifiers and Preamplifiers Forum
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Benchmark ABH2 Mono Block Configuration
I have little exposure to either amp. Benchmark has lower distortion and noise and draws less power on average so runs much cooler. It has pretty extensive monitoring for protection and clipping. Crosstalk is very low so I do not see a second amp increasing separation, nor understand how...- DonH50
- Post #3
- Forum: Power Amplifiers and Preamplifiers Forum
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ART 27A driving Quads
Hmmm... IIRC they would not take as much power as the 63's, but are even less sensitive, so I would still favor a larger amplifier. No point in going over ~100 W, though, as they would self-protect around that point (again, IIRC).- DonH50
- Post #10
- Forum: Conrad Johnson Forum
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ART 27A driving Quads
Yah, that is why I said "tap/version"; probably should have just said "version" but figured a lot of folk might be used to "tap".- DonH50
- Post #9
- Forum: Conrad Johnson Forum
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ART 27A driving Quads
They have fairly low sensitivity and widely varying impedance. A low-power amp driving a low-sensitivity speaker means you need to sit fairly close and/or keep the volume low. They have a high impedance peak at low frequency and fall to pretty low impedance at very high frequencies, like most...- DonH50
- Post #4
- Forum: Conrad Johnson Forum
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