Crown; a victim of unfair generalization?

[E-Stat]

The car may be able to pull 1G all day, but I'd bet the tires give out well before lunchtime.

The German made Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2s have given us about 20,000 miles before needing replacement.

That's pretty darn good for a summer Y rated tire.

 

[DaveVoorhis]

There may be cases where the joules of energy stored in the filter capacitors are a reasonable basis for some comparison, but comparing a tube preamplifier to a solid-state power amplifier isn't one of them.

They are merely two superlative examples of audio gear where the designer understands the value of ultra stiff power supplies.

Neither has an "ultra stiff" power supply. 940 mfd running 285V rails is a fairly conventional low-ripple, low-power preamp (or other low power audio device) tube power supply; 18,800 mfd running 45V rails is a fairly conventional solid-state amplifier power supply. The 38 joules for the former and 19 joules for the latter is merely a relationship between the filter capacitors' capacity and voltage; it is not a design parameter.

In other words, the power supply designers didn't choose power supply components and voltages on the basis of the joules they wanted to store. They would have considered joules of energy stored if they were constructing a power supply for a Xenon flash lamp, but not for an amplifier. Amplifier designers chose values appropriate to the technology (tubes vs transistors; the former needs higher voltage) and the current draw on the power supply (both transient and continuous; much more for power amp than a preamp) in order to achieve a desired level of ripple rejection.

Again, the difference in stored energy between the two devices is purely incidental. It is not a useful basis for comparing an SP20 preamplifier to a D150 power amplifier. There may be various metrics that are worthwhile bases for comparing an SP20 preamplifier to a D150 power amplifier, but the joules of energy stored in their respective filter caps isn't one of them.

 

[E-Stat]

Neither has an "ultra stiff" power supply. 940 mfd running 285V rails is a fairly conventional low-ripple, low-power preamp (or other low power audio device) tube power supply

Bwahahaha! Tell me of all the *coventional* preamps with a 38 joule power supply. Best of luck to you!

The 38 joules for the former and 19 joules for the latter is merely a relationship between the filter capacitors' capacity and voltage; it is not a design parameter.

Those who understand audio gear find otherwise.

In other words, the power supply designers didn't choose power supply components and voltages on the basis of the joules they wanted to store.

You really have no clue whatsoever.

Again, the difference in stored energy between the two devices is purely incidental.

If that were actually true, one could choose cheaper components with lower values. Your speculation is laughable.

It is not a useful basis for comparing an SP20 preamplifier to a D150 power amplifier. There may be various metrics that are worthwhile bases for comparing an SP20 preamplifier to a D150 power amplifier, but the joules of energy stored in their respective filter caps isn't one of them.

How does one address such profound ignorance? You really need more than a cocktail napkin's analysis to understand the difference.

Fortunately, the manufacturers of the highest resolution gear understand what's involved - even if you don't. LOL!

Your speculations would be ripped to shreds if you actually talked to one of those engineers.

 

[DaveVoorhis]

How does one address such profound ignorance?

I was wondering that myself. I suggest you might start by looking at standard texts on power supply and amplifier design.

 

[E-Stat]

I was wondering that myself. I suggest you might start by looking at standard texts on power supply and amplifier design.

Standard texts. That's your reference for sound quality?

You don't have the remotest clue as to what you don't know. And seemingly have no interest in rectifying that. Posture and speculate however you please - in the absence of experience.

The sad part is you're missing out on a lot of the musical expression. That's your loss. Somehow I can't imagine that you enjoy your groping to understand what lies beyond your point of reference more than those who enjoy it every day.

Let me tell you all about what I've never heard, right?

 

[DaveVoorhis]

Standard texts. That's your reference for sound quality?

You don't have the remotest clue as to what you don't know. And seemingly have no interest in rectifying that.

You seem to be going off topic.

By way of analogy, claiming that the difference in joules stored in the filter capacitors is responsible for sonic differences between an SP20 and a D150 is roughly on par with claiming that the cold cranking amp capacity of the battery in your car vs another car accounts for a difference in 0-60 acceleration.

Note that I'm not claiming there aren't can't be sound quality differences between your SP20 and a D150; only that the joules of energy stored in their respective power supplies' filter caps is not indicative of them.

 

[E-Stat]

You seem to be going off topic.

And what would that be? You gross speculations as to what you've never experienced?

By way of analogy, claiming that the difference in joules stored in the filter capacitors is responsible for sonic differences between an SP20 and a D150 is roughly on par with claiming that the cold cranking amp capacity of the battery in your car vs another car accounts for a difference in 0-60 acceleration.

To those with little understanding, yes. Power supply stiffness is but one of many failings of the D-150. Crude first generation Fairchild ua739 op amps. Class B operation. High levels of corrective feedback to *fix* all the previous limitations. I've lived that environment. Have you? Of course not! All you ever provide is gross speculation. Really sad.

BNote that I'm not claiming there aren't can't be sound quality differences between your SP20 and a D150; only that the joules of energy stored in their respective power supplies' filter caps is not indicative of them.

It's really a shame your experience in the matter is zilch. None. Nada. Otherwise, you'd understand.

Yours is the last word. Do you ever have any experience with this kind of audio gear?

 

[GChief]

 

[DaveVoorhis]

It's really a shame your experience in the matter is zilch. None. Nada. Otherwise, you'd understand.

I'm not sure what there is that I would understand; I'm quite happy to take your word for it that your SP20 sounds better than a D150, but that's not due to energy storage differences in their respective power supplies, given their respective power supplies are both sufficient for the job.

You appear to be attributing differences in sound quality to filter capacitor energy storage where such an attribution is simply invalid. It's not a matter of "understanding" or "experience"; you're just wrong. Again, it's like attributing differences in car 0-60 acceleration times to differences in battery cold cranking amps. There are plenty of reasons for differences in acceleration, but they're not due to differences in cold cranking amps.

Likewise, in this case, sound quality and joules stored in filter caps...

 

[pustelniakr]

Moderation Note: OK. Patience did not pay off. This thread is just not worth cleaning up.

Closed.

Rich P