AudioCircle

Audio/Video Gear and Systems => Single Driver, Wide-Bandwidth Speakers => Topic started by: rollo on 8 Feb 2018, 05:05 pm

Title: Current Source or Voltage Source Amp For Full Range Drivers ??
Post by: rollo on 8 Feb 2018, 05:05 pm
  With Nelson Pass F1 Amp out there has the game changed ? Does this boil down to personal taste or is the Pass design better suited ?


charles
Title: Re: Current Source or Voltage Source Amp For Full Range Drivers ??
Post by: planet10 on 8 Feb 2018, 10:47 pm
Current amplifiers have some theorectical advantages since speakers are current devices not voltage devices.

But net FR of speakers/amp is convolved with the impedance of the speaker. This makes application most suitable to active for stuff above the bass, and with full-range single driver applications.

There is a just right amplifier output impedance for every loudspeaker … very easy to determine if you have a variable transimpedance amplifier to play with.

dave
Title: Re: Current Source or Voltage Source Amp For Full Range Drivers ??
Post by: JLM on 9 Feb 2018, 12:41 pm
Quote from: planet10 on  8 Feb 2018, 10:47 pm
Current amplifiers have some theorectical advantages since speakers are current devices not voltage devices.

But net FR of speakers/amp is convolved with the impedance of the speaker. This makes application most suitable to active for stuff above the bass, and with full-range single driver applications.

There is a just right amplifier output impedance for every loudspeaker … very easy to determine if you have a variable transimpedance amplifier to play with.

dave

You lost me.  What does "to active for stuff above the bass" and "variable transimpedance amplifier" mean?
Title: Re: Current Source or Voltage Source Amp For Full Range Drivers ??
Post by: planet10 on 9 Feb 2018, 06:24 pm
Quote from: JLM on  9 Feb 2018, 12:41 pm
"to active for stuff above the bass”

Ii an active system, it is usually only the bass driver section that has significant impedance variations. So for example, use a voltage amp to drive the bass, and current amps to drive midrange & tweeter (or midTweeter in WAWs)

Quote
"variable transimpedance amplifier"

An amplifier with a dial that allows changing the output impedance from near zero to near infinity. A voltage amp at one end of the knob, a current amp at the other end and everything in-between.

dave
Title: Re: Current Source or Voltage Source Amp For Full Range Drivers ??
Post by: intaud on 20 Oct 2018, 06:21 pm
I built a current source amplifier and have been using it for over a year now matched with Alpair 12pw wide band drivers in a closed box.  I use a MiniDSP 2x4HD for response correction.  I realize sound is subjective and I don’t have “high end” systems to compare to, but I think as a system this sounds very good.  A very natural/realistic sound which is most important to me.   

Thanks, Dave

(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=185280)


(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=185282)


Title: Re: Current Source or Voltage Source Amp For Full Range Drivers ??
Post by: Folsom on 20 Oct 2018, 08:05 pm
You can't use them with regular crossovers. You have to have special crossovers.

That's why you see them more in active/single driver setups.