The New Integrated Amplifier

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guest1632

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The New Integrated Amplifier
« on: 15 Apr 2009, 10:14 am »
Hi Frank and Company,

Just was reading over on your site about the newer FETS that can be put in to the Insight amps. Can those be put in to the Integrated too? I might be rather stupid here, but seems like you might be able to just put two FETS in there instead of four. You still would be quite in spec of the FET. Theoretically, the amp would sound better with two devices instead of four. Anyway, just curious.

Ray Bronk

avahifi

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Re: The New Integrated Amplifier
« Reply #1 on: 15 Apr 2009, 12:39 pm »
Since the Exicon mos-fets share very well, and more deviceds provide greater power and current reserves, along with a lower impedance load for the voltage amp section to drive, it is difficult for me to understand why fewer output devices should provide better sound.

Actually, the unit on display at the upcoming AKFest May 2nd and 3rd will have the double die devices installed, providing in effect, twice as many output devices.  Come and listen!

Frank

guest1632

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Re: The New Integrated Amplifier
« Reply #2 on: 16 Apr 2009, 01:11 am »
Since the Exicon mos-fets share very well, and more deviceds provide greater power and current reserves, along with a lower impedance load for the voltage amp section to drive, it is difficult for me to understand why fewer output devices should provide better sound.

Actually, the unit on display at the upcoming AKFest May 2nd and 3rd will have the double die devices installed, providing in effect, twice as many output devices.  Come and listen!

Frank

Hi Frank,

Well, I would think that fewer active devices would contribute to even cleaner sound. But what do I know. I'll leave the designing up to you.

Anyway, with the newer devices in there, how much power output do you get?

Ray Bronk


stereocilia

Re: The New Integrated Amplifier
« Reply #3 on: 16 Apr 2009, 01:48 am »
Perhaps the marketing for GamuT amplifiers may give audiophiles the impression that fewer transistors is better.  I would not dare say it is or it isn't, I'm just saying this is where that idea could come from.

guest1632

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Re: The New Integrated Amplifier
« Reply #4 on: 16 Apr 2009, 02:23 am »
Perhaps the marketing for GamuT amplifiers may give audiophiles the impression that fewer transistors is better.  I would not dare say it is or it isn't, I'm just saying this is where that idea could come from.

It would be hard to say. If Frank could accomplish this, then an A/B test would have to be in order. Obviously this isn't always true. Sometimes for ex. you would use two woovers to lower distortion in some speakers. Anyway, so much for that subject. I just wonder now with the increase FET count, does that also raise the wattage of the amp, since each device is not working as hard.

Ray Bronk

Brett Buck

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Re: The New Integrated Amplifier
« Reply #5 on: 16 Apr 2009, 05:04 am »
Perhaps the marketing for GamuT amplifiers may give audiophiles the impression that fewer transistors is better.  I would not dare say it is or it isn't, I'm just saying this is where that idea could come from.

   Same logic behind SET amps:  "simple signal path" supposedly equals "cleaner sound". Because people have been putting all those unnecessary extra parts in there for the last 75 years just to make it look cool. How that's reconciled with the obvious fantastically higher, and clearly audible, distortion (3 orders of magnitude over even a Dyna ST70 at an order of magnitude less power), well, as in the other thread, magic is preferable to facts. 10000 times worse = better!

  I hate "new math".

     Brett

Brett Buck

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Re: The New Integrated Amplifier
« Reply #6 on: 16 Apr 2009, 05:12 am »
I just wonder now with the increase FET count, does that also raise the wattage of the amp, since each device is not working as hard.

    Almost has to in the real world, but not much* into a 8 ohm resistive load as per power measurement standards: watts goes as the square of the voltage. The extra devices lower the output impedance so the voltage doesn't sag as much when the speaker impedance drops.

   Brett

*ps amended
« Last Edit: 17 Apr 2009, 04:01 am by Brett Buck »

martyo

Re: The New Integrated Amplifier
« Reply #7 on: 16 Apr 2009, 08:17 am »
Quote
I just wonder now with the increase FET count, does that also raise the wattage of the amp, since each device is not working as hard.

    Almost has to in the real world, but not into a 8 ohm resistive load as per power measurement standards: watts goes as the square of the voltage. The extra devices lower the output impedance so the voltage doesn't sag as much when the speaker impedance drops.

   Brett

Frank said my Double 550 was 307 wpc out the door.

oneinthepipe

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Re: The New Integrated Amplifier
« Reply #8 on: 16 Apr 2009, 12:01 pm »
Quote
I just wonder now with the increase FET count, does that also raise the wattage of the amp, since each device is not working as hard.

    Almost has to in the real world, but not into a 8 ohm resistive load as per power measurement standards: watts goes as the square of the voltage. The extra devices lower the output impedance so the voltage doesn't sag as much when the speaker impedance drops.

   Brett

Frank said my Double 550 was 307 wpc out the door.

That was an Ultra rather than an Insight, however.  IIRC, Frank said the wattage wouldn't increase as much with the Insight design, although the Double Insight's output voltage would be higher than an H-series amplifier without the double die output transistors and be able to handle lower impedance loads. 

Tone Depth

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Re: The New Integrated Amplifier
« Reply #9 on: 16 Apr 2009, 11:28 pm »
Frank said my Insight Double 440H amplifier produced 225 watts per channel, essentially the same as the stock 440H.  Maybe the Insight power supply limits the output power produced:

"The Insight Double 440H amplifier. Well!
« Reply #51 on: February 05, 2009, 03:05:51 pm » Quote 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, one of you guys took me up on my offer to turn the demo Insight 440H into an Insight Double 440H and we got it up and running yesterday.

Well!  My goodness!  It is so close to the sound of the big Ultra Double 550 that it is almost scary.  Same dynamics, same musicality, a bit less power (225 watts per channel)."