Triode
Well-Known Member
For example
I'm mostly well versed in digital electronics, I get into analog stuff for filtering, but recently to build up my analog skills I've been considering building an audio amp.
Many of the designs out there mention adding mass to make it sound better. I realize that a good analog amp is often heavy because of big heat sinks and the transformer, but I don't know how adding mass that is just mass would really improve anything. I know with mechanical vibrations a large amount of damped mass helps you (that's why those big old heavy milling machines from the 50's are so nice) but in a device where the vibration is electrical what does it do?
I can imagine a few scenarios. Is it the shielding? A thick metal shell as in the design above will certainly block out EM noise, but that doesn't explain the heavy wooden block. Is it to spread heat? Again that doesn't explain the wood, and then you would use a proper heat sink. Maybe it's more of a thing where it just feels right, heavy = good quality? I only suspect this because many amplifier designers don't mention mass and if it were important it seems like they would at least give it a nod.
As a side note, if anyone has any good DIY amplifier designs, or pages talking about design considerations I would like to see them. I'm thinking I want to build an AB amp, simply because D sounds like it is high speed PWM, which is something I am already familiar with from controlling motors and actuators. Plus, though it is hotly debated, many audio snobs seem to think class D sucks, though others say digital to the end is best, anyway, I don't want to get into their war on that issue, so I figured I'd just build an AB amp.
I'm mostly well versed in digital electronics, I get into analog stuff for filtering, but recently to build up my analog skills I've been considering building an audio amp.
Many of the designs out there mention adding mass to make it sound better. I realize that a good analog amp is often heavy because of big heat sinks and the transformer, but I don't know how adding mass that is just mass would really improve anything. I know with mechanical vibrations a large amount of damped mass helps you (that's why those big old heavy milling machines from the 50's are so nice) but in a device where the vibration is electrical what does it do?
I can imagine a few scenarios. Is it the shielding? A thick metal shell as in the design above will certainly block out EM noise, but that doesn't explain the heavy wooden block. Is it to spread heat? Again that doesn't explain the wood, and then you would use a proper heat sink. Maybe it's more of a thing where it just feels right, heavy = good quality? I only suspect this because many amplifier designers don't mention mass and if it were important it seems like they would at least give it a nod.
As a side note, if anyone has any good DIY amplifier designs, or pages talking about design considerations I would like to see them. I'm thinking I want to build an AB amp, simply because D sounds like it is high speed PWM, which is something I am already familiar with from controlling motors and actuators. Plus, though it is hotly debated, many audio snobs seem to think class D sucks, though others say digital to the end is best, anyway, I don't want to get into their war on that issue, so I figured I'd just build an AB amp.