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Amp Guts Photos - Official Thread - Lets see those pics
- Thread starter svtb15
- Start date
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,051
- 5
- 221,011
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
And what it could have been using more modern materials and design...
Aragon 2004 (not mine, but same).
I got mine in 1989.
I got mine in 1989.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,051
- 5
- 221,011
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Yet the technology existed back then and way before. I have been designing line frequency transformers the past couple of years for a large project and it's surprising to lay people that with a better choice of materials, the size can shrink while the performance improves. This is without resorting to a toroidal topology too.
I did design with EI transformers on earlier Genz Benz amps, just using higher performance electrical steel could shrink a transformer by 20% compared with the lower grade steel normally used. The pro audio guys figured this out pretty quickly before jumping to toroidals, then of course switchmodes.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,051
- 5
- 221,011
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
The higher performance magnetic steel (grain oriented and high silicon) is much more expensive, so if cost is the only concern than the lower grade steel is used and the transformer gets larger and heavier.
There are 2 reasons why the higher grade steel improves the performance.
1. The saturation flux density can be 25% higher so the transformer can be made smaller and lighter
2. Because of decrease in size, the length of wire per turn will decrease which reduces the DC resistance of each winding. If the core is made slightly larger than the minimum size, the number of turns can be reduced which also decreases the DCR and increases performance. This is a balancing act, trading off one variable against another.
Decreasing the weight results in a savings of roughly 20-25%, which on a 20 pound transformer is a significant amount of weight.
There are 2 reasons why the higher grade steel improves the performance.
1. The saturation flux density can be 25% higher so the transformer can be made smaller and lighter
2. Because of decrease in size, the length of wire per turn will decrease which reduces the DC resistance of each winding. If the core is made slightly larger than the minimum size, the number of turns can be reduced which also decreases the DCR and increases performance. This is a balancing act, trading off one variable against another.
Decreasing the weight results in a savings of roughly 20-25%, which on a 20 pound transformer is a significant amount of weight.
My guess is that's how a lot of decisions get made. Or folks just sticking with what they know.
Anyway, what a great sounding bass amplifier.
my Aguilar DB659 and Stewart Pro Reference 1000 power amp ...
Just the guts of my stereo Rickenbacker preamp build.
I've honestly never seen the electronic version of a Jackson Pollock painting before. Well done.
