Ping Mahatma K. Jeeves: Can a simple C.F do the job?

Posted by cheap-Jack (M) on February 21, 2006 at 12:53:11

Hi.

Better answer your post up here for easier reading.

Most, if not all, phonostages or linestages of current designs come with a cathode follower. I have heard so many, expensive brandnames & DIYs alike.

The question is: is it a cure-all? My audition panel, including a young music lover (she owns no HiFi), all here the difference when swapping interconnects.

So I guess you choose not to hear the differnce because the square waves comes out OK with a dummy load (i.e. 10KR+500pF shunt) added to your pre-amp. How are you so sure the complex music waveforms can be replaced by a simple static test signal - so simple & so ideal.

If static tests can determine the sound, the audio world is a paradise accessible to any Joe Blow down the street.

This is, IMO, sort of pre-directed judgement & pre-convicted sentence coming out from some standard static measurements if my assumption is correct.

That's why I ask you repeatedly how to design an amp "properly so that the wire parameters don't make any difference.". You said "it's not hard to do".

A simple cathode follower would get the job done? On static test may show no difference on the scope. But I doubt it means anything in the realworld as we hear the difference.

Many tube amp designers/builders are in favour of transformer coupling & TVC. Here is a quote I borrow from a you-know-who designer:-

"The value of the O/P cap needs to be chosen in combination with the selection of the I/P transformer....Same problem also occurs with a TVC with when combined with a preceding cap-coupled line or phonostage."

All cathode followers are normally capacitor coupled, plus the shunt cap & inductance of the interconnects & of the I/P stage of the following amp, etc etc. These parameters all intereact with the dynamic music programmes.

So a simple cathode follower can eliminate the sonic effect of the reactance downstream? I doubt.

c-J

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Topic - Ping Mahatma K. Jeeves: Can a simple C.F do the job? - cheap-Jack 12:53:11 02/21/06 (18)

Re: Ping Mahatma K. Jeeves: Can a simple C.F do the job? - Mahatma Kane Jeeves 13:07:38 02/21/06 (17)

No, that's why I ask repeatedly.. - cheap-Jack 13:16:45 02/21/06 (16)

Re: No, that's why I ask repeatedly.. - Mahatma Kane Jeeves 13:27:53 02/21/06 (15)

I never received any such article... - cheap-Jack 13:36:38 02/21/06 (14)

Re: one more example - Mahatma Kane Jeeves 14:00:03 02/21/06 (0)

Re: I never received any such article... - Mahatma Kane Jeeves 13:52:08 02/21/06 (12)

As I said, it is not a simple C.F. - cheap-Jack 12:31:56 02/22/06 (7)

Re: As I said, it is not a simple C.F. - Mahatma Kane Jeeves 14:08:40 02/22/06 (6)

Very academic, my friend. - cheap-Jack 08:57:58 02/23/06 (5)

Is this a private war? - clifff 14:33:31 02/23/06 (3)

No, but now you are declaring war. - cheap-Jack 15:32:12 02/23/06 (2)

Well, shucks, there, slick... - Silver Eared John 17:08:10 02/23/06 (1)

Sorry , if citing RDH is .. - cheap-Jack 18:26:42 02/23/06 (0)

Re: Very academic, my friend. - Mahatma Kane Jeeves 10:22:57 02/23/06 (0)

link - Tre' 19:59:37 02/21/06 (3)

Thks the link. (nt) - cheap-Jack 11:25:38 02/22/06 (2)

No problem... - Tre' 19:38:26 02/22/06 (1)

Was it Victor RCA's logo? - cheap-Jack 06:49:06 02/23/06 (0)

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