Ar9Jim 6,520 Posted December 24, 2023 Posted December 24, 2023 (edited) Conventional wisdom seems to dictate that audio power supply designs should be highly regulated and stiff, keeping the voltage regulated within tight parameters. This type of stiff design is common and is considered an advantage in most applications for dealing with voltage variations under load. Bob Carver Philosophy - Power supplies will experience voltage sag. In the case of tube amps, they all experience DC voltage sag, pulled down from the average of 450v DC produced by the power transformer and supplied to the vacuum tube plates, bias, etc.. Rather than a heavier transformer to try and stiffen the voltage, Bob Carver increases the power supply operating voltage from 450v average to as high as 785v. The 19lb Crimson and Black Magic 275 design leverages the higher operating voltage (685v) to enable smaller transformers, lighter weight and lower cost. Bob was asked, how do you design a supply to be bouncy and springy as you explain sounds the best? " Well, In the 275 design I started with higher voltage than any other design I know of at 685v, so that is more than 200v above most other deigns." "The bouncy and springy action is enhanced by use of a physically smaller power transformer that will experience some voltage sag under load, then spring or bounce back." "My designs operate at much higher operating voltages so the sag never pulls the voltages down too low." "After many years of work and study, I've determined this approach to sound the best." Bob Carver. Edited December 26, 2023 by Ar9Jim
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