Seperate Power Supply and Preamps


Several of the top end tube preamps like Hovland, Joule Electra, Herron, and Lamm have no seperate power supply. Others like First Sound Presence, Atma-sphere, Cary, have seperated out the power supplys with some of their models. What are the advantages of this sonically or is this just a physical limitation problem with the manufacturer?
128x128bohemian7

Showing 1 response by dekay

Musical Fidelity claims that their separate power supplies allow the sound to remain clear and open as the volume level is increased. Something about stronger fields being created by the power supply as the power demand increases. Vibration from the power supply contaminating (not in this case) the line/phono stage, etc., would be an advantage as well. I have one of the MF X amps (integrated) and the power supply weighs about as much as the rest of the amp.