Transformer coupled / Capacitor coupled


Just a question from my curiosity. I remember someone recently mentioned here that capacitor coupled pre-amp sounds better and is more expensive and rare, than transformer coupled ones. Could someone elaborate, as to the difference of those two and how each design works and why either sounds better? Thank you!
khokugo

Showing 1 response by jdubusc

Hi Clueless,

My recollection of the effects of capictors vs transformers during my radar repair days was that if you want to alter the shape of a waveform, eg, a square wave (which may appear simple, but is rather complex) use a capacitor and if you want to pass it on unaltered use a transformer. We took great joy in taking a nice square wave and converting it into a saw tooth waveform by adding more or less capacitance in either series or parallel: shape-shifting if you will. Music as rendered by an analog electical waveform is extremely complex where the slightest alteration in voltage is the essence of the artistic intelligence. When I think of how a capcitor can make a square into a triangle, I am little surprised at my reality. Which is, I prefer transformer coupling to capacitive coupling: the ear is the finsl determinant.

Materials have a profound effect on both sides of the equation. With respect to transformers, core saturation, hysteresis, relationship of the windings in the primary to the secondary...and I guess that is where the art of design begins.

Just my $.02, Jim.