A question for technically astute


I have recently repurchased a Sophia Baby amp on A'gon at a really cheap. I suspect the cheap price the result of it being a 220 model. I think somebody move back from Europe with it. They bought a step transformer so it would work on 110. Anyway when I listened to it , I could swear that it had much better dynamics and slam than the first one I had. It seems like it can get much louder before compressing. The speakers might be a little more sensitive than before but not much. Is this my imagination or could this power arrangement make a difference?
128x128larryrx7
Hi Paul...I am really happy with the sound right now..I think it sounds better than the 110 version..I was just trying to find out if that's possible and why.
Hi Larry. Sorry - misread your post.

The transformer is filtering out noise in the power lines. The short of that is that it translates to a B+ voltage in your amp with less noise and ripple.

That would not (to my knowledge) give you more dynamics or slam though, but it would allow the amp to resolve low-level detail a lot better.

I think the better dynamics and slam is probably due to your speaker presenting an easier load to the amp. Tube amps really come into their own when they drive speakers with benign impedance curves and good sensitivity. The difference between a well match tube amp/speaker setup vs. a not so good match is startling.

Regards
Paul
Paul ..you probably have a point with the speaker thing..I have them playing thru a pair of Ref 3A Decappos which already really like tube amps.. but they seem to like this amp especially well
I have lived in countries using all voltages and it is a commonly known fact between amp designers that 220-240V regions perform better with most of their designs.

In addition, transformers that can cover the full requirement of the amp (hard to do, by the way) can provide more stable electricity and importantly de-couple it from the rest of the electrical installation in your home. I use transformers even at unchanged voltage to good results.
Thanks Mihalis....your explanation makes sense... I am also wondering if this holds true more for tube electronics than SS?