2. amps-preamps
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Sound of transformers in preamps?

Many of the highest rated preamps around seem to have transformers in the audio chain. The Dude and Coincident tube preamps seem to kick ass when compared to other tube amps and the solid state McCormack VRE-1 is sometimes considered to be the best too. All of these preamps are said to have transformers. Is there a sonic difference with the transformers? What is the subjective difference?
rsimms
sksos1
387 posts
 
Agree again...with my current 98 efficient speakers my 8 watt SET is sublime! Many nights I have to wear Depends while listening!!!!
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
Meant to type Masataka Tsuda designer and owner Silicon Arts.
jwm
918 posts
 
Very interesting thread. I have owned many preamps without interstage transformers (Audio Research, CAT, VTL, Conrad Johnson, Presence. When I received my VAC Sig. Preamp it had the best sound and uses the dreaded interstage transformer. Kevin Hayes of VAC makes two preamps one with and one without the transformer. Guess what his best and most costly one is the one with the transformer.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,230 posts
 
The VAC Sginature MK II is one of the best sounding preamps I`ve ever heard. Theory aside,it`s always what you "hear" that matters in the end.
Regards,
intactaudio
293 posts
 
Wrt distortion, unbiased transformers create odd order harmonics due to the bh loop symmetry around the origin.

Tubes like solid state devices are nonlinear in an asymmetrical manner so they create predominantly even order distortions.

In order to get transformers to create even order distortion the core must be offset from the origi
n which is typically done by a dc bias.

In order to get nonliner devices to create predominantly odd order distortions, they must be made parallel and summed with one signal inverted. (pushpull, balanced,differential)

Dave
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