What is an audio power supply?
A power supply converts the AC wall voltage into something useful for our audio equipment—typically DC. Power supplies make no music, yet they are one of the most critical elements in a high-performance audio product. This is because they are the source of what follows.
Do power cords make a difference?
This is important, to be sure, and without a power cable your system isn’t going to do very much at all, but the question of course is not whether the cable is essential but whether there are differences in performance between reasonably-well-constructed power cords, and on that question we have to say that the answer …
Why are switched-mode power supplies used in audio circuits?
Especially where the power is going to be further regulated. Why aren’t switched-mode power supplies used in audio circuits, eg. power amplifiers, and what improvements can be done to make a SMPS suit an audio circuit? Let me give you a little background on myself…
Can a switched mode power supply run more than one transformer?
In switched-mode mains (AC-to-DC) supplies, multiple voltages can be generated by one transformer core, but that can introduce design/use complications: for example it may place minimum output current restrictions on one output.
How are most audio circuits powered by Transformers?
Most audio circuits are powered with large, heavy transformers and a small ripple after smoothing. SMPS are smaller and more efficient. EMI can be shielded by a metal enclosure and the output filtered for noise suppression. Especially where the power is going to be further regulated.
What kind of power supply do I need for an audio amplifier?
Switch-mode supplies are a prolific source of high-frequency interference. This can be extremely difficult to eradicate entirely from the audio output. The 100 Hz ripple output is significant, as noted above, and will require the usual PSRR precautions in the amplifiers.