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Nelson Pass has been an early contributor to the audio DIY scene; It has been said that Nelson has a knack of explaining engineering things very clearly in a few words, and that he obviously enjoys doing it. He is also a very active contributor at www.diyaudio.com. Being very generous with advice, tips, and complete amplifier designs that people can build.
What does Nelson Pass get out of this interaction?
“I like to speak to the teenager (me) who wanted to know this stuff—that's my audience. There are always people who appreciate a decent explanation that gets to the meat and potatoes. I see it all as light entertainment with a little education thrown in. The academic paper approach has its place, but it seems intended for people who mostly understand the stuff already. If you want to communicate with DIYers, you depend more on colorful analogies, a little hand waving, and very little differential calculus. I get lots of personal satisfaction out of the whole enterprise. It gives me an outlet for some cool ideas and things that otherwise would stay bottled up, and I have an excuse to explore offbeat approaches purely for their entertainment value. Also, the process of communicating DIY stuff is a two way street—I would say I get about as much as I give. Nelson Pass”
Welcome back to the Zen Amp Variations. This is part 2 of many parts in which we explore some of the ways to make a very simple audio amplifier. In this and parts 3 and 4 we will embellish upon the original Zen amplifier circuit, improving the performance and creating the Penultimate Zen Amp. You may recall that the Zen Amp is a single MOSFET transistor operated in what is known as Common Source mode in which the input signal is fed to the Gate pin, the Source pin is grounded, and we take the output signal off the Drain.… More...
The popularity of the Zen projects points out the interest in very simple linear circuits. They are intended to fuel that interest. The Zen, Bride of Zen, and Son of Zen have been explorations in how much objective and subjective performance can be achieved with a single gain stage. This extreme simplicity has an aesthetic appeal, which speaks to the purist in audiophiles, and the presumption that simple circuits sound better. At least one "objectivist" has complained (objected?) that the Zen projects do not measure up compared with more sophisticated and complex amplifiers. This is mostly true, but beside the… More...
THE STORY BEHIND the A75 power amplifier continues. In Part I, we discussed its origins and direct predecessor, the Pass A40, as well as some general guidelines to follow before initiating such a project. We covered such topics as MOSFETs and differential pairs. In this concluding part, we will analyze the amplifier's component parts in depth, beginning with the source. The Power Supply Figure 11 shows the amplifier's power supply circuitry. AC line power enters through the power cord and passes through fuse F1. To reduce the effects of inrush current, thermistor TH1 is employed. At room temperature, this will… More...
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