Nice OTL kit you got there!
Field Coils for Audio Systems
- Thread starter Audiophile Bill
- Start date
Carlos has nice gear laying around everywhere, Cello, Nakamichi rare tube gear. Love the collection !
The collection looks really impressive. It seems that you could easily build a few listening rooms with your gear. How long did it take you to collect all of them?
Not ignoring your question, just very difficult to answer with so many great systems over the years and so many very special pieces of equipment. I am tremendously enjoying each and every one of my systems. In the early days, when I was in pursuit of the mythical “Absolute Sound”, there was less enjoyment as every listening session was a critical one, listening for audiophile attributes (soundstage width/depth, image delineation, details resolution, black backgrounds, bass depth, micro dynamics and so on) but once I saw the light, it has become all about enjoying the music and the different flavors in presentation and tone that each system delivers.
To try to answer your question more directly, the one significant system that altered my outlook is my big mastering system, as it allowed me to explore and gave me first hand experience in that all audiophile attributes can simply be dialed in with the right equipment and insight into just how powerful the mastering tools are. At the end of the day it is all just about frequency, amplitude, phase, and surprisingly distortion.
Many unique and one of a kind pieces of equipment have come into my listening room, and most have never left, too many to name and they all come to mind all at once so it is hard and very difficult for me to order them in any type of hierarchy or emotional priority list. Some of the most notable components in my collection are well documented in my Friday night listening thread, while others such as the one-of-a-kind Krell KRS-400 monoblocks amplifiers can be seen in the pictures but have not yet been discussed. I like equipment that is unique and that no one else has, and that keeps me away from the “me too“ and “flavor of the months” brands and components that come AND go on this and other forums. Never been a bandwagon type person in my choice of music, stereo equipment, cars or personality.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You have touched upon a important, and yet underdiscussed topic. I have observed (also on myself) that the pursuit of the mythical “Absolute Sound” can be very frustrating and may take the joy away.
I think the unique-one-of-a-kind equipment is the most inspiring sort of audio gear, because you can tailor all the factors to your needs, and secondly, there will always be only one type of your setup.
I think the unique-one-of-a-kind equipment is the most inspiring sort of audio gear, because you can tailor all the factors to your needs, and secondly, there will always be only one type of your setup.
If you had to sell it all but could keep a source, pre, amp, & speaker, what would they be?
Would you be willing to play that game?
A little side bar please, as this subject is a somewhat rare niche within a very small community.
This is such a great conversation and with some who have far more DIY experience than I do, and with field coil implementation specifically.
My consideration is whether we need to be concerned with utilizing shielded cables between our power supplies and the field coils? Like a good AC power cord can offer a surprising improvement. I’m curious if any of you has experience with noise entering the chain through these connections? Noise being such a precarious thing, we often don’t even realize our kits are being infiltrated until we actually try a technique or technology that reduces the unwanted guests presence and then we instantly HEAR the result of it’s absence.
Any thoughts?
This is such a great conversation and with some who have far more DIY experience than I do, and with field coil implementation specifically.
My consideration is whether we need to be concerned with utilizing shielded cables between our power supplies and the field coils? Like a good AC power cord can offer a surprising improvement. I’m curious if any of you has experience with noise entering the chain through these connections? Noise being such a precarious thing, we often don’t even realize our kits are being infiltrated until we actually try a technique or technology that reduces the unwanted guests presence and then we instantly HEAR the result of it’s absence.
Any thoughts?
Its hard to imagine how that would make a difference, since there is low noise DC on the cable for the field coil, while a power cord has AC on it. But to be fair I've not tried it- never even thought about it.
Thank you Ralph for commenting. A pair of modest Venom V12 NR power cords from the mains to the DC power supplies did yielded a nice improvement from the AC side, so I was just curious if the DC end would also benefit from some particular wire solution.
I always find unshielded cables to sound more dynamic, less constrained.
It depends on what shielding IME, the usual shielding as typically found IN the cable affects the sound IMO.
Actually, an Un-regulated supply is the best way to power field coils. There’s some content online about this, but the gist is that current is what energizes the magnet and therefore current is what you need to keep constant. You do not want voltage regulation at all.
I powered my two field coil drivers with constant voltage lab supplies for years, before I upgraded to a proper constant current supply. The difference was HUGE - could not believe it!
Keep in mind there is interaction between the “amp” powering the field coils and the audio amp. With a constant voltage field coil supply, it‘s “fighting” with the audio amp…
Voltage is what is usually quoted for the field coil drivers. For my drivers, each draws a different current with the same voltage. Should we then be supplying each driver with the same current instead ?
Yes, you want to match the current to each driver (L and R channels). The current is what creates the magnetic field. If the current is different, it means the resistance of the coils is not the same; but it’s not a big deal. Just connect an ammeter in series and adjust the voltage so that the current matches each driver, once the coils are hot (a few hours).
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