user 37518 said:
Didnt know transformers where perfected so many years ago, still the new transformers sound really clean to me, im still trying to figure out what people mean with trafo sound?
Transformers were very useful when electronic gain stages were expensive and noisy, and they are useful for interfaces, but modern solid state is generally superior (IMO).
Transformers have difficulty with high level low frequency signals. One of my utility patents is related to mitigating this transformer limitation
JR said:
US05509080 Roberts
04/16/1996 Bass clipping circuit. This circuit combines a simple clamp diode with a Baxandall tone control circuit to provide frequency selective (bass only) clipping.
In connection with designing a line of fixed install mixer amps, where the constant voltage (70V-100V) outputs were fed through transformers, with additional step down transformers for each speaker, saturating those transformers with too much bass, was a real Amplifier killing problem. (Saturated output transformers can load amplifiers unnaturally).
Since those same customers love to boost the heck out of their bass signal, on top of standard loudness contours, so managing bass levels was a real problem in that market.
My invention was a slick diode clipper built into a baxandall bass tone control circuit so just the bass boost leg gets clipped when too hot. Since the HF signal is unmolested, this clipping is not as audible as you might expect.
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Modern transformers using good media (Deane Jensen was big on making quality transformers with good metallurgy) with adequate iron and copper to avoid saturation in normal use, should sound neutral. Push them too hard at low frequency and they might reveal any weakness there.
JR