Description
Signature Edition is an High Bias Class A/B amplifier. A simple Class B amplifier uses 2 output transistors to supply the current that moves the speaker. The positive transistor will push the woofer out and the negative will pull it back. In this design, only one transistor is working at any given time. It is the transition between positive and negative that leads to the higher distortion that makes an Class B amplifier unacceptable for audio reproduction. In most cases, an bias circuit is added to an Class B amplifier making it an Class A/B. The Bias circuit improves the distortion by turning on the unused output device while current is flowing across the other. The more bias you add the lower the distortion, but there is an side effect. Heat is created as both output transistors are both on at the same time. The more bias you add the better it sounds.
More heat equals more bias until you reach the point of over bias and the amplifier fails. The trick to the Signature Edition Bias circuit is managing the bias current at any temperature. By carefully matching the bias of every amp we are able to maintain stable performance across an wide temperature range. This stability allows us to “dial in” much more bias than any conventional class A/B amplifier. This is one of the key elements to the Signature Editions amazingly transparent sound.
The key to running so much bias is heat management. Signature Edition has an unique heat sink design that uses an four-inch fan mounted in the center of the circuit board. The fan forces cool air in an cross flow pattern through the massive finned heat sink before exhausting from the ends. This design minimizes the effects of installation location on the thermal performance of the amplifier. Mounted upside down, under or behind an seat or beneath an panel; Signature Edition will always perform as intended.
To further improve the dynamics and efficiency the Signature Edition amplifier exclusively use stiffly regulated, fully isolated power supplies. Regulation not only improves the damping factor and overall control of an amplifier but it eliminates any effect of voltage drops in the charging system may have.
