I have some older Electro-Voice powered subwoofers that come with these huge toroidal transformers. I'm wondering if it's possible to swap those out for a switching power supply. Is it as straightforward as measuring the primary and secondary voltages and finding a power supply that matches those?
3 Answers
Honestly, for a smooth swap, you might just want to get a new plate amp that fits your setup. They're available at Parts-Express.com, and it’s something I've done before. It can save you a lot of hassle compared to trying to retrofit your existing amp with a different power supply.
Yes, you can replace the transformer, but switching supplies sometimes come with their own issues, like potential switching noise that might be heard through speakers. That said, many people have successfully switched to SMPS for the convenience of weight and size. Personally, I haven't noticed much switching noise, but it really depends on your sensitivity to these things. Also, don't forget that an amplifier needs DC, while the transformer outputs AC, so take note of your amp’s requirements!
Using linear supplies is often favored in audio setups because they're generally considered quieter than switch-mode power supplies (SMPS). However, linear supplies can introduce 50/60Hz ripple in the audio band, which can be a hassle to filter out. On the flip side, SMPS work at higher frequencies, making it easier to filter out noise, as they can utilize much smaller capacitors for similar results. Just make sure you choose a well-designed SMPS; not all of them will deliver the same quality. Certain designs are actually quiet enough to use in audio applications without much issue.