by paart » Sun Dec 19, 2010 7:15 pm
The addition of power supply capacitors was addressed in detail by Walt Jung in and article titled: "Build an ENERGY STORAGE BANK"--Audio Magazine, August 1980. He states that increased capacitance improves performance that is noticeable in "bass separation, and reproduction, greater power, and in some cases increased clarity and definition---from top to bottom."
This has always been my experience, also. Anytime that I've added increased capacitance to an amplifier, I've heard a noticeable improvement. His article goes on to explain in detail, the technique of adding 200,000mfd to a solid state amplifier!
Near the beginning of the article, however, he notes in bold print:-this is a project for the advanced experimenter only, and not for the novice! At a minimum, a number of safety features MUST be incorporated, as well a soft start circuit, well thought out bleeder resistors, and careful selection and testing of the components involved. The amount of energy stored in a 200,000mfd, 100volt supply is shocking! Or, as one wag put it, these kinds of circuits literally can, and do "raise people from the dead" (defibrillators)!
The ST-35 that I'm currently building will incorporate power supply caps in the range of 1100-1200 mfd. However, I'm also using an external "ramp-up" device, 3 amp diodes, bleeder resistors, and I'll do lots of careful testing.
In short, one can't just go and add lots more power supply caps and "turn it on". That asking for trouble.