Hey guys:
I just learned the term "switching power supply". Its theory was explained to me by an engineer. I understand that they use an oscillator after retifying the AC and smaller transformers. A link to a site is
Link to amp with switching power supply

I have no idea how this amp sounds, but I am curious about the virtue of using this technology and its application to our passion.

.....inquiring minds want to know

nfa: the purpose of a power supply is to give your amplifier stage "clean" power. By this, I mean DC voltage with very little AC ripple, and very little voltage drop under peak power demand.

It doesn't matter how the amplifier gets this "clean" power, whether it is from a switching supply or a conventional supply.

One thing to note, the cheaper switching supplies tend to be "noisy."

I haven't seen many cost comparisons between switching supplies and conventional supplies, but the good switching supplies tend to cost as much as the conventional supplies. The big savings is in size and weight. Maybe someone else can comment on the cost trades.

Hope this helps a little.

Thanks, ratpack.
I have no intention of making changes (I love my 7700 and 755). I learned a term, new to me, and thought I ought to know more about it.

I'm building a final 7*240W @ 8 Ohms (or 7 * 400W @ 4 Ohms) this fall.
Using 7 Coldamp class D modules and 2 Coldamp SMPS power units.
All arrived, look lovely.
Best thing: no excessive weight, almost no cooling (91% efficiency while class D,AB,B are only 30...45%).
See my other postings on the subject.
Will test this amp against my 7700.

Most general purpose products these days, especially computer, use switching power supplies. All ATX power supplies for computers are switching power supplies, as are many of the bricks for external equipment.

The main benefit of this is they can be smaller and lighter. For audio applications, they need to be shielded because the switching generates noise heard as audio intereference. They also generate switching distortion on the electrical line, which may also need filtering.

Does this "noise" affect audio playback if the input devices are close? Which amplifiers shield properly and which do not? How is the outlaw's switched amplifier with respect to generated noise?

Joel

I'm not aware of Outlaw using switched power supplies in their amps, Joel.

How does the 2200 work?

Joel

The 2200's amp is a hybrid: class AB up to around 80W, then class G beyond that. A class G amp uses a power supply with a series of voltage rails and switches between them so that the power supply output more closely matches the actual demand at the time. From what I've read, this is not the same as the type of "switched power supply" that's being discussed here (those switch the current on and off very rapidly to control the output voltage, so it's a different sort of switching). At least that's what I understand of the matter - hopefully someone better versed on power supplies can sort us out if I'm wrong.

I am sorry about the confusion. I thought a switching amp was a switching amp. Now learn there are different types-thanks for the clariifcation.

So does Class G lead to RF noise?

This is a factor for me. I have an older Hafler DH-200 I built 25 years ago in my system (handles two side speakers). It is beginning to show its age. Design Concepts will upgrade it for about $600 and 2 M2200s are about the same cost. So I am trying to figure which way to go.

Joel