Audio amplifier with switchable active components
OwnerChristian Jenningsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An audio device for amplifying an audio signal enables a user to instantly switch between two or more active amplifying components, thereby allowing the user to evaluate the effect of a particular active amplifying component in the audio device. In one example, the audio device is an audio vacuum tube preamplifier, and has a circuit configuration that facilitates A/B comparison between two or more preamp tubes by hot switching between preamp tubes in the audio signal path. The input to the two or more tubes is switched between each tube by the listener on demand without pause or interruption to the music or program.
Claims10
An audio device for amplifying an audio signal comprising:
- an input and an output having an audio signal path therebetween;
- a circuit connected between the input and the output, the circuit in part defining the audio signal path and including a power supply;
- the circuit further including:
- a first active component including a first vacuum tube and connected to the power supply for maintaining the first active component in a powered state, the first active component adapted to be selectively switched into the audio signal path to amplify the audio signal;
- a second active component including a second vacuum tube and connected to the power supply for maintaining the second active component in a powered state, the second active component adapted to be selectively switched into the audio signal path to amplify the audio signal;
- a switch for switching either one of the powered first and second active component into the audio signal path while switching the other one of the first and second active component out of the audio signal path while the circuit maintains the other active component in a powered state, the switch being operable to enable only one of the firs and second active components to be in the audio signal path at a time, thereby allowing a user of the audio device to readily switch between the first and second active components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.