Elliott Sound Products Project X

A-B Switch Box For Amplifier Comparisons

Phil Allison, (Edited By Rod Elliott)

I have finally been able to add 'Project X', thanks to Phil Allison. Somehow, 'X' just seemed appropriate Have fun.

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Introduction

This is probably going to be a very controversial device. Its purpose is to prove people wrong and that is very confronting. If you
don't wish to have your cherished beliefs about amplifiers and audio generally challenged then do not build or use this unit.

Many of you will know about the ABX system for doing audio comparisons. No doubt it is a very fine piece of design but out of
reach for the average person. Some years ago I felt that a much simpler device would at least allow me to do comparisons on
power amplifiers while the music played in a similar way to ABX. This device was the outcome. After using it for a few seconds
my attitude to audio listening tests changed forever. If you are game for a challenge then try it yourself. It will cost you under $50
to build. It may be the best or worst fifty bucks you ever spent depending on your attitude.

The idea is that the listener, you, sits in the 'hot seat' and concentrates on familiar music on your favourite speakers in your own
lounge room with the ability swap power amps over without moving more than one finger. If there is even a small change in
timbre or definition it should be instantly audible. The stereo image and any other factor can be checked precisely since you can
sit totally still during the switchover. Well at least that was what was expected to happen.

Switch Box Design

The design is very simple and I lashed mine up in a couple of hours and put it to use immediately. A couple of good quality
relays, some hefty terminals and banana plugs and a long wire finishing in a hand held push button are the ingredients. The
circuit is as shown and is self-explanatory. What is does however, is staggering.

Providing the two amps to be compared are of high quality (why would you be interested in anything else?) and of course fault
free, the gains are carefully matched and have similar bandwidth the device permits instant and seamless switching of the
amplifier outputs to the speakers at the push of the button in the listeners hand.

Because the relays switch in a couple of milliseconds there isno audible interruption. This surprised me at first and I tried my sine
wave generator set to 100 Hz and pushed the switch. About half the time I could hear a faint 'tick' sound but this was not audible
on musical programme.

Figure 1 - The A-B Switch Box Schematic

A description of the circuit is hardly needed (but I'll give a brief one anyway). The DC voltage must be matched to the relays, and
12V is suggested as the most practical. The relays should be high quality, high current types, and DPDT relays can be used with
the contacts paralleled for lowest resistance. Gold flashed contacts are desirable, but standard silver contacts should be quite
adequate unless there is severe atmospheric pollution in your area.

The speaker grounds for the two amps were connected together at the box and the speaker grounds were coupled as well. Use
short thick leads for connection to the amps. It is possible this might cause an earth loop hum with some combinations.

Warning! Never attempt to use this switching device with amplifiers that have a BTL (bridge-tied-
load) output arrangement. If there is a warning that neither speaker terminal may be earthed then this
 describes your amplifier. If you connect it to the switching unit you will almost certainly cause severe
damage to the amplifier. Both amplifiers under test must be conventional amps that have the -ve
speaker terminal connected to earth (ground).

The switch (marked 'Push-On / Push-Off') is the remote switch, and needs a lead that is long enough to reach the listening
position. There is no real limit to the length, even with light duty figure-8 'speaker' lead, but in excess of 10 metres or so may
cause some voltage loss. The LED is optional, and may be omitted. If fitted, be very careful that the LED cannot be seen from
the hot seat, as it may dim slightly when the relays are energised, thus giving a visual clue - this you don't need!

Setting up the test

1. Build the box as shown in Figure 1 and place the two amplifiers close together. If one is on top of the other, then place
some cardboard in between to prevent metallic contact and possible hum loops. (Make sure that you don't obstruct any air
vents.)

2. Make 'Y' leads to connect the left and right input signals to both amplifiers.

3. Use an audio generator or test CD to set gains to read equally +/- 1% on a digital multimeter at about 400 Hz. Leave the
speakers unconnected while you do this.

4. Place the pushbutton on the 'hot seat' or at the place where you would normally sit to listen to stereo.

5. Check operation of the box by switching with no music and listen for the click of the relays as they changeover. There may
be a faint click from the speakers too, due to small DC offsets. Trim these out if possible - the idea is to get a seamless
change with no audible cues.

6. Put your favourite track on the CD player or turntable it you prefer vinyl.

7. Listen, and gently push the switch whenever you want to change amps.

8. Go and check why the box is not working.

9. If step 8 is not needed check your wiring for correct phase and levels again.

10. When you have everything right try it on your friends and family. They will likely think you have gone mad and/ or are
playing tricks on them. The most likely comment is simply "The switch is not working."

11. Sit quietly and contemplate what you have just found, and all its implications.

12. Don't blame me, I did warn you!!!

Notes:
When comparing amps of different power ratings, stay within the capacity of the smaller unit. Valve and transistor amps may be
compared as long as the valve model has a damping factor greater than 25. Amps with subsonic filters may be distinguishable
from those without on some material.

Matching the gain may be difficult if the amps do not have level controls. Solder a 10 kohm multiturn trim pot to the back of each
RCA plug on the amp with more level to set the gain.

You must use a push-on, push-off hand held switch. Never use one that needs to be held down to make the relays change over.
The switch must be one that does not change 'feel' from one position to the other (some feel slightly different depending on the
latching mechanism).

After the initial surprise (shock) wears off, try the old stop and restart A-B test method again. See what happens!

Editor's Notes

This is a contributed article, and the author (Phil Allison) has made this information available for the sake of audio.

I do suggest that if you want to test this technique that Phil's instructions must be followed to the letter - even the smallest
variation in level can invalidate any A-B test. Comparisons between valve and transistorised amplifiers are likely to show
differences, only partly due to the higher output impedance of a valve amp, and extra care is needed to balance the levels with
this combination.

It is also important that there are no visual cues that might alert you that one amp or the other is in operation. To be safe, place a
screen of some sort between you and the amplifiers and switch box. As Phil has stated, if amplifiers are of different power
ratings, make sure that neither amp clips (distorts) at any point during the tests. This will be immediately audible, and is not a
valid test for an amplifier's sound quality (since it has none when clipping!)

You might find it hard to get a push-on/ push-off switch that has no difference in feel between states. If this is the case, you can
use the circuit shown in Project 166.This allows a momentary switch to be used, and there will be absolutely no difference in feel
either way. If you decide to include an indicator LED (which is a good idea so you can verify the switching action), it must have a
switch in series so it can be turned off for testing. Before you start, you might want to get someone else to press the button a
(random) number of times to make sure that there's no in-built bias. This is recommended regardless of the switch used.
If you don't want to be confronted by this switch box, build one anyway. It will allow you to make comparisons between amplifiers
that are otherwise impossible to do with accuracy or repeatability. You might find that there are audible differences, or you might
not. Either way, it gives you the ability to know (rather than assume or imagine) that one amplifier is different from another.

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Copyright Notice. This article, including but not limited to all text and diagrams, is the intellectual property of Phil Allison and Rod Elliott, and is Copyright ©
2000. Reproduction or re-publication by any means whatsoever, whether electronic, mechanical or electro- mechanical, is strictly prohibited under
International Copyright laws. The author (Phil Allison) and editor (Rod Elliott) grant the reader the right to use this information for personal use only, and
further allow that one (1) copy may be made for reference. Commercial use of this published material is prohibited without express written authorisation from
Phil Allison and Rod Elliott.
Page created and copyright © 11 Aug 2000