SKU: DACT-CT102-Power-Supply DACT Power Supply CT-102

CT102 Audio Power Supply

When ordering a CT102 Audio Power Supply you will receive a complete CT102 PCB with all components, assembled and tested,  ready for connecting to your circuit. Also included is a switch mode mains adapter ready for connecting to your 100-250VAC mains source.

DACT had the vision to create the ideal power supply for low-consumption, high-end audio electronics circuits. Not only as the perfect partner to power their own pre-amplifier modules; the CT100 Phono Stage module and the CT101 Line Stage module. They also wanted to offer a new alternative for all the audio DIY'ers that often are let down in their efforts experimenting with audio circuits, striving for the perfect sound. Until now, only very few good power supply designs were available.

In the past, the choice had been to use either a mains driven power supply, with or without regulation, that usually did not offer very good conditions for high-end audio circuits. The alternative was battery based solutions, of which some made your audio circuits sound better, but were either impractical to use or unreasonably expensive.

The goal was to make a power supply that:

• Resulted in better sound from high-end audio electronics circuits than most known mains or battery driven designs seen so far.
• Better measured specifications than most known mains or battery driven designs currently available.
• Easy to use and install.
• Universal - easy to use in any country regardless of mains voltage.

How Did DACT Obtain This?

One of the important design features of the CT-102 Audio Power Supply is it's triple path regulator design as illustrated below.

Block diagram showing the basic principle of operation of the DACT CT-102 Audio Power Supply.

Concluding that one kind of regulator cannot cover all kinds of supply needs for an audio electronics circuit, DACT have built three parallel supply paths into CT102:

• A path that takes care of constant or slow varying current sourcing / sinking. This is the path where the main power is dissipated - the work horse.
• An extremely fast and wide-band regulator circuit that is not able to handle large constant current but able to source / sink current demands far beyond the audio frequency range.
• A path where a large amount of energy is stored in order to supply extremely large current peaks.

Applications:

• Power supply for the DACT CT-100 Phono Stage module and the DACT CT-101 Line Stage module.
• Power supply for high-end audio electronics circuits requiring ±15VDC or ±20VDC and max. 200 mA supply.
• Power supply for DIY constructions.
• Upgrade existing power supplies.

Key Specifications / Key Features:

• Ready-assembled module, tested, ready for connecting to audio electronic circuits.
• Includes 100-250VAC mains adapter ready for connecting to the mains.
• Output voltage (customer selectable): ±15VDC or ±20VDC.
• Max. output current: 200mA.
• Peak output current: 10A min.
• Output short-circuit protected.
• Output impedance:
  • 0.001 Ohm at 1 kHz.
  • 0.002 Ohm at 20 kHz.
  • 0.006 Ohm at 100 kHz.
• Output noise (IHF A): -126 dB.
• PCB dimensions (L x W): 100 mm x 90 mm (3.54" x 3.94").
• Reduced capacitative coupling to the mains by using filtered switch mode mains adapter.

Example of how the triple parallel regulators "share the load".

The above graph shows an example of how the three supply paths 1-3 supplement each other in practical applications such as supplying power for a high-end audio electronics circuit:
From time 0 until time T1 a constant current is asked for. In this interval supply path 1 handles the demand. Between time T1 and T2 the load requires a current that varies with a high frequency. This current variation is supplied by path 2.

Between T2 and T3 the current is again constant and supplied by path 1. At time T3 there is suddenly a requirement for a large current peak. This will be supplied by path 3. At time T4 the current demand drop below the upper limit of what path 1 is able to supply, and path 1 takes again over and continues to supply until T6. At time T6 a sudden change of the current demand occurs. Although the change is not great, path 2 will assist path 1 because the change happens very fast (high-frequency content).

From T6 until T7 the current is again constant and supplied by path 1. At time T7 a gradual change of the current occurs, but as the change is slow, path 1 is able to follow the demand. Path 1 continues to supply the required current beyond T8.

DACT CT-102 Power Supply Dimensions (approx.)