Amplifier history

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I think it would be nice to learn about amplifier history (any type).

To start with a topic:

Does anyone know who built the first class D-type amp? Or who were the pioneers and how did the amps look like?

And when was it combined the first time with a weight sparing SMPS?

I enjoy so much small but efficient amplifiers because of their transportability.
 
Well, SMPS makes sense (and the newly adaptive to load variety) when viewed in a large 100 kW! application together with lights, so efficiency is a priority.
Not(e) that a battery operated classD amplifier has some merits compared to a single heater of a tube that absorbs the same current,
About transformers...I do miss the early radios with tandem transistors and interstage/ splitter and load adapter. Also the more powerful variety (class B) with autoformer...
 
To my knowledge, the Sinclair X-10 (1964) was the first class-D amplifier actually sold in stores to general public. Too bad it didn't really worked, it seems. It has been cited several times on this forum, see https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/component-values-sinclair-x10.301469/

The general idea had been floating around since the '30, see the US patent 1874159, and rediscovered on late '50. Searching on old publications I see that general interest only resurfaced by early '60. Wireless world published an introductory article about this thechnology on the february 1963 issue, page 76; the name "class-D" was not yet coined. The follow-on article on april 1965 issue had the class-D name on the title and there is a picture of the prototype.
 

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Sinclair X-10 (1964)

Here's the advert:

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I researched this subject a Long while back and found someone that made a Vacuum Tube Class D amp, on the WEB.
It worked pretty good, it was all documented on the builders page, sorry I don't have those links anymore but maybe it can still be found.
I believe there are also a few projects as such and for sure many ads found on the sinclair X10 in some of the older magazines I found at "World Radio History magazines" in that era of about 1958 to 1964. sorry don't remember........
maybe even earlier.....
found here,

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Radio_Electronics _Master_Page.htm

exactly which one but they are there as I found it one day while I was trying to see what was going on in the electronics world when I got born, and that would be June of 1963 so that would be the place to look as well. 🙂

FWIW. 😉

jer 🙂
P.S. I just found this small discussion on such a device here in this forum, no you got me searchin' for more !! He,he,he


her is a simple schematic on that post above. 🙂
 

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The SONY TA-N88 announced in 1977 and released in 1978 is the first one from a major consumer electronics brand, it had a switching power supply. John Ulrich's SWAMP 1 (for Infinity) was released the year before, in 1976, but it was a niche product. It is likely that special purpose designs may have been built before that.
 
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