New Paul Hynes SR5 Power Supply

[Paul Hynes]

Hi folks,

Following comments made by Giant Haystacks I feel it would be a good thing to explain why he made these comments as I think he was only acting in good faith.

I used to run a limited company called Paul Hynes Design Ltd. The company manufactured a range of specialist valve amplification products and some voltage regulator modules. During spring 2002 the company experienced cash flow problems and I felt there was a need for additional capital investment to help the cash flow and allow additional staff to help with the business. I proceeded to look for the required funding. The company bank would not extend further credit and after failing to achieve this through normal business funding via other banks I looked for equity investors. An old friend said he would be able to assist with substantial funding. I duly prepared a revised business plan then called a directors meeting (there were 4 including myself) together with my financier friend. The meeting went well and an in principal offer of funding was agreed. Unfortunately a week later this offer was withdrawn, as my friend required the funds for another project urgently. It had taken three months of hard work looking for the funding and during this time the cash flow position was worsening until it had reached the point that the company had no cash reserve left and could not pay ongoing financial commitments. Technically the company had become insolvent. I had to call an emergency director’s meeting to either resolve the situation, or cease trading. This was required because it is against the law for a company to continue trading when insolvent, and there are serious penalties for company executives who break this law. As it happened none of the directors were in a position to cover the outstanding liabilities of the company so there was no alternative but to cease trading and the company was eventually “struck off” the Companies House register in 2003. This was not a happy time for all concerned. All the directors lost their original capital investment and creditors had to write off any money owed as there were no useful assets in the company. I was also suddenly out of a job with no money, equipment or assets and was unable to complete some private custom projects I had taken on during the previous year.

Shortly after this time my mother, who was permanently disabled reached the point where she could no longer look after herself on her own and rather than see her condemned to a National Health Service care home she came to live with my family and I became her full time carer until she died in 2007. We (my family) were planning on moving to the Hebrides to finish renovating my mother’s house with disabled facilities for her and even though she didn’t make it, we decided to continue with the relocation anyway as all the plans were in place.

I, and several associates, run consultancy services to the trade, but as this income is sporadic I introduced and promote a number of power supply related products to the audio market, as audio power supply design is my speciality. This now forms a reasonable portion of business activity. The business is run very lean with regard to overheads to ensure it never suffers the fate of the original Limited Company. The business does not have any debts and especially NO bank funding. I will never ever trust banks again. Everything is paid for up front. I have no intention of facing a liquidity problem ever again.

Businesses fail all the time, often just through circumstances beyond anyone’s control, especially in the current financial climate. Hell, even some of the big boys have gone down over the last few years.

So Giant Haystacks I can understand your concern and your wish to issue a warning because of what happened back in 2002. I can assure you I have no intention of going through that again. Several of you good people on the forum have jumped to my defence and for this I thank you. I felt it would be remiss of me not to explain the circumstances surrounding these historical events Giant Haystacks refers to. I am not proud of what happened but I did do everything I could to refinance and reorganise the Company. As it happened time was not on my side and it nearly took me down with it. You can judge me accordingly.

Regards
Paul

[Spectral Morn]

Thank you Paul for your honesty and telling us about a period in your life that must have been very difficult.


Regards D S D L

[anthonyTD]

hi paul,
i think you have been very forth coming and open with your explanation, its never good when customers lose money when a company goes under, but unfortunetly it happens and with the way things are currently going we may witness a few more going down before long!
A...

[purite audio]

Paul is an absolutely top bloke.
Super products superb service.

[MartinT]

Thank you Paul. I'm very glad that's cleared up.

[DSJR]

Very decent and honest. Thanks for sharing.

I think this is the way audio is going to go, with small but financially secure firms selling primarily online and by word of mouth. Hopefully there won't be room for big egos here - I had enough of that in the eighties, and I was as much to blame back then...

[leo]

Been away for a week and just reading missed threads/posts.
I have to agree with the last few replies, a very honest and decent post!
Pauls one of the good guys and been nothing but helpful to me and to the diy community. we have some excellent trade members on here that contribute a lot to the forum and its members

[Strosek]

Paul, may I ask why you feel that a 4 or 5 amp power supply is best suited when the Technics draw well under 1 amp? Also are you using shunt regulation in your PS? Just curious

Thanks!

[Ammonite Audio]

Paul, may I ask why you feel that a 4 or 5 amp power supply is best suited when the Technics draw well under 1 amp? ........

I don't think Paul has stated such a thing, but I have in relation to my Kenwood DD turntable (see http://theartofsound.net/forum/showp...4&postcount=18 ). Whatever the current requirement of the deck (and the technics, for that matter), overspeccing the power supply with the SR5 does make a remarkable difference to musicality over the smaller SR3, itself a very good device. Not a difference to pitch stability, startup time etc - it's about how the thing plays music: the "feel" of the music. There must be a technical explanation for this and maybe Paul will chip in with some thoughts.

[Paul Hynes]

Thanks for the support guys.

Hi Strosek,

A simple analogy may help here. Compare an average family saloon car with a Bugatti Veyron. The Veyron has a larger engine. Both will go from 0 to 70 MPH but the Veyron will get you there quickly and effortlessly. If you never drive a Veyron you will not miss it but if you do ever get the chance, going back to a family saloon would be disappointing.

The SR5 uses a larger transformer and a larger heavier duty output stage than the SR3. When supplying the Techie the SR5 has an easier time than the SR3, as it is barely idling, and it can source whatever transient current the Techie motor requires regardless of the platter load. As Shuggie has found this translates into a better musical presentation.

The discrete component regulator circuit topology used in the SR3 and the SR5 is a proprietary series regulator design optimised for wide bandwidth, low noise, low output impedance, fast transient response, fast settling time and wide band supply line interference rejection. A shunt regulated supply for the Techie would require much heavier thermal engineering as the regulator current would have to be set high enough to provide any transient current requirements of the load. This means very large heatsinks, larger case, larger transformer, and consequently much higher cost both for initial purchase and for running costs.

I hope this helps.

Regards
Paul