Are Toroidal Transformers Better for Audio?

Are Toroidal Transformers Better for Audio?

Whether you’re an audio engineer by trade or a hobbyist, you may already know that toroidal transformers are often used as crucial power supply components in audio equipment because of their high efficiency, low electromagnetic interference (EMI) and compact size. Toroidal transformers are often used to step up or step down the voltage of the AC power supply, which is necessary to power audio equipment such as amplifiers, preamplifiers, stabilizers and equalizers.

The toroidal transformers’ design generally brings higher sound quality without vibrations and more quietly through a unique toroid shape.

Now that we’ve understood why a toroidal transformer would be used in audio equipment, we can look at the alternatives to toroidal transformers to determine if they are better for audio equipment.

Alternatives to Toroidal Transformers in Audio

El Transformers (pictured above) are commonly used in low-cost audio equipment as they are less expensive than toroidal transformers. However, they are bulkier and heavier compared to toroidal transformers, and they have higher magnetic field emissions due to their design.

R-core transformers (pictured above) are also used in some audio equipment as an alternative to toroidal transformers. They have similar efficiency to toroidal transformers but are slightly larger and heavier. However, they are less susceptible to magnetic field interference and cost less than toroidal transformers.

Switching power supplies (pictured above) are becoming more common in audio equipment because of their efficiency and lightweight design. However, they can be more expensive than transformers and introduce more noise into the audio signal.

What Does a Toroidal Transformer Do in an Equalizer and a Stabilizer?

In an audio stabilizer (pictured above), the toroidal transformer is used to regulate the voltage of the AC power supply and to provide isolation between the input and output circuits. The transformer steps up or steps down the voltage of the input power supply as required and then feeds the output to the rest of the stabilizer circuitry.

The toroidal transformer may also filter out unwanted noise or harmonics from the input power supply, which helps reduce noise and distortion in the audio signal. Overall,  using a toroidal transformer in an audio stabilizer helps to ensure a clean and stable power supply for the audio equipment, which can help improve the quality of the audio signal.

Similarly, in an audio equalizer (pictured above), the transformer would step down the voltage from the AC mains to a lower voltage that can be used by the audio circuits.

Another possible use of a toroidal transformer in an audio equalizer is to provide galvanic isolation between the audio signal and the power supply. Galvanic isolation means that there is no direct electrical connection between the audio signal and the power supply, which can help to reduce the amount of noise and interference in the audio signal.

Lastly, a toroidal transformer may be used as a filter choke in an audio equalizer to filter out unwanted noise and reduce the amount of distortion in the sound.

Toroidal Transformers for Audio Equipment

Overall, the choice of a transformer depends on the specific application and requirements of the audio equipment. However, our engineers suggest toroidal transformers for audio equipment due to their many benefits. Amgis toroidal transformers are used daily by many leading sound and audio engineers. Amgis proudly supports the audio industry with custom power supply solutions designed to meet any specifications or requirements.

Amgis Toroidal Transformers for Your Audio Equipment

We provide both custom and standard toroidal transforms to exceed your expectations. Our facility is based in Houston, Texas and is ISO-certified and up-to-date with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards.

Contact Us to request a quote, and we’ll get back to you typically within 48 hours, or reach us at 832-400-5018.