Every component in an audio system is at the mercy of its power supply. The circuits may handle the signal, but the signal itself rides on the back of the power being delivered—in fact, let's say it a little differently. Every signal IS the power supply modulated by the music.
If that supply isn’t stable, quiet, and capable of instantaneous response, the music will suffer—no matter how brilliant the circuit design.
A good power supply must deliver voltage and current on demand. When music calls for a sudden burst—a drum hit, a bass pluck—the supply has to respond instantly. If it hesitates, the result is compression, blunted attack, or a thinning of body. Likewise, ripple or noise riding on the supply voltage can leak directly into the audio path, raising the noise floor and smearing detail.
Linear and switching power supplies each have strengths and weaknesses. Linear designs are often praised for their simplicity, low noise, and superior sound quality—witness the improvements of the PMG Signature preamplifier that are aided in large part because of its revolutionary new power supply topology. Switching supplies, on the other hand, are compact and efficient, but they require careful engineering to avoid injecting high-frequency noise into the signal.
What matters most is execution, not the label.
When power is done right, music feels unrestrained and natural. Dynamics flow, backgrounds are silent, and the system never sounds like it’s straining. When it’s done poorly, everything feels compromised, no matter how good the rest of the design may be.
That’s why power supplies, often hidden out of sight, are among the most important pieces of the audio chain.
