TentLabs Shunt Regulators

Tentlabs shunt regulators are designed to upgrade power supplies of both analog and digital products, mostly found in CD/DVD players, DACs, phono stages and similar audio equipment. Adding these regulators, or replacing a less effective form of regulation, enhances the sound quality in terms of transparency and resolution. Connections are usually easily made. This type of upgrade requires little knowledge of electronics hence is accessible for every enthusiastic audiophile DIY. 

Purpose

These are designed to be applied as an upgrade in analog and digital playback equipment like (SA)CD players, DACs and phono stages. They replace commonly used industrial types of regulators. Having much lower noise, very wide bandwidth and linear output impedance, they’ll bring improvement to sound in terms of: 

• Higher resolution 
• Better transparency 
• Clean low end
• Increased dynamics 

Commonly available voltage regulators were not designed with audio applications in mind.  For example, the very popular 7805 was initially designed as a voltage regulator for digital logic and low micro controllers, without regard for bandwidth or output noise.  Derivatives like 7815 and 7915 are widely used to supply the analogue output stage of CD players.  It’s time for an upgrade! 

Technology

The shunts consist of an active wide band current source to isolate the input from the output. The output is regulated by an active shunt regualtor with both low output noise and wide active bandwidth. For RF frequencies, a Wima capacitor is integrated on the board, which measures 15*35 mm. Using the shunts is also beneficial in terms of additional decoupling: All output electrolytics can be left out! 

Application

Read the Application Note for more information. 

Addiction

Some customers never get enough 

Available Versions

• -15V 
• -5V 
• +3.3V 
• +5V 
• +15V 

Specifications

Electrical 
• Supply input: typically 5 V above output voltage, maximum 10 V above output, to minimise heat. 
• Higher input voltage are allowed when a series resistor is place at the back of the regulator, see application note. 
• Output voltage within +/- 5% of rating 
• Bandwidth (all versions) > 250 kHz 

Output noise • 3.3 versions: < 70 nV/SqrrtHz 
• 5V versions: < 50 nV/SqrrtHz 
• 15V versions: < 120 nV/SqrrtHz 

Output impedance (across whole bandwidth) 
• 3.3 and 5V versions: <10m-ohm 
• 15V versions: <40m-ohm 

Output current 
• 3.3 versions: 100mA 
• 5V versions: 80 mA 
• 15V versions: 25 mA 
All versions are short circuit proof 

Mechanical 
• Size: 15*35*8 mm^3 
• Weight: 5 gram 
• Mounting: 3 pin header 
• Header pitch: 2.54 mm 

Pricing & warranty

All versions € 32.77 each. All shunt regulators come assembled and tested.  They have a full five year warranty, assuming they are mounted and used according to instructions.