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+--- Thread: efficient amplifier? (/showthread.php?tid=86979)
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efficient amplifier? - scott_fx - 2010-12-06
After testing out the xbmc remote for android I immediately ordered an 8' android tablet as my primary htpc interface device. My current set up is pretty simple. spdif out from the htpc into a dennon receiver. The huge drawback is that i'd like to keep my amp on all the time but I don't want to waste all that power while it's just at idle.
I was researching the t-amp/t-chip products out there and was wondering if anyone has a similar setup and how they are liking it? are there other solutions that others are using with good results?
- jvdb - 2010-12-06
I have several tripath amps, and love all of them.
I've build multiple kits from this company:
http://www.41hz.com
I also own 2 Teac A-L700P 3 channel amplifiers, and my whole-house sound system is powered by a bunch of these:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-385
I don't think you'd have any problems leaving them on all the time, but I would get a really good power supply. I have used close to half a dozen of these meanwell supplies:
http://powersupplyemporium.com/product_info.php?products_id=2035
That is the 25watt version, but you can get that RS series in up to 150watts
http://www.meanwell.com/webnet/search/seriessearch.html
Let me know if you have any other questions.
- scott_fx - 2010-12-06
im feeling lazy and the teac amp was very appealing but i cant find them anywhere.
i'll have to do some tests with my tube amp to see how well a 15 wpc will power my speakres. im not overly concerned because i have a rack amp for the subs.
how is the sq of the dta-2 boards? im not an uber audiophile but i do enjoy good sound.
do you have any experience with the sure boards?
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=320-304
here is a pretty honest review:
http://www.justblair.co.uk/surtrip1.html
think a trial of this board may be in my future.
- jvdb - 2010-12-07
Quote:im feeling lazy and the teac amp was very
appealing but i cant find them anywhere.
I have an extra I'd be willing to sell if you want to go this route. One nice thing about the Teac is that it has a DC trigger to turn itself on and off.
Quote:how is the sq of the dta-2 boards? im not an uber audiophile but i do enjoy good sound.
The dta-2 boards sound great. With a good power supply (like the meanwell) I don't think I could tell a difference between them and the 41Hz AMP32 (to be fair I haven't listened to them side by side), and I think they both sound better than the Teac (probably because the Teac PS isn't as good).
Quote:do you have any experience with the sure boards?
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=320-304
here is a pretty honest review:
http://www.justblair.co.uk/surtrip1.html
think a trial of this board may be in my future.
I haven't heard those Sure boards. His review is good, but I personally prefer higher sensitivity speakers than his Mission 760i (89db) with low power amps.
- jvdb - 2010-12-07
Not to confuse the situation, but one more option:
http://www.sherbourn.com/custom-products/amplifiers/35-sherbourn-lds-2-150b
These are excellent amplifiers and they will turn themselves on/off via 12-volt trigger or music signal sensing circuit.
They cost a lot more than Tripath amplifiers, but I have installed them in systems that have been in continuous use for more than a decade.
- scott_fx - 2010-12-07
thanks for the offer but i'd need two.
my speakers are pretty efficient. i have two def tech bp10 towers for my mains (90db), dayton 8" 3-way inwalls for the rears (91db), and a def tech rcs ii center.... i think it's 90db too.
maybe i'll order one of each to compare. i like the added headroom of the sure boards but i guess it'll come down to what sounds best in real life. the dta-2 boards look great as far as being compact. i could get those into a nice little case... actually i could probably integrate that into my htpc case....
- scott_fx - 2010-12-07
jvdb Wrote:Not to confuse the situation, but one more option:
http://www.sherbourn.com/custom-products/amplifiers/35-sherbourn-lds-2-150b
These are excellent amplifiers and they will turn themselves on/off via 12-volt trigger or music signal sensing circuit.
They cost a lot more than Tripath amplifiers, but I have installed them in systems that have been in continuous use for more than a decade.
i appreciate the input. i'll look into them but im really interested in the tripaths.
i wonder if a computer's psu is too noisy to power that dta-2?
- jvdb - 2010-12-07
scott_fx Wrote:maybe i'll order one of each to compare. i like the added headroom of the sure boards but i guess it'll come down to what sounds best in real life. the dta-2 boards look great as far as being compact. i could get those into a nice little case... actually i could probably integrate that into my htpc case....
You could probably get away with using the htpc psu if you integrate into the case. Please post pics, I'd like to see what you end up doing.
- jvdb - 2010-12-07
scott_fx Wrote:i wonder if a computer's psu is too noisy to power that dta-2?
You'd have to test it out, but I suspect it would be fine. Especially if you have a really high quality PSU.
- scott_fx - 2010-12-07
hmm... i'd have to sheild it from the other electrical noise from the mobo and what not. it'll probably just be easier to use a dedicated case. i have an old rack mount case laying around that i could mod very easily.
one more question about the dta-2. im planning on using onboard volume control. does the module work without the volume pot?
- jvdb - 2010-12-07
scott_fx Wrote:hmm... i'd have to sheild it from the other electrical noise from the mobo and what not. it'll probably just be easier to use a dedicated case. i have an old rack mount case laying around that i could mod very easily.
one more question about the dta-2. im planning on using onboard volume control. does the module work without the volume pot?
I would use a cast aluminum project box either way. Shielding is good regardless.
You don't need the volume pot, in fact I would recommend not using it. You can pull off the white connector shield and desolder the pins where it plugs in, then just solder your source to the side that would be the output from the pot. If you do this you will also have to bridge the power switch pins (the red wires). If that doesn't make sense, I can probably post a picture.
- jvdb - 2010-12-07
The only thing you can't see is the solder bridge for the power switch (it's on the bottom of the board)
Here is an example of the aluminum project boxes I used on another pair of amps.
- scott_fx - 2010-12-07
jvdb Wrote:You'd have to test it out, but I suspect it would be fine. Especially if you have a really high quality PSU.
jvdb Wrote:I would use a cast aluminum project box either way. Shielding is good regardless.
You don't need the volume pot, in fact I would recommend not using it. You can pull off the white connector shield and desolder the pins where it plugs in, then just solder your source to the side that would be the output from the pot. If you do this you will also have to bridge the power switch pins (the red wires). If that doesn't make sense, I can probably post a picture.
totally makes sense. ive dabbled a bit in novice amp building (listening to a homemade headphone tube amp right now). thanks for the assistance.
- scott_fx - 2010-12-07
jvdb Wrote:
The only thing you can't see is the solder bridge for the power switch (it's on the bottom of the board)
oh wow, that psu is a lot smaller then i had imagined. i have a perfect case for this.
- jvdb - 2010-12-07
scott_fx Wrote:oh wow, that psu is a lot smaller then i had imagined. i have a perfect case for this.
Yeah, they are pretty small. This picture is a better reference for size:
Good luck!