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Post by dsjr on Jul 11, 2019 16:49:33 GMT
Much talk here regarding that cute little sub £20 TPA3116 amp and according to a Youtube test, the measurements aren't too bad at all if it's not pushed.
Main criticism of the common Breeze Audio version 'family' is that if pushed, the heatsink gets very hot indeed, the supply caps on one side have in the past been total cack and if used with a 24V DC supply, they can blow their tops off (current ones I believe use higher voltage types - 35V - so should be ok even with the cheap Chinese knock-off caps often used). There are also a number of electrolytics right next to the heatsink (different quantities depending on the picture) and these can get baked to death if the amp is thrashed.
Thing is, on HFS, Nick G linked to another version which is twice the price (still forty quid) but looks potentially better laid out, input buffer? and surface mount components too and with larger heatsink (I think the inductors are underneath) -
Anyone any idea what the performance difference might be? Maybe not the kind of things audiophile wet dreams are made of, but a hint at the future of mainstream audio I suspect, especially now smps units are apparently cleaner in and out than they used to be...
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 11, 2019 16:57:03 GMT
I use mine with either 18v or 19v but it doesn’t get hot, just barely warm. For a 2nd system there appears to be no point in spending more unless you listen very loud and have insensitive speakers. Even the one you mention at £40 is silly cheap. I’m glad Geoff highlighted it because he’s someone I listen to.
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Post by dsjr on Jul 11, 2019 17:11:54 GMT
Which one did you buy?
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Bigman80
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 11, 2019 17:15:45 GMT
The Breeze Audio one. It was about £17. Beat the Claymore to my ears, murdered a Rega Brio,
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 11, 2019 17:18:05 GMT
I wonder if they are moddable? Better caps? Better PSU? Better pot? Not a lot else to mess with.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2019 17:48:57 GMT
Three months ago I was driving my Tannoys with Class A valve monoblocks. These have now gone and when I'm not running a Quad 306, I'm using the TPA3116, which I think may have the edge. It certainly sounded more alive than the Quad 707, which has now also gone. I certainly don't find any lack of power.
Martin is currently borrowing one of the two TPA3116 amps I bought and seems to like it.
I'm buying parts for a higher power version, just need a few more bits and I'll have it assembled.
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Post by dsjr on Jul 11, 2019 18:36:59 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2019 18:41:46 GMT
And this which I've linked to before:
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Post by dsjr on Jul 11, 2019 19:33:47 GMT
Thanks  See, nice to know that objectively, this version is a fine little amp if you're not silly with it! Later ones do seem to have the higher rated supply caps (taller and slightly fatter). |
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Post by macca on Jul 11, 2019 20:26:38 GMT
Sort of corresponds to what I hear with this thing. Poor SNR means it sounds a little bit bland, high distortion in the top end means it doesn't quite manage a realistic representation of cymbals and other percussion. I'm speculating ofc and comparing to the very best. For the money it's crazy good. But I couldn't live with it as my full time amplification. And it looks a bit crap too. |
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Post by dsjr on Jul 12, 2019 17:55:53 GMT
What are you driving with it though? It's designed for desktop systems really an dif not pushed, I 'm sure it drives Tannoys and similar easy-ish loads just fine to medium levels but no real current output for more complex stuff I suspect. You never get owt for nowt in this world and even with Class D, to get the best costs a bit once cased up and so on.
For twenty quid, better than a Mini T type and a wonderful introduction and foretaste to the future?
D
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 12, 2019 21:39:20 GMT
I’m driving DIY Cubettes. Mine are a bit more efficient than the NVA ones, but it’s not like my last T amp, which was gutless. This wee baby is no less gutsy than cLaymore or Brio. I still need to try it in my main System but I’ve juts never been motivated to unplug my Sonneteer kit,
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2019 21:48:13 GMT
At the moment, mine's happily driving my little Ruark Swordsman Plus speakers and sounding very decent.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2019 22:44:16 GMT
If this chip amp does it for you then good for you. Saved a lot of money and real estate. I ought to try one out. I won't be ashamed to say it how it is. There is no guru status to destroy, i am just an amateur after all.
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Post by macca on Jul 13, 2019 8:02:01 GMT
What are you driving with it though? It's designed for desktop systems really an dif not pushed, I 'm sure it drives Tannoys and similar easy-ish loads just fine to medium levels but no real current output for more complex stuff I suspect. D I'm using it on my big JM Labs. Yes, if you crank it then it clips but it will do a respectable volume before that happens. It's not so good if asked to do deep, powerful bass but with most music it's fine. |
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Post by Bigman80 on Jul 13, 2019 9:45:13 GMT
What are you driving with it though? It's designed for desktop systems really an dif not pushed, I 'm sure it drives Tannoys and similar easy-ish loads just fine to medium levels but no real current output for more complex stuff I suspect. D I'm using it on my big JM Labs. Yes, if you crank it then it clips but it will do a respectable volume before that happens. It's not so good if asked to do deep, powerful bass but with most music it's fine. We have pretty divergent needs from our kit, if we both see merit on this wee thing, it must have merit. It really makes me wonder what you will be able to do with chip amps in the future. Like DSJR I can on,y see them getting better. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 9:50:54 GMT
I'm using it on my big JM Labs. Yes, if you crank it then it clips but it will do a respectable volume before that happens. It's not so good if asked to do deep, powerful bass but with most music it's fine. We have pretty divergent needs from our kit, if we both see merit on this wee thing, it must have merit. It really makes me wonder what you will be able to do with chip amps in the future. Like DSJR I can on,y see them getting better. It's obviously not the ultimate amp, but how much would you need to spend on a conventional new amplifier to find something as pleasant to listen to? And it does sound nice.........well, to me anyway!  |
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Post by dsjr on Jul 13, 2019 9:57:49 GMT
I'm surprised it works at all really. The lower powered Mini-T fell apart at anything over very modest levels into decent sized speakers although a pal of mine uses one in his 'study' as background music when working from home and he loves it.
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Post by dsjr on Jul 13, 2019 10:09:13 GMT
Class D is maturing very well indeed now (Hypex and Bruno Putzeys' new venture - Purefi?) and if the Kii Three integrated active speakers I heard briefly yesterday are anything to go by, they're as sweet as can be if needed.
I'm effin' hooked on these Kii speakers for smaller rooms* and monitoring environments and would love to hear more. They had the controller as 'preamp' and a Melco streaming/integrated source. Bloomin' lovely, clear and almost sweet, totally unstrained at low and medium volumes and price cheap in comparison with the brutish Kudos Titan 707 driven by many tens of grands worth of Naim I heard in this room earlier in the week (complete system was over £100K). For larger rooms, there's add-on bass modules which flesh it all out a bit for larger rooms and full-on rock-n-roll..
Apologies. This tech will come down in price from the top and certainly now, I think that 'subjective' impressions of the more powerful stuff is irrelevant as the best of these just seem to amplify what goes in to them with no attitude or altering...
I'm going to have to try one of these baby amps at some point, aren't I?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 10:17:36 GMT
Class D is maturing very well indeed now (Hypex and Bruno Putzeys' new venture - Purefi?) and if the Kii Three integrated active speakers I heard briefly yesterday are anything to go by, they're as sweet as can be if needed. I'm effin' hooked on these Kii speakers for smaller rooms* and monitoring environments and would love to hear more. They had the controller as 'preamp' and a Melco streaming/integrated source. Bloomin' lovely, clear and almost sweet, totally unstrained at low and medium volumes and price cheap in comparison with the brutish Kudos Titan 707 driven by many tens of grands worth of Naim I heard in this room earlier in the week (complete system was over £100K). For larger rooms, there's add-on bass modules which flesh it all out a bit for larger rooms and full-on rock-n-roll.. Apologies. This tech will come down in price from the top and certainly now, I think that 'subjective' impressions of the more powerful stuff is irrelevant as the best of these just seem to amplify what goes in to them with no attitude or altering... I'm going to have to try one of these baby amps at some point, aren't I?Dave, you are welcome to borrow the one I've lent to Martin once he's finished with it. |
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Post by dsjr on Jul 13, 2019 11:18:17 GMT
Thanks muchly for offer. I'm amped out right now and skint as usual, so can't justify buying one for myself as things I buy here tend to fall into a black hole when I should be selling them - cough...
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Post by macca on Jul 13, 2019 11:43:58 GMT
Class D is maturing very well indeed now (Hypex and Bruno Putzeys' new venture - Purefi?) and if the Kii Three integrated active speakers I heard briefly yesterday We need a full write up Dave. They interest me a lot and I missed hearing them at Cranage last year somehow. |
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Post by macca on Jul 13, 2019 11:45:02 GMT
Class D is maturing very well indeed now (Hypex and Bruno Putzeys' new venture - Purefi?) and if the Kii Three integrated active speakers I heard briefly yesterday are anything to go by, they're as sweet as can be if needed. I'm effin' hooked on these Kii speakers for smaller rooms* and monitoring environments and would love to hear more. They had the controller as 'preamp' and a Melco streaming/integrated source. Bloomin' lovely, clear and almost sweet, totally unstrained at low and medium volumes and price cheap in comparison with the brutish Kudos Titan 707 driven by many tens of grands worth of Naim I heard in this room earlier in the week (complete system was over £100K). For larger rooms, there's add-on bass modules which flesh it all out a bit for larger rooms and full-on rock-n-roll.. Apologies. This tech will come down in price from the top and certainly now, I think that 'subjective' impressions of the more powerful stuff is irrelevant as the best of these just seem to amplify what goes in to them with no attitude or altering... I'm going to have to try one of these baby amps at some point, aren't I?Dave, you are welcome to borrow the one I've lent to Martin once he's finished with it. I can post it on to Dave when he's ready for it. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 12:05:58 GMT
Dave, you are welcome to borrow the one I've lent to Martin once he's finished with it. I can post it on to Dave when he's ready for it. Doesn't look like Dave is in a position to use it at the moment. |
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Post by dsjr on Jul 13, 2019 12:09:40 GMT
I have two stereo's set up right now, although for obvious reasons  the 'workroom/office' one doesn't get much of a look-in into loudspeakers these days but it's used once a week for headphone listening. |
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Post by macca on Jul 13, 2019 12:13:21 GMT
Send me your address and I'll send it on to you next week. Krell is still in the shop but I'm going to put my HK930 into the system instead of the chip amp just for a change so it's no problem.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 13:22:40 GMT
Sounds like they could be good candidates for DIY active speakers
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2019 13:35:45 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2019 19:05:40 GMT
My little TPA amp has arrived and has been hooked up.
Bad start, the volume knob fell off lol
Anyway, gonna leave it running in the garage for a few hours before having a proper listen but initially, very promising although there is a touch of harshness in the HF.
Hopefully it'll smooth out a touch after a few hours.
Also, i haven't got my own speaker cables in as the connections don't match.
Interesting.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2019 19:14:37 GMT
My little TPA amp has arrived and has been hooked up. Bad start, the volume knob fell off lol Anyway, gonna leave it running in the garage for a few hours before having a proper listen but initially, very promising although there is a touch of harshness in the HF. Hopefully it'll smooth out a touch after a few hours. Also, i haven't got my own speaker cables in as the connections don't match. Interesting. No harshness on the ones I have, the opposite really. Could be your cables. My Tannoys are very revealing of any crudity or top end grittiness. |
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the 'workroom/office' one doesn't get much of a look-in into loudspeakers these days but it's used once a week for headphone listening.