Hi all - new to forum - a few misc Q's

[ported]

Hi

Brief story so far - built amp5 (struggled due to old age eyes.. but it worked) - liked it a lot- added DAC and tube buffer - liked even more!! - messed up some wireing blew it up... [:0]tried to swap chip - board must have been screwed - blew up again...[xx(] Tried an alternative pre built 2022 (won't mention source) not on the same planet sonically - tried to mod - blew it up...

Q1 Ihave messed and modified a few variations of T chip boards with no problems - would others say the 2022 is fragile in this area - i.e. they give up easy?

Q2 I am going to have another go at building one [8D] - is amp10 designed to be an inprovement (sonically) on amp5 does anyone know? Did it succeed probably more important? I am torn between trying the 2022 again or buying 2 x amp11 (I have 2x 20v windings to play with). Does the extra current make any difference?

Any thoughts gratefully recieved...

thanks
Ported

[krilli]

I don't know much about the TA2022 amps, like the 5 and 10. As far as I know though, the 10s are basically the same as the 5, plus minus some features -- except the brothers 10 are newer designs, somewhat more refined and easier to build as I understand it.

You're asking about extra current - can you elaborate?

According to the datasheet, the TP2050 and TA3020 chipsets in the Amp4, 11, 7, 15 and Truepath have somewhat better distortion figures than the other chipsets. -- Now I haven't heard a 5 or 10! -- but yeah, I would sort of expect the Amp11 to sound better than the Amp5 / 10. However, if your eyesight was giving you a hard time with the Amp5, the hassle of building the surface mount Amp11 perhaps isn't worth the difference in sound.

Just as a completely off-hand statement: I have always been most interested in the Amp10-BASIC of the TA2022 amps.

Hey, what kind of speakers are you driving? Impedance and efficiency?

edit - Fixed bold tag

[ported]

I have just invested in some helping hands maginifying tools - eye pieces and a decent temp contriolled iron in the hopes I can find a bench arrangement where I can see well (was always short sighted so could inpect very closely - now long and short that option goes away). I am ex studio owner sound engineer - built countless AB amps more than 25 years ago now - last build in that phase was a Lindsley Hood class AB with the mosfet mods - still works but is rough by todays standards.

Consequently the speakers (you will either appreciate or hate) are NS10m's (90db ~ 8ohm) with a sub to cover below 65hz - to my ears extreamly flat and revealing - you can spot a crap recording a mile off. They are also v fast to recover which makes them even more clipped but dynamic with T amps - but this I like - dont want the equipment to fill in if the signal has gone. Even the sub is not ported (the name is more about red wine!!). I have modified 2024 and 2020 boards - both of which drive the yamahas to reasonable volume but the extra dynamics and extension (highs and lows) of amp5 was a very noticable one. It is just my eyes have strayed to the other possibilities - you know how it is... hoping someone has compared the 2 options at some point.

Ported

[krilli]

I'm actually building an Amp15 to use with a mate's NS10s. The building process isn't really well documented enough for me to want to recommend it willy nilly - the amp isn't complex though, but you're really building out of the schematic and BOM. (We're working on it though )

Besides the Amp15, the Amp4 is really a perfect amp for the NS10's. While I'm getting the Amp15 done, the guy I'm building for is borrowing my Amp4. The output filter is tweaked to 8 Ohms, and at around 30V into an Amp4 you'll get a great deal of very transparent and effortless decibels at studio monitoring levels - and a bit beyond that. Check it out and see if you like it.

[Scratchy]

quote:Originally posted by ported


I have modified 2024 and 2020 boards - both of which drive the yamahas to reasonable volume but the extra dynamics and extension (highs and lows) of amp5 was a very noticable one. It is just my eyes have strayed to the other possibilities - you know how it is... hoping someone has compared the 2 options at some point.

Ported

There has been some discussion here regarding the SQ differences between the 2020 & the 2022.
I've played my PSB's with both amps and found the AMP6 to be more open and "magical" compared to the AMP1B. Besides the increased dynamic range, what are your thoughts on the SQ differences between these 2 chips?
I assuming your 2020 was an AMP6 and not one of the cheap Sonic-T-amp knock-offs?

I've also purchased 2 AMP11 (36V) and 1 AMP4 to add to my menagerie.
I just happened to have a few 24VAC toroids sitting around.
I'm expecting these to sound better than the AMP1B - TA2022's.

***It's so easy, everyone should be doing it***

[ported]

Hi


My 2020 and 2024 boards both have mods for input caps and output filters and both have 'magic' as you call it (in fact at dinner party levels 2024 sound the best to me - hyper relaxed and revealing!!). The 2020 is now lead acid battery driven for my sons big B&W DM2 mk II speakers - he is thrilled and plenty of power for most things. The amp5 for me had it all and then some, with considerably wider frequency extensions (both ways - the sparkle would turn the dogs head on many occations) - thicker midrange (vocals were amazing) as well as the dynamics. On both the Yamahas abd the B&W's it was great - many hours frittered away re-listening to music to see what we had missed. The 2022 board I bought assembled was not the same at all - some halmarks but muddled, enclosed, with a definate AB grit about the real highs that were not so extended - would not have said it was the same chip at all!! I replaced the input and output and some close caps and it was a bit better so I was working on inproving the 5v supply when something went wrong and it now just gives off a lot of heat and will not unmute (5v is good though??).

So for me I am beginning to think it is all about the board layout and choice/quality of components. I would hazard a guess that amp5 layout reduces some ringing or somthing allowing the chip to operate efficiently - maybe amp1 design is not so good at that like my 2nd board? I would also emagine that amp6 gets more out of a 2020 than the board I have?? i am beginning to realise how much effort goes into these amp kits and the R&D. i guess that is why I asked if amp10 is more work done after amp5 to keep inputs outputs moduulators etc apart giving even better results?

What I have heard so far has convinced me to try the 2022 one more time but would still be keen to know if amp10 layout is even better than amp5. if all else fails I will go for amp5 again - should know what I am doing by now.

[Scratchy]

Thanks for the detailed reviews. Very enlightening.

http://41hz.com/shop/item.asp?catid=13&itemid=36
AMP10 is, like AMP5, AMP1 and AMP1-B, based on the Tripath TA2022 chip. Like AMP5, the AMP10 board uses hole mount components only. No surface mounts. Maximum continuous output is around 2x100W, 4 ohm, 2x60W, 8 ohm. Bridged mono more than 200W into 8 ohms. The board layout has been optimized to keep switching and current carrying traces, and also feedback, as short and with as small loop areas as possible.


I'd recommend the AMP10 over the AMP5 for this reason.

***It's so easy, everyone should be doing it***

[ported]

Is done - amp10 ordered - thanks for your input all - I will let you know if I manage to avoid the fry up this time...

[ported]

well its built and on the test bed - all tested good first time out - sounding great Iam thrilled - seems more refined than the amp5 - but might just be absence making me fonder. I will leave a few comments on the build in the amp10 section at some point.

time for a glass of port...

[Scratchy]

Wow, that was certainly expedicious.
Great to hear you are happy with this amp.
I'm looking forward to your review.

-=Cheers=-

***It's so easy, everyone should be doing it***