T amps, unbuilt or with a case?

raysracing · « **on:** 17 Jan 2013, 02:15 am »

I am wondering what gains if any you get by buying a Tripath amp board or assembled in a case? I have purchased two Sure amplifiers so far and I especially love the smaller 2x15. I use them with my Tekton Lore's. I use them with SLA batteries (12 or 24v) or the Wall warts and just the boards. No banana plugs or on off switches, etc. Why? Because I rarely have expendable income.

I am now contemplating the HLLY Tamp 90 class T amp board for $79 on ebay to replace my Sure amps because of their reputation. My Larger 2x50 watt Sure does not have the imaging and soundstage of its smaller brother and both seem a bit shrill at times and lacking in resolution. Much more power, but seems less refined with no advantages that the extra power should deliver. There is also a light hiss I cannot eliminate. It is always there no matter what I try. But who cares for $15, $24 amps right?

The built HLLY amp is $219. I dont see the advantages if you dont mind a bare amplifier board? I hide mine behind my DAC and Phone Pre and Trung Optocoupler preamplifier. Am I missing anything here?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HLLY-TAMP-90-Class-T-AMP-AMPLIFIER-Tripath-TA2022-chip-/400078768221?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item5d268d885d
TIA,
Ray
--honestly if I could afford it I would buy a Class D kit, but they too are out of my price range for this year.

Folsom · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 Jan 2013, 11:27 pm »

Bypass the volume controller and it'd probably be pretty decent if the diodes in it are decent.

randytsuch · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 Jan 2013, 11:54 pm »

The reasons I can think of for a case

Appearance. Sounds like you don't care. Sometimes a significant part of the cost of a unit goes into the case, and then installing the electronics into a case. When I build stuff, it usually takes longer to do the casework than the actual electronic assembly.

Safety. I guess there is not high voltage on this amp? If there was, then you might have to worry about covering it with an insulator.

EMI. A T amp generates electrical noise which could get into other signals/components. Metal case would act as a shield. You could make a "case" out of aluminum foil, and see if it makes a difference. Al foil makes a very good EMI shield.

Randy

raysracing · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 Jan 2013, 12:14 am »

Interesting about the aluminum foil.

If I max the volume then I wonder if it basically bypasses the volume knob?

I really think I should wait to buy a Virtue or Class D though. But the ability to buy a "better" amp is always tempting for only $79.

As for the cases, well I always plan on buying a case and RCA, banana plugs and finishing the cases. Maybe even a toroidal power supply. Tinker IOW.

wushuliu · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 Jan 2013, 01:48 am »

Quote from: raysracing on 17 Jan 2013, 02:15 am

I am wondering what gains if any you get by buying a Tripath amp board or assembled in a case? I have purchased two Sure amplifiers so far and I especially love the smaller 2x15. I use them with my Tekton Lore's. I use them with SLA batteries (12 or 24v) or the Wall warts and just the boards. No banana plugs or on off switches, etc. Why? Because I rarely have expendable income.

I am now contemplating the HLLY Tamp 90 class T amp board for $79 on ebay to replace my Sure amps because of their reputation. My Larger 2x50 watt Sure does not have the imaging and soundstage of its smaller brother and both seem a bit shrill at times and lacking in resolution. Much more power, but seems less refined with no advantages that the extra power should deliver. There is also a light hiss I cannot eliminate. It is always there no matter what I try. But who cares for $15, $24 amps right?

The built HLLY amp is $219. I dont see the advantages if you dont mind a bare amplifier board? I hide mine behind my DAC and Phone Pre and Trung Optocoupler preamplifier. Am I missing anything here?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HLLY-TAMP-90-Class-T-AMP-AMPLIFIER-Tripath-TA2022-chip-/400078768221?pt=US_Home_Audio_Amplifiers_Preamps&hash=item5d268d885d
TIA,
Ray
--honestly if I could afford it I would buy a Class D kit, but they too are out of my price range for this year.

HLLY is no better than Sure, possibly worse based on previous feedback on their products. If you want high quality Tripath and you can get by without/whip up an enclosure the place to go is hifimediy. They are the standard right now for affordable high quality tripath amps. Sure and HLLY = (not) getting what you paid for...

http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=59

They even have a new low power amp for $25...

wushuliu · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Jan 2013, 01:55 am »

D'uh what am I saying. If you can handle low power, THIS is the amp you want. Yes it is $10 but don't be fooled, it uses a similar lower-powered chip as the TBI Millenia. It is better than the low power tripaths. Seriously. Just a question if it's enough power for the Lores at 8 ohms. Even Sure couldn't mess this one up.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=320-329

raysracing · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 Jan 2013, 04:51 am »

wushuliu this could be a fun $10 experiment. Do you have a specific model from hifimedly you recommend under $100 without a volume control, but rca inputs on the board? I have never heard pof those chips in the hifimedly amps. OK, so this means time to head ot the cave, put on some vinyl and research these new to me chips.

Thanks,
Ray

wushuliu · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 Jan 2013, 07:40 am »

Quote from: raysracing on 19 Jan 2013, 04:51 am

wushuliu this could be a fun $10 experiment. Do you have a specific model from hifimedly you recommend under $100 without a volume control, but rca inputs on the board? I have never heard pof those chips in the hifimedly amps. OK, so this means time to head ot the cave, put on some vinyl and research these new to me chips.

Thanks,
Ray

The Hifimediy amps are mostly using TK2050 Tripath chips, the same as used in Virtue Audio amps and many others. That HLLY uses the TA2022 which is considered by some to be the worst of the tripath lineup. No specific recommendation, just whichever suits your needs in terms of power. They do have one w/o volume pot. I don't think any of them come with rca inputs installed but I think they provide wiring that connects to the board.

http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=50

lacro · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Jan 2013, 03:27 pm »

Quote from: wushuliu on 19 Jan 2013, 01:55 am

D'uh what am I saying. If you can handle low power, THIS is the amp you want. Yes it is $10 but don't be fooled, it uses a similar lower-powered chip as the TBI Millenia. It is better than the low power tripaths. Seriously. Just a question if it's enough power for the Lores at 8 ohms. Even Sure couldn't mess this one up.

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?partnumber=320-329

I tried this sweet sounding little amp. Also, I have a 2024 board and the 2050 PE amp. The $10 amp is the best sounding of the 3.
Wushuliu: Is it safe to connect this amp to my receivers pre-outs so I can use the receiver as a preamp? Is there a voltage or impedance mismatch that will destroy my little amp?

Thanks,
Larry

Poultrygeist · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Jan 2013, 06:24 pm »

This Sure with the Meanwell PS sounds pretty good with a tube preamp.

Poultrygeist · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Jan 2013, 06:33 pm »

I wouldn't want a t-amp without a case. The on board RCAs are a joke and will break off sooner than later. Wood is a good choice for t-amps as they use a floating ground.

Folsom · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Jan 2013, 07:22 pm »

Quote from: wushuliu on 19 Jan 2013, 07:40 am

The Hifimediy amps are mostly using TK2050 Tripath chips, the same as used in Virtue Audio amps and many others. That HLLY uses the TA2022 which is considered by some to be the worst of the tripath lineup. No specific recommendation, just whichever suits your needs in terms of power. They do have one w/o volume pot. I don't think any of them come with rca inputs installed but I think they provide wiring that connects to the board.

http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=50

Those look fantastic, thanks for the heads up.

Poultrygeist · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Jan 2013, 10:26 pm »

I have a Topping TP-21 , Dayton DTA-100, but the Sure sounds the best. They all cost about the same.

MLS · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Jan 2013, 01:42 am »

Which Sure? The 3110? I have the 2050.

Poultrygeist · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Jan 2013, 01:55 am »

TK2050 and Meanwell PS

raysracing · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Jan 2013, 03:07 am »

I was about to audition an Adcom amp this week from a local Craig's list (as well as order the 8 watt Sure amp), but of course my thermostat goes tonight on my minivan. Ho hum....glad I like my Sure's.

I also tweaked my speaker position again on my Lore's and the soundstage just grew from a dot between the speakers to extending past the widths of my walls. Maybe it wasn't the amp after all? Room treatment/placement is so critical (and free).

Ray

Poultrygeist · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Jan 2013, 11:12 am »

Ray,

For the price of the Hlly you can buy a APPJ Miniwatt N3 EL84 which will give better resolution. It's 3.5 watts is plenty for the Lores. I have the original Miniwatt S1 ( 2.5 watts ) and driving efficient speakers ( like my Tektons ) I prefer it over any of my t-amps.

pslate · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Jan 2013, 02:24 pm »

The HLLY amp has some serious problems, at least it did for me. A lot, I mean a lot of radio frequency interference. Also it crapped out. I think I still have the case somewhere. It did sound warm though, and while lacking the clarity of the Dayton TK2050 amp, the TA2022 might be just the ticket to warm up a harsh or shrill sound. I would just look for an alternate implementation to the HLLY/Topping.

penguinpaul · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 Jan 2013, 07:42 pm »

If you get one without a case, and use it without any casing, What about the legs of the filtering capacitors? They terminate on the bottom, and (on mine there are 4x 15,000uF caps) that could hold a bit of juice! Wouldn't really want to touch the bottom of them..?

Noseyears · « **Reply #19 on:** 24 Jan 2013, 11:54 pm »

Quote from: pslate on 23 Jan 2013, 02:24 pm

The HLLY amp has some serious problems, at least it did for me. A lot, I mean a lot of radio frequency interference. Also it crapped out.

You're not the only one. They are the WORST ever made amps, lots of hissing. I ended up returning one a few years ago.