TPA3110 and TPS3116 amps

lacro · « **on:** 8 Dec 2013, 05:29 pm »

Quote from: wushuliu on 9 Oct 2013, 05:27 am

And the TPA3110 is only $10 at Parts Express and that also sounds incredible (if you can handle low power). The <50w digital amp options are exploding and many of them sound fantastic and they are dirt cheap especially for those with a little solder skill.

Awhile back I tried the PE TPA3110 including the mod you suggested, and felt it indeed sounded very good compared to the Tripath's I have, but I had only tried it with a cheap little laptop for streaming Pandora. My desktop PC based system consists of a Parts Express DTA-100A amp I have have had for a couple years along with some Paradigm Atoms V3 that I previously used for surrounds. The little PC desktop near-field system always sounded good to my ears.

However, the pot in the PE amp started making scratchy noises, so I took it apart to see if I wanted to attempt replacing it. In the mean time I wanted to keep listening to my Pandora stream. So I introduced the little $10, 8W, TPA3110 into my desktop system. Wow!... I can't believe this little amp can sound so much BETTER than the PE DTA-100A that was $100 when I bought it.
I really want to replace the 30W DTA-100A amp (Tripath 2050 board) with this little wonder that is probably only delivering 3-5 watts into my 8 ohm speakers.

Here is my question: The Paradigm speakers are not very efficient, and are listed as requiring 15-80 watts. Am I risking damaging the speakers with this low power amp? My listening levels are moderate as I am only about 3' from the drivers. I don't notice any amp clipping or distortion, just great sound! Thoughts/suggestions appreciated

wushuliu · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 Dec 2013, 05:36 pm »

Quote from: lacro on 8 Dec 2013, 05:29 pm

Awhile back I tried the PE TPA3110 including the mod you suggested, and felt it indeed sounded very good compared to the Tripath's I have, but I had only tried it with a cheap little laptop for streaming Pandora. My desktop PC based system consists of a Parts Express DTA-100A amp I have have had for a couple years along with some Paradigm Atoms V3 that I previously used for surrounds. The little PC desktop near-field system always sounded good to my ears.

However, the pot in the PE amp started making scratchy noises, so I took it apart to see if I wanted to attempt replacing it. In the mean time I wanted to keep listening to my Pandora stream. So I introduced the little $10, 8W, TPA3110 into my desktop system. Wow!... I can't believe this little amp can sound so much BETTER than the PE DTA-100A that was $100 when I bought it.
I really want to replace the 30W DTA-100A amp (Tripath 2050 board) with this little wonder that is probably only delivering 3-5 watts into my 8 ohm speakers.

Here is my question: The Paradigm speakers are not very efficient, and are listed as requiring 15-80 watts. Am I risking damaging the speakers with this low power amp? My listening levels are moderate as I am only about 3' from the drivers. I don't notice any amp clipping or distortion, just great sound! Thoughts/suggestions appreciated

Glad you're enjoying the TPA amp. Slowly but surely they're developing a following. As for your speakers as long as they sound good with no clipping/distortion you're okay. They are not in any danger. If you were in the process of damaging them that would require a lot more power and you would *know* if they were in trouble. With the amp having lower power you are more likely to damage the amp first than the speakers if you pushed it to its limits. At your listening distance you need very little power. So you're fine.

rhing · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 03:52 am »

I have 98dB sensitive Klipsch Forte IIs. I'm trying to determine which TPA31xx amp will produce the best sound quality. I kind of like the idea of using the TPA3110D2 without the output filter, but if the TPA3116D2 or the TPA3122D2 are better amps, I would try one of those. I've been having fun playing with the TDA7297 Class A/B amp, but many people on these Web forums are telling me to give these TI Class D amps a try.

wushuliu · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 04:55 am »

Quote from: rhing on 10 Dec 2013, 03:52 am

I have 98dB sensitive Klipsch Forte IIs. I'm trying to determine which TPA31xx amp will produce the best sound quality. I kind of like the idea of using the TPA3110D2 without the output filter, but if the TPA3116D2 or the TPA3122D2 are better amps, I would try one of those. I've been having fun playing with the TDA7297 Class A/B amp, but many people on these Web forums are telling me to give these TI Class D amps a try.

I and others have found the 3110 to sound just as good as the 3116, just has less power.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 12:03 pm »

Okay, I'm officially totally confused about which T/D class C&C amp kit is best. I'd love to buy one, just one, and drive a normal set of speakers, 89db or so, to small room volumes. And it should be the best sounding chip amp. Which one? Tell me now and no mistakes allowed.

wushuliu · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 05:17 pm »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 10 Dec 2013, 12:03 pm

Okay, I'm officially totally confused about which T/D class C&C amp kit is best. I'd love to buy one, just one, and drive a normal set of speakers, 89db or so, to small room volumes. And it should be the best sounding chip amp. Which one? Tell me now and no mistakes allowed.

Heh. Just go with the TPA 3116. It's the newest and has the most power. Think of it as 80% the performance of the TBI Millenia amp for 1/10th to 1/20th the cost with more power.

Here's the 2.0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TPA3116-ClassD-Amplifier-Board-50W-50W-Filter-Capacitor-2-10000UF-DC18V-24V-/290976210305?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item43bf889d81

The only ones with enclosures are 2.1 with tone controls:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FINISHED-Class-D-AMP-TPA3116-2-1-amplifier-2-50W-100-W-AQ-/400567805660?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item5d43b3a6dc

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 06:07 pm »

Those are some crazy watts for very little money. I want to build one, just for the sake of building one. Looks like fun.

gregfisk · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 08:22 pm »

Quote from: wushuliu on 10 Dec 2013, 05:17 pm

Heh. Just go with the TPA 3116. It's the newest and has the most power. Think of it as 80% the performance of the TBI Millenia amp for 1/10th to 1/20th the cost with more power.

Here's the 2.0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TPA3116-ClassD-Amplifier-Board-50W-50W-Filter-Capacitor-2-10000UF-DC18V-24V-/290976210305?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item43bf889d81

The only ones with enclosures are 2.1 with tone controls:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FINISHED-Class-D-AMP-TPA3116-2-1-amplifier-2-50W-100-W-AQ-/400567805660?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item5d43b3a6dc

This looks like a fun and very inexpensive project. Is there an enclosure that is made for these boards? I see the RCAs and power jack are on the board. Or would you just de-solder and extend with leads?

Edit: After a second look I see the standard TPA3116 doesn't have the RCA soldered to the board, just the volume pot. That's easier to work with.......

Greg

jtwrace · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 10:27 pm »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 10 Dec 2013, 06:07 pm

Those are some crazy watts for very little money. I want to build one, just for the sake of building one. Looks like fun.

Abbie needs that!

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 10:37 pm »

Quote from: jtwrace on 10 Dec 2013, 10:27 pm

Abbie needs that!

You got it Brother. Daddy needs one too.

jtwrace · « **Reply #10 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 10:40 pm »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 10 Dec 2013, 10:37 pm

You got it Brother. Daddy needs one too.

I tell you what.....on behalf of AC I'll buy hers and you can put it under the tree for her from all of us at AC. Then you can truly build them side by side.

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #11 on:** 10 Dec 2013, 10:50 pm »

Wow, dude, you're cool. I greatly appreciate that.

I'll stop you there though, I've giving her an old tuner of mine. That'll not only give her an amp to run the new speakers, but also a switching source for music, tv, and Wii.

Thanks again! You're awesome.
Bob

jtwrace · « **Reply #12 on:** 11 Dec 2013, 01:03 am »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 10 Dec 2013, 10:50 pm

Wow, dude, you're cool. I greatly appreciate that.
I'll stop you there though, I've giving her an old tuner of mine. That'll not only give her an amp to run the new speakers, but also a switching source for music, tv, and Wii.

Thanks again! You're awesome.
Bob

PM me the info and I'll get it going.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #13 on:** 11 Dec 2013, 11:22 am »

Quote from: wushuliu on 10 Dec 2013, 05:17 pm

Heh. Just go with the TPA 3116. It's the newest and has the most power. Think of it as 80% the performance of the TBI Millenia amp for 1/10th to 1/20th the cost with more power.

Here's the 2.0

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TPA3116-ClassD-Amplifier-Board-50W-50W-Filter-Capacitor-2-10000UF-DC18V-24V-/290976210305?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item43bf889d81

The only ones with enclosures are 2.1 with tone controls:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/FINISHED-Class-D-AMP-TPA3116-2-1-amplifier-2-50W-100-W-AQ-/400567805660?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item5d43b3a6dc

Some questions, the prices go from $9.99 yo $19.99 on the plain board including shipping, why the big variation? i.e. am I missing something?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1PC-TPA3116-Class-D-2-50W-Amp-kit-Amplifier-DIY-Assembled-Board-/321271717852?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item4acd495fdc

Why on the finished board do they have tone controls and no balance control, and why the 2.1 config with the 100W sub output? Once again, am I missing something? I understand this config on an 8w desktop system, but on something suppose to compete with the TBI? Of course I answered my own question there, it's suppose to be a desktop system, however I'd love to see this chip with a normal audiophile setup.

PS: If admin could split this topic from the first two posts to a second thread on 3110 and 3116 chip amps that would be great. For some reason I can't split it myself.

Secondly, a request/suggestion that we title these threads including the model # of the chip in order to make some sense of it all. For example "$6 TDA7297 Chip Amp" like rhing did.

ServerAdmin · « **Reply #14 on:** 11 Dec 2013, 12:07 pm »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 11 Dec 2013, 11:22 am

PS: If admin could split this topic from the first two posts to a second thread on 3110 and 3116 chip amps that would be great. For some reason I can't split it myself.

OK

JohnR · « **Reply #15 on:** 11 Dec 2013, 12:18 pm »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 11 Dec 2013, 11:22 am

why ... am I missing something? ... Why ... why ... am I missing something?

I don't think there's supposed to be a rhyme or reason, it's just inexpensive Chinese electronics

This one looks interesting for a little HT system: http://www.ebay.com/itm/YJ-TPA3116-5-1-channel-50W-X6-amplifier-board-/200976025494?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item2ecb1ac796

wushuliu · « **Reply #16 on:** 12 Dec 2013, 07:57 pm »

Quote from: Letitroll98 on 11 Dec 2013, 11:22 am

Some questions, the prices go from $9.99 yo $19.99 on the plain board including shipping, why the big variation? i.e. am I missing something?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1PC-TPA3116-Class-D-2-50W-Amp-kit-Amplifier-DIY-Assembled-Board-/321271717852?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item4acd495fdc

Why on the finished board do they have tone controls and no balance control, and why the 2.1 config with the 100W sub output? Once again, am I missing something? I understand this config on an 8w desktop system, but on something suppose to compete with the TBI? Of course I answered my own question there, it's suppose to be a desktop system, however I'd love to see this chip with a normal audiophile setup.

PS: If admin could split this topic from the first two posts to a second thread on 3110 and 3116 chip amps that would be great. For some reason I can't split it myself.

Secondly, a request/suggestion that we title these threads including the model # of the chip in order to make some sense of it all. For example "$6 TDA7297 Chip Amp" like rhing did.

The 9.99 is an auction, not Buy It Now price. But as JohnR said no you're not missing anything, just different configurations based on the many other types of amp kits that are sold. Just get the 2.0. I don't know why there isn't 2.0 w/ enclosure. They're not competing with the TBI, they're following the threads on this chip at diyaudio so maybe they assume the 2.0 will be modded anyway (they're right) and will sell more as bare pcb (right again).

Buy from a seller with lots of good feedback and you'll be fine.

wushuliu · « **Reply #17 on:** 12 Dec 2013, 08:06 pm »

Be sure to get the RCA input connector if you want plug and play. It is sold separately.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/YJ-5pcs-High-quality-audio-cable-length-35MM-RCA-jack-for-TDA8920-8950-TPA3116-/190891790398?pt=US_Amplifier_Parts_Components&hash=item2c7209903e

I recommend getting the board from this seller as well (zoetsang). Shipping is about 7 days to Cali.

raysracing · « **Reply #18 on:** 12 Dec 2013, 10:45 pm »

are you guys planning on using the volume pot or maxing it and going with a pre-amplifier? I have the much touted Indeed amplifier which I think sounds much better with the volume maxed and put through my Trung Optocoupler pre. Not only is it louder, it has better everything. Everything i care about or can hear I should say.

shadowlight · « **Reply #19 on:** 13 Dec 2013, 01:26 am »

Wushuliu,

What have you tweaked with the amp boards? What was swapped out and replaced