TPA 3116 listening tour?

murphy11 · « **Reply #40 on:** 14 May 2014, 03:43 am »

I will try to get around to more critical listening in the next few days and post some updates. A few general things so far:

1) Measuring both ONIX A-60MKII and 3116 amp, I can see no major differences in the REW measurements between the 2 amps at 75 db.
2) To get output to approx 75 db, the volume knob of the A-60 is at around 9AM and the 3116 is around 1PM.
3) The 3116 plays no sound at 75db when I switch over to Spotify Premium.
4) I tried turning amp off, volume all the way down and turning volume slowly up and I get sound until approx 11AM then sound cuts out.
5) Second time I tried step 4, I could get volume at about 1PM (probably around 75 db)
6) I'm using Spelz Anticables with spade connectors and the small binding posts on the 3116 are challenging to stay connected with my cables.

Listening at 75 db on the 3116 is very flat, one dimensional and inarticulate. I was basically told by rhing that the ONIX Mini Stratas are probably not a good match for the 3116 and I think he is right but I am going to listen more over the next few days.

I turned the volume on the 3116 down to 9AM which when measured in REW shows approx 55 db. From a listening distance of maybe 4 feet away (I'll measure) the volume is too low for my tastes BUT the amp seems MUCH more articulate and dimensional.

I listened casually to Depeche Mode songs because the mixes seem to have a lot of movement between speakers. Using the A-60 in previous listening sessions, I could have sworn that some sounds were coming from the side or almost behind me. The sense of space seemed like I was using headphones. I don't think I will be able to evaluate the 3116's ability to convey space because the volume will be too low but I will add more thoughts later.

DISCLAIMER: My speakers are a not very efficient 4 way design and are likely not a good match for the 3116 because of the speakers. I am tempted to try to find decent bookshelf speakers and do a test of amps using better suited speakers...

Markvdv · « **Reply #41 on:** 14 May 2014, 05:17 pm »

there are 3 protection modes that require powercycle:

1- over temperature (150+ °C)
2- too high dc offset
3- over current/shortcircuit (7.5amp+)

Markvdv · « **Reply #42 on:** 14 May 2014, 08:15 pm »

did you try without plate-amp?

murphy11 · « **Reply #43 on:** 14 May 2014, 08:57 pm »

Thanks for the feedback. Do you mean unplug or power off the amp on the minis?

Markvdv · « **Reply #44 on:** 14 May 2014, 09:09 pm »

can you play speakers without the plateamp? I wonder about that protection and the BTL output of 3116 connected to another amp

Markvdv · « **Reply #45 on:** 14 May 2014, 09:20 pm »

plateamp is just for sub and believe I read somebody listening to your speakers without

so just the + and min on speaker, lowest ones you see, no connections to plateamp (BTL has hot - and hot +, plateamp might not)

mini is deceiving btw, cool speakers:)

murphy11 · « **Reply #46 on:** 22 May 2014, 07:42 pm »

Hi all,

I've been pretty busy lately and will get around to listening again over the weekend. I will likely be finished by end of next week and could start the tour then. I've received only 1 request to be on the tour so unfortunately the tour could be very short unless more people request being added.

Please PM me if you are interested in listening to this amp and if you are willing to pack and ship it to the next person on the list. I think shipping was approx $16 from NJ to Philadelphia so figure maybe $20 in shipping expense to get onto the tour. I'll bump this thread a few times before the tour starts to generate interest.

murphy11 · « **Reply #47 on:** 22 May 2014, 07:49 pm »

markvdv, just noticed your post about the Mini Strata amp - thanks for the advice. I turned the amp off totally and was still only able to get volume knob to about 9:30 before the amp cut out (protection mode I assume)

I will try a few more ideas over the next week and post results. I believe this is a great amp, it's just hard to confirm because it is not a good match for my speakers and the volume is too low to get great comparisons to my ONIX a-60 MKII amo. More later.

Markvdv · « **Reply #48 on:** 22 May 2014, 08:34 pm »

Quote from: murphy11 on 22 May 2014, 07:49 pm

markvdv, just noticed your post about the Mini Strata amp - thanks for the advice. I turned the amp off totally and was still only able to get volume knob to about 9:30 before the amp cut out (protection mode I assume)

I will try a few more ideas over the next week and post results. I believe this is a great amp, it's just hard to confirm because it is not a good match for my speakers and the volume is too low to get great comparisons to my ONIX a-60 MKII amo. More later.

switching plateamp off is not same as removing connection from - output tpa to black plateamp input (possibly ground)

(BTW what is voltage laptopbrick used?)

murphy11 · « **Reply #49 on:** 22 May 2014, 10:06 pm »

Quote from: Markvdv on 22 May 2014, 08:34 pm

switching plateamp off is not same as removing connection from - output tpa to black plateamp input (possibly ground)

(BTW what is voltage laptopbrick used?)

Hmm, not sure how to make connection as you describe. The TPA is connected to the main mini speaker binding posts pictured exactly like shown in the pic here -> http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_13_4/onix-strata-mini-speakers-12-2006-part-1.html There is a jumper between the main speaker binding posts and the right speaker in which is the top input shown in the pic in the link.

Not sure of the laptop voltage but I disconnected the laptop power supply and run laptop on batteries and the volume still cuts out at 9:30 regardless of whether plate amp is turned on or off.

Markvdv · « **Reply #50 on:** 23 May 2014, 06:16 am »

Sorry, English is not my native language. I am trying to say remove all connections to plateamp, so remove jumper too !!!

Switching off the plateamp keeps the connection by jumper to plateamp black input intact, that black plateamp input might be grounded. In a bridge tied load amplifier like tpa3116 black is not to be connected to ground. I don't know if this makes sense, but I suspect it could, but maybe it should not produce any sound at all if connected to ground??

Maybe another English/American reader better jump in here if not clear what I mean.

I assumed tpa3116 amp was powered by a laptopbrick too, and wondered about tpa3116 powersupply. Unplugging your laptop like you did however could have removed some noise from amp input, so that doesn't seem to play a role here, at least not at this point:)

jagtek · « **Reply #51 on:** 4 Jun 2014, 02:34 am »

Hey there,
I'd like to be included in the listening tour.
I'm located in Beaverton, OR.

murphy11 · « **Reply #52 on:** 4 Jun 2014, 02:46 am »

Please send me a PM with your address.

murphy11 · « **Reply #53 on:** 5 Jun 2014, 10:11 pm »

Thanks again to shadlowlight and rhing for making this tour happen.

As predicted, this amp does not have enough oomph to drive my ONIX mini strata speakers

I could only get the volume to about 55db before the amp cutout so it was hard to compare against my ONIX A60MKII amp which has no problem driving to volumes that make my ears hurt. At least at low volume I got to hear some of what the buzz is about and I'm sure this would be an excellent amp for easy to drive speakers.

I sent the amp to Arkansas today and it should arrive on Wed next week. Currently there is only one more stop in Oregon so if anyone else wants in please send me a PM.

Markvdv · « **Reply #54 on:** 6 Jun 2014, 05:23 am »

Maybe next listener will have a external speakerswitch connected to this bridged amp, can be fun too.

jagtek · « **Reply #55 on:** 12 Jun 2014, 04:52 am »

I just went ahead and broke down and bought an amp board today.
So you can take my name off the amp tour,
If it hasn't shipped yet ?
Thanks, David

murphy11 · « **Reply #56 on:** 12 Jun 2014, 11:02 am »

David,

Thanks for the update - I think you are going to really enjoy your new amp. It should have arrived in Arkansas yesterday and I will take you off the list.

Anyone else interested in listening to the tour amp, please let me know. We can probably get it shipped to you in the next 2 weeks.

murphy11 · « **Reply #57 on:** 12 Jun 2014, 08:12 pm »

Slight problem with the tour amp. I got a PM from the next person on the tour - 'Got the amp but there is a problem. The upper input is loose. No sound is coming from the left speaker. What should I do?'

I was able to get sound from both speakers but I did notice the same thing. I think there is a thin bolt on the outside of the case that I think holds the input tight against the case. Maybe there is another thin bolt inside the case that is loose? Should the person open the case and take a look? It is not my amp so looking for advice from either rhing or shadowlight on what to do next.

rhing · « **Reply #58 on:** 12 Jun 2014, 09:20 pm »

Quote from: murphy11 on 12 Jun 2014, 08:12 pm

Slight problem with the tour amp. I got a PM from the next person on the tour - 'Got the amp but there is a problem. The upper input is loose. No sound is coming from the left speaker. What should I do?'

I was able to get sound from both speakers but I did notice the same thing. I think there is a thin bolt on the outside of the case that I think holds the input tight against the case. Maybe there is another thin bolt inside the case that is loose? Should the person open the case and take a look? It is not my amp so looking for advice from either rhing or shadowlight on what to do next.

Here is a photo of the amp. I'm surprised that the left channel input is loose, but if someone was using a collar-tightened WBT-type RCA connector, that could explain why it worked loose and is probably now detached. There's no way that transporting the amp via normal shipping would cause a connector to get loose. If no signal is coming from the left channel, then the circuit was broken.

Either send the amp back to me for repair, or try repairing the input yourself. PM me if you want to send it back.

murphy11 · « **Reply #59 on:** 13 Jun 2014, 03:06 pm »

thanks for the info! Does opening the case involve simply unscrewing screws? I pm'ed the person who has the amp and maybe we can open case, inspect and take a pic to diagnose before determining next steps.

I did use Kimber Silver Streak WBT cables to connect my laptop to the amp. Maybe connecting/disconnecting somehow damaged the inside of the amp. It's weird though because I had no trouble connect to the inputs - they connected easily. I struggled a little bit with the spade connectors on my Anticables on the speaker terminals but not with the inputs - hmm.