TPA 3116 vs the tripaths
- Thread starter Poultrygeist
- Start date
Finally opened this thread as you guys are relentless and now I'm a TPA3116 project person. Building a portable player for sandbar use powered by 2 - 12V sealed 7Ahr batteries. Source to be MP3/Flac file player and speaks are some Sony component auto speakers I bought for truck long time ago that don't fit due to too large woofer magnet. Should be a lot more power and SQ than any boom boxes that I've had that only lasted 2 seasons at best in past. If I like it enough might buy another amp for home outdoor system project.(bit more hifi)
Thanks guys for leading me to a nice project.
Thanks guys for leading me to a nice project.
phalanger
Active Member
Promised earlier to post more about removed RCA terminal. Well, since it's gone and signal wires are soldered to the preamplifier board directly no more 'pops, cracks' in speakers. New, better and higher value inductors helped a lot as well, better DC power caps too! What a relief... phew
Have also improved power connection for the board with that metal sockets, but for the truth it was PITA, so small pins and hole not wide enough for the cable, it took me more than an hour to fix it.
@dlh2, Welcome to the party and post the news, hope you will be luckier with that RCA plugs. :thmbsp:
@davidflas, congratulations! my first build out of nothing too, although I was doing a lot of mods to my other gear previously. This thingy makes it even more interesting to play with, almost feel like a kido in the Lego land
Which inductors did you use to replace the stock ones?
Jadran
Off The Record
dlh2
Active Member
Got her done....she works & sounds great! Thanks to PG for this fascinating thread and to others for your encouragement and tips! Needless to say, my build is not in the same league as some of the others I've seen here, but it was FUN!
After double checking all my wiring, I plugged it into my garage system in place of the Lepai 2020A I've been using. Immediately sounded better. Gonna pop a cold one and do some listening and try to figure out what I'm hearing differently. I'm using the 12V,3A wallwart that came with the Lepai now, but will search thru my junk for a more robust PS. I'm driving some 8" Cervin Vega's mounted on each side of the garage door up near the ceiling. FYI, I'm not experiencing any audible turn on/off pop like I did with the Lepai?????
After double checking all my wiring, I plugged it into my garage system in place of the Lepai 2020A I've been using. Immediately sounded better. Gonna pop a cold one and do some listening and try to figure out what I'm hearing differently. I'm using the 12V,3A wallwart that came with the Lepai now, but will search thru my junk for a more robust PS. I'm driving some 8" Cervin Vega's mounted on each side of the garage door up near the ceiling. FYI, I'm not experiencing any audible turn on/off pop like I did with the Lepai?????
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Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
Great job dlh2.
JDinkelman
New Member
Hi guys!
I found out about the TPA3116 on diyaudio (where I am also a member) but got a headache from the thread. For me, there was too much emphasis on what was wrong about all of the boards and the tweaking potential. Of course, I can't blame a diy forum for that but it goes a little above my head. This thread here brought everything back in perspective and helped me pull the trigger on two red boards (one for me and one for a friendly neighbour who helped me build some speakers).
I got a red board + RCA connector from YJ and have been listening to it for a few days and I am truly amazed by the sound. It's in my living room set up and still a bare PCB with wires connected to it. It's driving my home made Tabaq full range speakers.
I have it running on the 12V 5A power supply that came with a TA2020 T-amp and it sounds a lot better than the T-amp at any volume. I also tried a 12V linear supply but could not notice a significant difference (I only A/B-ed for a few minutes).
It's still running as a bare PCB but I have parts on the way to build a complete amp (with integrated 15V 5A power supply which can be turned up to 16,5V).
It's hard to believe that such a small board plays my 10kg Pioneer A-A6-J class out of the living room but it literally did.
Anyway, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread.
I found out about the TPA3116 on diyaudio (where I am also a member) but got a headache from the thread. For me, there was too much emphasis on what was wrong about all of the boards and the tweaking potential. Of course, I can't blame a diy forum for that but it goes a little above my head. This thread here brought everything back in perspective and helped me pull the trigger on two red boards (one for me and one for a friendly neighbour who helped me build some speakers).
I got a red board + RCA connector from YJ and have been listening to it for a few days and I am truly amazed by the sound. It's in my living room set up and still a bare PCB with wires connected to it. It's driving my home made Tabaq full range speakers.
I have it running on the 12V 5A power supply that came with a TA2020 T-amp and it sounds a lot better than the T-amp at any volume. I also tried a 12V linear supply but could not notice a significant difference (I only A/B-ed for a few minutes).
It's still running as a bare PCB but I have parts on the way to build a complete amp (with integrated 15V 5A power supply which can be turned up to 16,5V).
It's hard to believe that such a small board plays my 10kg Pioneer A-A6-J class out of the living room but it literally did.
Anyway, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread.
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
JD, welcome to AK and what a great topic on which to make your first post.
While we have many technically gifted contributors who offer a wealth of information on modifications, it shouldn't imply that the stock boards are not excellent in standard form. But few of us are good at "leaving well enough alone".
While we have many technically gifted contributors who offer a wealth of information on modifications, it shouldn't imply that the stock boards are not excellent in standard form. But few of us are good at "leaving well enough alone".
Jadran
Off The Record
That red board - what is the value of volume pot.? I suppose it's 20K? Can't find that info on the sale listings.
@JDinkelman, your post appeared here just after mine on DIY forum, that first sentence I think says a lot regarding (way too much) mods over a tinny thing that by default works just about - right, and leads to exaggerating on too many levels. But the first I think is to squeeze the pockets and drop too much money on it, while there are also other things in the chain that need attention, if not some more money as well?!
cheers :thmbsp:
@JDinkelman,
your post appeared here just after mine on DIY forum, that first sentence I think says a lot regarding (way too much) mods over a tinny thing that by default works just about - right, and leads to exaggerating on too many levels. But the first I think is to squeeze the pockets and drop too much money on it, while there are also other things in the chain that need attention, if not some more money as well?!cheers :thmbsp:
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There are actually not a lot of mods. What does seem to occur is Chinese producers once succesfull start replacing parts with inferior parts. At first if someone mentions this he is attacked by others, it isn't true. Then more start posting about bad sound from precviously good pcb's, some even have the same, old and new pcb's that differ. Again posters that only have 1 start defending, sometimes even the worst amps. Then slowly acceptance comes, ampboards delivered have become bad. This is something to keep in mind, especially if you do not want to replace bad parts.
lacro
Active Member
I think you hit the nail on head:scratch2: I have 3 blue/black boards from 3 different suppliers. They all have different brand components. Also, what quality control is there in these "no-name" Chinese factories.
At this price point, they probably let everything ship! One persons receives a board that has no on/off pop, and another gets one that has it? Some boards hum/hiss or ring, others don't? Cheaper parts swap or even counterfeit parts used?
I think it's a crap shoot whether one gets a good board of lousy one.
Also, we all have different mains power quality, power supplies, sources, and speakers. It stands to reason, things will probably sound different in different systems
lacro
Active Member
I posted this on Audio Circle, and thought it might be helpful here too.
Received this yesterday from Sure (12 days to eastern US). It's a 15W version of the TPA3110D2. However, when powered with my Astron PS at 13.8V, and low distortion, it's probably only 5-8W (see specs in link below). I had it up and running 5 minutes after it hit the door. Sure uses good packaging.
It seems to have plenty of power to drive low efficiency speakers. The sound stage is huge, there is noticeably more information/detail in the music (over YJ Blue), plenty of bass, and very good separation of instruments, but it's slightly on the bright side. I don't hear any hum. hiss, or ringing yet. I think this board probably sounds better than the stock YJ blue/black board. I paired it with my 6N3 3-Tube preamp and it sounds even better. I requested a schematic from Sure, but don't know if they will comply.
I need to do a lot more listening/comparing with the my modded YJ blue board. The board is loaded with SMD's so probably not much in modding possibilities, at least not for me. The build quality is typical of Sure, everything is pretty straight, true, and the board is super clean. Oh...no turn on/off pop! This just might be a good choice for those not wanting to do mods.
Here's some close-ups of the board, maybe you guys can critique the layout, good/bad?
http://store.sure-electronics.com/audio/audio-amplifier-board/low-power-100w/aa-ab32996
Received this yesterday from Sure (12 days to eastern US). It's a 15W version of the TPA3110D2. However, when powered with my Astron PS at 13.8V, and low distortion, it's probably only 5-8W (see specs in link below). I had it up and running 5 minutes after it hit the door. Sure uses good packaging.
It seems to have plenty of power to drive low efficiency speakers. The sound stage is huge, there is noticeably more information/detail in the music (over YJ Blue), plenty of bass, and very good separation of instruments, but it's slightly on the bright side. I don't hear any hum. hiss, or ringing yet. I think this board probably sounds better than the stock YJ blue/black board. I paired it with my 6N3 3-Tube preamp and it sounds even better. I requested a schematic from Sure, but don't know if they will comply.
I need to do a lot more listening/comparing with the my modded YJ blue board. The board is loaded with SMD's so probably not much in modding possibilities, at least not for me. The build quality is typical of Sure, everything is pretty straight, true, and the board is super clean. Oh...no turn on/off pop! This just might be a good choice for those not wanting to do mods.
Here's some close-ups of the board, maybe you guys can critique the layout, good/bad?
http://store.sure-electronics.com/audio/audio-amplifier-board/low-power-100w/aa-ab32996
Jadran
Off The Record
I think it's the nail too but in the wrong coffin
First of all this is not the thread about mods per se!
But I've learned so far that natgear pal likes to jump and mostly criticize others posts only, and not contributing to the thread much with his own set-ups, modifications, experiences, images (too complicated?!), and now even starts to criticize Chinese for selling low quality parts with the boards that costs ... well, how much?... two coffees at the bar in downtown Amsterdam or London, 3 cups in Croatian Dubrovnik perhaps? (if lucky to get good quality coffee, of course).
Endless modifications on the boards like these is nonsense, and that was my point and the point of the post I was responding to. Someone might spend days and bag of dollars for the better components; caps, inductors, whatever, and ends nowhere, or find out that it was all wasted time, or there is new configuration that just came out so will jump to grab that one, and so on and on and on...
and when (and if) such boards are fixed, who knows what PSU we have, what components are in there?! Never ending story.
But however, there is always that ultimate solution - to find a decent piece of gear that costs a little fortune and make yourself happy, for about a year or two :scratch2:
So what is the point at the end of the day? To listen some music? Yes, but what kind of music, what quality of the media? Not all vinyl is perfect, mostly far from perfection. CD's, SACD's, FLAC, Mp3,.. what?
But it's always easier to blame someone, in this case Chinese - for selling us audio products for the price of two coffees, that we complain are NOT HI-END! WOW
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lacro
Active Member
:beer:
WOW INDEED...If you want to rant about another Audio Karma member (natgear), please don't do it in my post!!
I was responding to what I saw as a legitimate issue raised by natgear, not all these boards are created equal, even if they look the same. If I inadvertently jumped into an ongoing dispute, I apologize...
I am trying to make a contribution by letting others know that just because your board doesn't perform as others claim, it may actually be because it's sub-par compared to other suppliers. They are not all the same or did they come from the same place!
As you state, endless mods are nonsense...maybe. Actually I didn't say anything about mods, but I will now. I disagree to a point. Personally I enjoy trying to make better sound, learning as I go. It's a hobby to me, cost has NO bearing whatsoever. Simple mods have dramatically increased the SQ of these boards for me. It's fun, an accomplishment, etc.
The ultimate solution may be to buy a high end piece of gear, but I don't think that's why we are all in this thread, it's about making a low end piece sound like high end.. The point is all about listening to music, and making it sound better by trying different things, to me anyway. No complaints about the boards not being HIGH END coming from me.
As for Chinese quality, it's the same everywhere, some good some bad! The whole world lives daily with quality Chinese products. However, there are shady sellers all over the internet. My last blue board is a good example.
It sounded bad out of the cheap envelope it came in. That's OK because I will use it to try different new mods, again it's my hobby..However, I just want others to know that in the case of the blue board, they are not all the same, which was the point of MY ORIGINAL POST..
WOW INDEED...If you want to rant about another Audio Karma member (natgear), please don't do it in my post!!
I was responding to what I saw as a legitimate issue raised by natgear, not all these boards are created equal, even if they look the same. If I inadvertently jumped into an ongoing dispute, I apologize...
I am trying to make a contribution by letting others know that just because your board doesn't perform as others claim, it may actually be because it's sub-par compared to other suppliers. They are not all the same or did they come from the same place!
As you state, endless mods are nonsense...maybe. Actually I didn't say anything about mods, but I will now. I disagree to a point. Personally I enjoy trying to make better sound, learning as I go. It's a hobby to me, cost has NO bearing whatsoever. Simple mods have dramatically increased the SQ of these boards for me. It's fun, an accomplishment, etc.
The ultimate solution may be to buy a high end piece of gear, but I don't think that's why we are all in this thread, it's about making a low end piece sound like high end.. The point is all about listening to music, and making it sound better by trying different things, to me anyway. No complaints about the boards not being HIGH END coming from me.
As for Chinese quality, it's the same everywhere, some good some bad! The whole world lives daily with quality Chinese products. However, there are shady sellers all over the internet. My last blue board is a good example.
It sounded bad out of the cheap envelope it came in. That's OK because I will use it to try different new mods, again it's my hobby..However, I just want others to know that in the case of the blue board, they are not all the same, which was the point of MY ORIGINAL POST..
Poultrygeist
Lunatic Member
larco,
Do you consider your new 15w Sure 3110 a significant improvement over your original 3110?
Do you consider your new 15w Sure 3110 a significant improvement over your original 3110?
Jadran
Off The Record
Half time - Ger 0-0 Arg
3 boards: black, green, blue
That's enough for me. Those who want and like to test all available boards on the market are free to do. But the rule is always the same - buy from reliable seller, from official one is the best, then complain if not what was expected. Usually such stuff costs more, no wonder.
For YJ black the right place should be Yuang Jing site, of course. For green one Audiobah, so far the only one producer-seller.
For the rest, I'm not going to 'rant' about anybody, but will react to the posts that I'm not agree with, or to the posts that are trying to teach me about the stories I've already learned, quite well.
Cheers
Game continues .....
3 boards: black, green, blue
That's enough for me. Those who want and like to test all available boards on the market are free to do. But the rule is always the same - buy from reliable seller, from official one is the best, then complain if not what was expected. Usually such stuff costs more, no wonder.
For YJ black the right place should be Yuang Jing site, of course. For green one Audiobah, so far the only one producer-seller.
For the rest, I'm not going to 'rant' about anybody, but will react to the posts that I'm not agree with, or to the posts that are trying to teach me about the stories I've already learned, quite well.
Cheers
Game continues .....
JDinkelman
New Member
I can not find any value printed on mine but I can not see the back of the pot very well as it is hooked up in my system and it took me about 40 minutes to connect the (slightly too thick and short) speaker cables. At the first attempts, I was seeing too much bare wire to confidently power it.
I hope you forgive me for not disconnecting it just now.
lacro
Active Member
I do need to listen a lot more, but right now, I feel the 15W version sounds better than the stock 3110 orginal, and probably the stock 3116 Blue board, at least with the tube preamp. I have always thought the 3110 sounded as good as the 3116, just less power. This new 15W board is like the 3110, but on steroids.
After listening all day, it has settled in nicely. The brightness has lessened, but that may be the preamp.
So far I like the sound, and for the price from a reliable/quality supplier, it's probably worth considering especially for those wanting plug-n-play, as it has RCA jacks, and power input jack. BTW/ this board is twice the size of the original 3110. It's wider than the Blue, but a bit shorter.
No on/off pop
Radfordman
Super Member
I am considering one of these amps, as it will be left on all day and consume very little power.
But, how will it cope with my loudspeaker load, which is unusual, as the speaker has an auto-transformer on it's input?
The speaker is the Rogers, BBC designed LS3/6, crossover diag. attached.
But, how will it cope with my loudspeaker load, which is unusual, as the speaker has an auto-transformer on it's input?
The speaker is the Rogers, BBC designed LS3/6, crossover diag. attached.
