audio-talk

simon wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:23 pm But, if these cheap boards get you 90% of the way there for a tenner (plus PS) the next 9% might cost 1000+%. And that's the rub for us nutters, sorry, audiophiles.

yeah but no but yeah but....

the chip is £2.14...which may represent 90%........so 1000% gonna be in the region of £23.77....not much to pay for....the trick is in the filtering, so how much to buy a box load of tiddly chokes and caps to play with....so much fun...

I think I'm just messing with the idea......I got to a point and gave up, but I know there were improvements to be had...it's just that vita brevis as usual.

diet: Oh, and the ground plane is quite important so you really need to make a board to get the best out of them...still fun though

andrew Ivimey wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:36 pm Tosca is just so very much better!

...except that it exemplifies the miserable life expectancy of operatic heroines...

sort of 'genre' thing innit.

ed wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 1:01 pm yeah but no but yeah but....

the chip is £2.14...which may represent 90%........so 1000% gonna be in the region of £23.77....

Yeah but no but yeah but...

I can buy a valve for £2.14 (less in the US) but it would probably cost me upwards of £1000 never mind £23.77 to build a very good amp with it. Perhaps. (And even then, it wouldn't be a DHT for £2.14 so it probably wouldn't actually be my "thing".)

There are supposed to be some very good class D amps, but they're upwards of 4 figures. These would probably fit the bill, but DIYing they're E1300+vat

https://www.hypexshop.com/DetailServlet?detailID=7616

The point I was making was that for, say, £20, you can buy an amp that is more than good enough for most people. It's only those of us of a more demanding bent shall we say that that look beyond. But to do better costs a whole lot more.

FWIW, which isn't much, I've heard a couple of NP's F* amps and they're very good. But a very good valve amp showed their weaknesses. But those very good valve amps used things like PX4s. Where do you stop the journey?

simon wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 2:47 pm
FWIW, which isn't much, I've heard a couple of NP's F* amps and they're very good. But a very good valve amp showed their weaknesses. But those very good valve amps used things like PX4s. Where do you stop the journey?

and on that point I think we have to agree to differ

I thought we might . Just my opinion and prejudice Ed.

's'ok we've always got golf

Don't get me started

andrew Ivimey wrote: ↑Mon Jan 29, 2018 1:57 pm sort of 'genre' thing innit.

I've put my el cheapo 3116 chip amp assy back into the main system. Still using the Chinese pre/buffer (Audionote copy is at Nicks being "examined") but it's an awesome combination for the money.

The rejuvenated baffles show off the resulting music very well.

"Audionote copy is at Nicks being "examined"

Its getting closer to the front of the queue...

Nick wrote: ↑Sun Mar 03, 2019 12:27 pm "Audionote copy is at Nicks being "examined"

Its getting closer to the front of the queue...

Thanks Nick.

I filched the 22v toroid off the chip amp, and replaced it with an 18v toroid.

The transformer powers an LT1083 regulator board, and thence to the chip amp. I've not fiddled with the LT1083 adjustment pot, so not sure what volts on it's output, but anything from 12v - 24v on the chip amp input is supposed to be OK.

Playing a Carpenters CD now and it sounds very good. A nice "full" sound with no lack of lower registers.

It will be interesting to see how MoFo compares.

I would check the output to make sure its actually regulating, 18v should produce in the region of 24v, so if the regulator output is near that it may like a bit more headroom. A 1083 is a LDO reg, so it should be alight, but for 30 seconds with a meter its worth checking (IMHO).

I've decided to put the chip amp into a case.

I've now got an ABS instrument case of a suitable size, just need two pints of inspiration to actually get going.

The case is in light grey, as are the front and back panels, but I've decided to make a new front panel in 3mm acrylic in my trademark bright blue.

It's never going to be stylish, but with everything enclosed it will at least be safe.