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My 4th Class D - 180W Tripath

101.188.34.87

This module comes from hifimediy and is made by Eastern Audio Technologies. It is different to the other three I have built by having higher grade audiophile strength components, e.g. M Caps on the input and heavy duty chokes on the output. The big plus is speaker crowbar protection on the board.
PS is made up of a 500VA tranni, bridge rec. and 15,000uf smoothing cap, snubbed by a 10uf poly further snubbed by a 0.1uf poly. In this build a 2U 19" rack mount enclosure with extra heavy duty insulated speaker binding posts.
Good left and right stereo imaging and extcellent transparency. A little shrill in the upper mid but this should settle in time as the other three I have built (all different amp modules) have done.
| retro-thermionic |

Edits: 04/16/15 04/16/15

Follow Ups:

I preferred my IRS2092 amp to my Tripath - Feanor 08:22:26 04/18/15 (1)
Really nice work, congrats!

I preferred my Class D Audio SDS-258, IRS2092-based amp to my Bel Canto eVo2, and the former was 1/5 the cost.

I love the music of Dmitri Shostakovich
- RE: I preferred my IRS2092 amp to my Tripath - mwhouston 17:55:51 04/18/15 (0)
  Hey, good to hear. I'm using the same chip.
  | retro-thermionic |
That looks excellent! - Dman 08:44:19 04/17/15 (6)
That looks great and I'm hoping you will post your impressions as things burn in further...

Is this the unit you used - Hifimediy T4 mcap ? I'm considering the T3S if I were to do this (a little more grunt for my speakers).

Also, the 4 is out of stock right now... Maybe I can wait. I think you may have just given me a reason to completely DIY my power amp now (I'm copying your list of parts right now!)!

If my Turntable PSU troubles get remedied sooner rather than later (thanks to a few good fellows here and at the Linn Forum), I may be back in the amp search sooner than I thought! One can always hope!

Thanks, and PLEASE keep us posted as to the SQ!
Dman
Analog Junkie
- RE: That looks excellent! - mwhouston 17:36:26 04/17/15 (5)
  Yes is the hifimediy T4 module with the MCaps etc. I'm trying a small Zobel across the speaker binding posts; 2.7ohm and 0.1uf cap. The jury is still out but I think it may have tamed the shrillness these amps cam exhibit with some speakers. It has to do with the impedance curve of your speakers. A dip in the upper treble can cause an extension in some upper frequencies leading to a thrill sound.
  
  At this point it is sounding better and also I now have some decently hours on it.
  | retro-thermionic |
  - Oh yes, one more thing... - Dman 14:24:04 04/18/15 (4)
    If you are into such things as PRaT (Pace Rhythm and Timing), Jump factor and the like, how well does it do?
    
    Sorry to sound so "Linnie" on you, but that kinda matters to my ears as well as everything else a good amp should do...
    
    Cheers,
    Dman
    Analog Junkie
    - RE: Oh yes, one more thing... - mwhouston 17:50:29 04/18/15 (3)
      Having extremely low output impedance means the amps have an iron fist grip on your woofers. Some say this is not always a good thing, woofers need to breath.
      
      Now I'm letting the amp control my 12" poly cone subbies in a 60ltr sealed box there is more bottom weight and a bigger thump factor. Of course how it sounds in my house on my gear is going to be different to yours. Fortunately they are che to build and try.
      | retro-thermionic |
      - Very interesting. - Dman 13:38:01 04/19/15 (2)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Oh yes, one more thing... posted by mwhouston on April 18, 2015 at 17:50:29
        
        I'm seriously considering doing up one as well. I was/am tempted by the company Class D Audio, but with all the DIY blood I have in me, I am leaning towards something like your "4th"!
        
        So it comes down to DIY vs. Class D's SDS-470C... Hmm
        
        Thanks again for your thoughts, comments and general input on this.
        
        Cheers, mate!
        
        Dman
        Analog Junkie
        
        RE: Very interesting. - mwhouston 15:46:02 04/19/15 (1)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Very interesting. posted by Dman on April 19, 2015 at 13:38:01
        
        There is a good chance the T4 will be powering some AU$60K Verity speakers tomorrow. If it happens I'll make a note here.
        
        If nothing else they will be playing some AU$30K Brodmanns.
        | retro-thermionic |
        
        Please do make a note here! - Dman 05:38:02 04/20/15 (0)
        
        In Reply to: RE: Very interesting. posted by mwhouston on April 19, 2015 at 15:46:02
        
        While I make no claims that my speakers will trounce a $60K set (all things being, well whatever, which they never are!), I would be interested to hear if the T4 can hold up in terms of resolution, etc; my speakers seem to have an amazing ability to let one hear a lot (even subtle) changes up stream...
        
        Dman
        Analog Junkie
RE: My 4th Class D - 180W Tripath - AbeCollins 13:00:53 04/16/15 (2)
Very nice work!

One of the best sounding Class D amps that I've heard was based on Tripath. In my case it was the fairly low power Sonic Impact amp that I still have stored away somewhere in the basement.

It didn't play very loud and would start to breakup with my Tannoy Definition D500 speakers but at modest listening levels it was very nice.

Not my Sonic Impact but just like it:
- RE: My 4th Class D - 180W Tripath - mwhouston 16:55:43 04/16/15 (0)
  This is why when others ask what Class D module they should purchase to build an am I always say buy nothing under 100W unit. Only because when these things start to get near their power rating they get very untidy. I have built now, 100W, 500W, 250W amd now 180W versions. All play very loud with no sign of strain. Particularly the 500W which sounds almost limitless in dynamics and power. I have a module to build a 1500W Sure Electronics based amp. But go for minimum 100W module which will deliver about 40W of clean power into 8ohms with no strain.
  | retro-thermionic |
- RE: My 4th Class D - 180W Tripath - Rad21 16:19:21 04/16/15 (0)
  Hey Abe,
  
  I am using the same exact Sonic Impact amp for my computer setup- all from "garage" storage Sonic Impact amp, a pair of Orb Mod 1's and a Parts Express sub with an Audioquest Dragonfly. Sound pretty good for my office.
RE: My 4th Class D - 180W Tripath - fantja 11:09:48 04/16/15 (1)
Excellent pic!
- RE: My 4th Class D - 180W Tripath - mwhouston 16:48:09 04/16/15 (0)
  Thanks.
  | retro-thermionic |

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