bsl555, thanks a lot.

I've no need for 50 pieces, so what say you if I offer to buy some off you? Boleh? If okay with you, I will pick them up together with the T-amps I ordered after arrival of second shipment. BTW, can I expect second shipment of T-amps sometime next week?

Ya, we all missed you during your absence. This thread needs a moderator and you are the most suitable candidate around!

jazzy,

A very responsible husband and father indeed of you to bring your family out for outing although it may be a short one.

Me? None other than having drilled 2 more holes on the rosewood casing. Now, awaiting to receive my T-amp board and a 50k ohm step attenuator from Hong Kong.

Any further improvement to the sound of your T-amp?

jazzy,

Yes, I fully agree that all of us need a break from the routine once a while and spending time away together improves the bond and love for one another in the family.

As the Alps blue carbon would cost me RM70, I decided to pay slightly more and opt for step attenuator at RM110 instead. It is more expensive than the T-amp in stock form but I may also replace the capacitors and resistors later. I also read about other diy forumers preferring carbon pots of lesser value of 10k ohm / 20k ohm than discrete pots and was hoping I would be able to tweak the sound around to my taste.

Years ago, I built the Audio Note kit 1 amp. I just could not forget the liquid midrange sound of it using a discrete pot which was later lost when I have to replace it with Alps carbon.

jazzy,

You're supposed to be the moderator but as I observe, all questions and comments including those from me are all directed at you and you need to answer them one by one. Hmmm a thankless job indeed. Before I go offline, let me recommend you a great jazz album which I just discovered last weekend - Jane Monheit's Taking A Chance on Love album, her 4th released in 2004, with a duet number of I Won't Dance with Michael Bubble plus a bonus track of Over the Rainbow. Her style is really jazz, very refreshing and she has a powerful voice of a soprano singer. And through my system now with a solid state integrated amp, I'd say her voice sounded so liquid and enchanting! Check it out.

xtorm,

Thank you so much, I will pay for those resistors together with balance of my T-amps.

Second shipment of T-amps arriving Tuesday? Wow, that is tomorrow.

The AN kit 1 stereo amp's output is only 7.5W into 8Ω per channel; I already sold it off many years ago as I listen to my system practically everyday so it would be very costly to maintain 300B valves especially when I am not using any voltage regulator at home. The amp, no doubt excellent sounding in the midrange, is a lil' slow to me who is very much after the PRaT sound. Presently, I'm only using a integrated solid state amp and if that does not deter you to have tt at my house, I welcome you with opened arms.

I only realised her voice sounded so rich and powerful recently. And she looks awesome too.

bsl555 and jazzy939 are sifus with proper technical background. I am nowhere close and only approach music playback on follow my heart basis.




This post has been edited by Y.C.: Aug 25 2008, 10:51 AM

jazzy,

I hope not, else I would be in big problem. I only wanted the T-amp to sound as good or slightly better than the entry-level NAD C315BEE at RM990. Anything more is a bonus to me.

Good to hear of improvement to sonics of T-amps even after 35 hours of running-in.

Will do then, I'll try to be a good host serving you guys with what I feel is good music. Is this coming Saturday a good day, 2 days before commencement of the Puasa month? We could have lunch together at either one of the Malay or Mamak shops in Bukit Jelutong Shah Alam where I live.

By the way, I subscribe to belief of having my system fully warmed up before any critical listening and hence keep my system (CDP, phono stage and amp) permanently powered on.

I don't know whether any tweaks would be done to my yet to receive T-amp by then, so perhaps we may only have to contend to listen to my solid state amp that has liquidity almost close to a valve amp.




This post has been edited by Y.C.: Aug 25 2008, 11:17 PM

I'll just opt for either a SMPS or Wall Wart for simplicity and their clean look (easily hidden away).

When I was chatting with Yeo of diyparadise and even the website itself claimed that Hitachi battery (12V DC 2.5A) is the best sounding battery to be paired with their TA-2020 Charlize T-amp, a phenomena they could not explain. Maybe, just maybe for those of us guys who are keen to use battery could find that it sound best with our T-amps too.

On the proposed gathering, we'll wait for confirmation on who's coming and the time convenient to all.



This post has been edited by Y.C.: Aug 25 2008, 11:33 PM

What? Today still no news of arrival of second shipment of T-amps?

Just pulling your legs, not to worry as we'll wait patiently.

The President of TAFC not attending our first gathering? Mana boleh?

Since many of us have yet to receive our T-amps by now let alone hear it sing nor perform any mods, what say all if we postphone the TAFC get-together till after Hari Raya as it is important for Jazzy to be around will the listening session be meaningful.

xtorm, I don't think the T-amp could drive my SF Concerto Home loudspeakers.

Ya lor, The presence of our TAFC advisor/moderator/T-amp sifu is surely missed if he is not around !

I must say the business acumen of our president is so sharp that he is going after Ijan just after one comment from the latter. He needs also try to convince Gabanyayaya to get one as our friend is unsure of T-amp or Gainclone amp at present moment although I think he is more game to build the latter amp.

xtorm,

Does the T-amp come with any accompanying circuit diagram or sheet stating specification of capacitors, resistors and inductors used on the board?

How do you tell the resistors are 20k ohm?

Where do you buy those yellow-coloured polypylene capacitors for use as input caps?

xtorm,

I've seen your first posting many times but missed out the pdf attachment, found it now. Thanks

What I meant on the yellow-coloured capacitor is, where did you buy the M-cap 50V 2.2uF caps?

gabanyayaya,

I could tell from your postings lately. And I could almost feel the predicament you're in too. Don't rush, take your time to decide carefully.

Personally, I believe GainClone amps are great sounding amps after reading quite a fair bit on Junji Kimura, his 4706 GainCard amp plus his other 47Laboratory products. I don't discount myself trying out a GC diy kit in later years, now that I'm assembling my T-amp with the TA2024 kit.

On the M-cap, would you know the approximate price inclusive of shipping costs? I'd be interested on proviso the price is fairly cheap.

I thought of seeking for a pair of "50V 2.2μF Polypropylene Capacitor" for use as input caps for the T-amp. However, I notice this value is hard to come by after some quick searches at Madisound, Farnell and RS Components. I was also taken aback with pricing of some which are way too expensive for use in a T-amp. Maybe I may have to settle for some audio-grade electrolytic capacitors instead.

I'd think you better count me out in sharing out costs of shipping as I subscribe to KISS strategy too and is not prepared to pay the asking price of 'boutique' capacitors.



This post has been edited by Y.C.: Aug 26 2008, 10:40 PM

Thanks xtorm, I appreciate your comment. However, after studying other T-amps including Charlize, Trends TA10.1 and etc, I observed that most of them stick to this value, so I'll try not to outsmart the people who have experimented and listened extensively to them.

Any 'kangtao' where to get 2.2μF 50V Polypropylene Capacitors cheap cheap?


Those 2.2μF Polypropylene Capacitors from Farnell are actually Capacitor dielectric, I don't think they're suitable for use as input caps.

This post has been edited by Y.C.: Aug 26 2008, 11:01 PM

Sorry jazzy, that's not what I actually meant to say. In my case, since I'm only using one T-amp and not bi-amping using two T-amps, I reckon it's best I stick to the 'norm' set by audio designers of other T-amps. I'm afraid if I were to adopt other value for input capacitors, I might gain some but lose other areas and upset the overall balance. Your choice in value of 2.0μF for treble and 10μF for midrange/bass are appropriate in your context.

I believe price of 2.2μF 50V Polypropylene caps at OE is not going to be inexpensive.


I agree with xtorm that smd resistor were never meant for audio use, its presence on the T-amp kit merely due to price limitation. If we were to look inside ready-made amplifiers, the resistors used therein are those light blue-coloured 1% low noise metal film (with non-magnetic end caps). And if we want our T-amps to sound even better, try using a brand called 'Dale' which are light brown in colour.



This post has been edited by Y.C.: Aug 26 2008, 11:58 PM

bsl555 actually pointed out Nixie Electronics (M) S/B to my enquiry as to where to source for better parts apart from OE. Try their website: Nixie Oops sorry again, that's their e-Card and not a website.



This post has been edited by Y.C.: Aug 27 2008, 12:15 AM

I could only quote from pictures posted since I've yet to receive my T-amps.

I think the 4 inductors are actually magnetic cores and could be replaced with air cores for overall smoothness or alternatively with ferrite cores for more slam and better dynamics. And if we were to de-solder and take out every single smd parts and replace them with 1% metal film resistors and capacitor dielectrics plus replacing both input and psu capacitors with audio grade ones, it's going to cost us quite a tidy sum of money. It's just that I don't know how the sound improvement is going to be like?




This post has been edited by Y.C.: Aug 27 2008, 12:46 AM