Hi..its interesting to hear so much about t-amp here. I've a brief introduction by YC with his 2nd t-amp, Sansui CDP and Q-Acoustic speaker. It was superb considering the size and the cost of this lil amp. Anyway, I have order my t-amp from xtorm and would appreciate if you guys could help give some suggestion(s) to mod this lil fella. For me, vocals is much important and therefore after the tt session, anyone can let me know which is the best component/part to mod to achieve the best vocal sounding t-amp? since this thread is too long for me to check, has anyone tried using linear PSU instead of SMPS?

Welcome to the club, cyl1000!
The general concensus is that the stock input caps should be replaced.
If you're into vocals, a Vishay/ERO 2.2uF poly would be excellent! What set of speakers would you be using btw? Get a good bookshelve speakers for this. We've seen this being demonstrated by March's HB2.
Replacement of the SMDs are also recommended.. see/download pdf guide at beginning of this thread.

I was initially running the T-Amp with a linear PSU. My review/findings at earlier pages.. In a nutshell, with linear PSU, the low end definition is excellent. But the SMPS really matches the T-Amp for overall performance in terms of control and dynamics.. more biased towards midranges and an increase in the operating voltage from 12VDC to 13.6VDC which I am running, improves the bass quite a bit, in terms of refined definition, very subtle but definitive. Again this is more to personal preferences, either way, the T-Amp is still a great performer!

Anyone else wanna add?


This post has been edited by jazzy939: Oct 27 2008, 11:53 PM

Wow, the reports with pictures of this afternoon’s t/t session sure come in fast this time around. And it looks like I have missed out a lot.

Cyl1000, welcome aboard.
Did I show you my T-amp at my house? If it is with the attenuator and Vishay/ERO MKT1813 as input caps and without casing, then it must be my 1st T-amp (exactly same configuration as Lai’s unit). My 2nd T-amp with the squarish Vishay MKT1822 as input caps was only completed last Wednesday. I have built it for our first t/t session last Saturday.

For speakers, I've just "adopted" the Epos M5 from YC (hence the brief intro to t-amp) and also a Polk Audio floorstander.

Earlier. there were some discussion bout adding an active preamp for this lil fella...particularly tube based...hmm...is this recommended? remember DIY a tube preamp long time ago and the unit must still be in the store room somewhere...what you guys say...t-amp with "tube" sound or bare naked t-amp sound?

Another thing got me curious. There are some capacitors that you guys mentioned here are not available from Farnell/RS. I know a DIY shop in PJ sell BGs, M-Cap..where else did you guys find them?

Hey guys, its been a pleasure to meet you all eventhough I couldn't stay for long. If not for March05 persuading me at short notice, I'll not know when would be the next opportunity to witness the wonders of your individual T-amps.

I think the attenuator is your passive preamp..right??? Well, thanks for showing me your lovely t-amp..actually i've wanted to attend saturday tt but was tied up with work. maybe in the next session. i'll be waiting for my t-amp to arrive and will definately test out its performance with my setup at home...

btw..yet to get a proper stand for M5. heard that can get customised from a shop in amcorp mall..

Most of us here try to keep our T-amps simple and costs low (with the hope of getting the biggest bang for every Ringgit spent into them), hence we have literally shunned the shop in PJ that you mentioned.

I am not going the pre and power route with my T-amps, hence the attenuator would be part of my 1st T-amp as integrated amp in the Rosewood jewellery casing.

As for speaker stands for m5, do try out The Hifi Shop in 1-U as they are also selling them; I am afraid custom made ones would be expensive. Do look into the used market as well.

bsl,
What is your impression after hearing out the 10W T-amp?

wow another great session i believe! thx jazzy and the host for the invitation but family comes 1st...

is tht wirewolrd eclipse IC?
and are those tweeter on the table , but you sure are pack with hifi stuff in your house

cyl1000, hopefully i get those board this week.

another 15 pieces coming soon. stock up a little this time.

After 3 hours of hard work, finish B1 buffer preamp. Now it SINGS.
Jazzy, i dunno how to make a review, cant do A/B test now. The B1 is now part of the t-amp ald.

For the circuit, refer following site:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/diy/0708/firs...reamplifier.htm

Few things to mention:
Volume pot = 50k dual gang.

I omit the 1M input resistor, LED part also not used, and the R1 at power input.

For the 15000uF caps, i replaced with 1000uF 25V, cant find replacement at midnite.

The 10uF is cheap Elna electrolytic buy from JP, might change to tantulum later.

The 1uF, i use metal film, red in colour, buy from JP.

For the jfet, i use 2N5458 mix 2N5457, simply plug in not matching. I use socket for the jfet for easy changing later.

Power supply is a seperate one 18V regulated using LM7818.

Resistors are 1% metal film except the 220k at the output which is 5%.

I think if changed to better quality parts and match those jfet properly, the sound will be better.

wui,
good work!
how does it sounds? pics?

not sure what is wireworld eclipse IC.

yes, those are tweeters, from Boomtube EX.

pack with hifi?? nah, i have seen others with more!!

cheers,
wps

When i switch off the B1 buffer, i heard thump noise from speakers. Any idea to solve this? i am lazy to build speaker relay circuit

---

Added on October 28, 2008, 12:59 pmI flip through some pages on diyAudio regarding the B1 buffer. Some builders report problem of DC offset at output, i guess thats the cause for the thump noise.

Jazzy, u might need to look into it. Maybe some soft of delay on/off circuit needed like ur speaker relay circuit.

This post has been edited by wui223: Oct 28 2008, 12:59 PM

wui,
Do like what I did when I did not have the relay board. Remove the speaker cables before powering off
BTW, before switching off the buffer, switch off the T-Amp first! Followed by the buffer.

Thump noise can be from the inrush currents/voltages, DC offset also probably.

Yes.. there are few soft start circuits.. just search for it and see whats suitable.. I did but found the relay solution would be more practical in my case.

I can take a look at it.. or ask the sifu. He's closer to your side.

BUT important question; How's the sounds like?

Well, i would say the sound is transparent, no additional colour. No big difference compared to using volume pot alone. Maybe there is difference, but using my current setup and my current ears, it is subtle.

I have a wild idea: Integrate the B1 buffer after a 12AX7 gain stage, make it as a preamp.
I have a guitar preamp circuit which i built long time ago. That is a mono channel preamp, with 2 gain stages.
I think i might remove the 2nd stage and put in the B1 buffer, then clone another channel make it a stereo preamp.

Any thought?

As you said it, it also depends on your setup to realize the difference if there are any at all.
YourT-Amp as it is,is quite well balanced, according to junchoon that is, and I am quite agreeable! Little improvements ay not be apparent at first, give it a few hours and a good intense listening should reveal any improvements or otherwise... remember the Zhaolu DAC D2?

Did you solved or temporarily solved the 'thumping' sound?

Wui, sounds like good idea! How soon can you make this? Errr too much free time before your finals, huh?

This post has been edited by jazzy939: Oct 28 2008, 05:51 PM

Immediately after Saturday’s t/t session in my office, I had enthused that March’s original Heybrook HB2 is one of the best hifi gears ever made by the Brits. Although not as accurate or as neutral sounding as modern day designs, they are certainly more coloured especially in the mids but nicely so to the extent of being extremely musical when driven properly.

The setup which all of us were listening to on Saturday afternoon was certainly less than perfect. I have again set them up this evening and found that they need to fire direct without any degree of toe in. In doing so, the loudspeakers totally disappear leaving behind a spatial sound stage with vocalist and instruments well placed therein from the ideal listening position or sweet spot per se. Scale of music is big, room filling without ever sounding boomy. The sound I was hearing today, not dissimilar to Saturday, has adequate bass weight / foundation to music although British standmount loudspeakers are rarely known to be bass heavy. The slight imperfect sound we were hearing from one of the tweeter and bass driver on Saturday was totally gone once the setup is gotten right and what came out is excellent music which is highly enjoyable. All this from a pair of nearly 3 decades’ old transducers being driven by a mere 10W T-amp with CD playback using a JVC UX-L5000 micro compo.

March, I shall be contacting you shortly to send back your great pair of HB2. I have enjoyed their sound tremendously.



This post has been edited by Y.C.: Oct 29 2008, 10:59 AM

Y.C,
Why the trouble of sending it back, just ask, 'How much'?

Jazzy, March already told me on Saturday that he's not parting with his HB2s.

jazzy bro, you're treading on thin ice!

Y.C. that was a neat compliment on the HB2s. Gracias, bro.

I will continue matching them up with my current TA2022 as I feel this combo delivers a slightly punchier and beefier bass compared to the TA2024, although the pairing does seem to lose out in fine mid range texture. Overall, this appears to be a better balance/compromise to my ears. But I most likely will be picking up a TA2024 to be used as a general purpose portable amp and it should be interesting to do a prolonged A-B between the two T-amps when I have the time.

This post has been edited by March05: Oct 28 2008, 09:16 PM