wah how much u got those!!!

must be damn big cos mine 50v 1000uf edi damn big

huhu...wanna know ah? pay lah!

sad, no time to mod the amp lately...just listening

This post has been edited by ongbs: Aug 15 2008, 01:41 AM

I finally got to open the package and assembled my T-Amp!
xtorm, your packing was excellent, thanx! Items arrived undamaged.

I have a 0-30VDC 3A bench power supply so powering the T-Amp is a cinch
Managed to listen for about 2 hours last nite!
Source was a SONY DVD Player connected to a YAMAHA pre-amp. Speakers are TDL's RTL3 Transmission Line speakers.
My speakers are rated 90dB at 1m for 1 watt.

This is my 2 hours of listening impression:

1. Upper frequencies from midrange and up; very accurate, vivid and detailed. I could picked up instruments so vividly. Vocals is the area where this T-Amp really shines, infact they are superb! I took out Diana Krall CD. She was singing and playing the piano right infront of me! In fact it made my reference amp sounds a bit 'smeared' in this department.
2. Low frequencies are all there: tight, but somewhat shy although well controlled. Probably due needing further burn in, the lower extension just wasn't there. Kick drums wasn't kicking enough, bass were generally without any 'weight'and 'attack'..I am a bass head and my speakers are definite bass heavy. I guess in a 'normal' setup, the T-amp may sound a 'lil bit bright.
3. Soundstage, depth and ambience were all there, solid and precise. All this from a 'RM55'?
4. I managed to add a 10uF cap to the existing input cap.. this somewhat improved the low end extension, need further listening and burn in!
5. I tested it and it handled from 21.5 Hz to 16kHz pretty well, just like my Technics! I did tried 20kHz, too bad, I just can't hear that high!

Initial conclusions:
1. For RM55 amp, this thing is hard to beat! This would be THE best Bang per Buck amp! Will give amps costings 100X over a run for the money!. I was comparing the T-Amp with my audiophile's Technics amplifier and a 40 W/ch DIY amp.
2. In it's stock configuration, very suitable for vocals and orchestral music, live recordings too! wow!
3. After 2 hours I can already detect improvements, so further listening and burn in is on the way! This is what weekend is for I guess
4. Will I sell off my Technics? Nope! There are reasons why it costs many many times over!
5. Since I have 2 boards, I may go into bi-amping...
6. Do we need 100W RMS/ch amp to drive a set of hifi speaker? Not if you're using this baby!

Sorry guys, no pics yet. Was terribly busy pulling out all my fav CDs..

This post has been edited by jazzy939: Aug 15 2008, 08:18 AM

Finally, I don't feel so alone anymore. The LYN T-amp club is now swinging!

oh man you review is supperb!!!

yea the bass is tight but it cant go low, probably bcos of its low wattage, 2.2uf cap is recomended as input cap, put in the best you can afford, tht make the most different, and be surprise as everything get wider and better also some good low esr cap at the power rail, im ordering 3300uf panasonic fm, gona make it 6600uf each side, the output filter (the coil and a cap) also make as much different as the input cap, but inductor is hard to source, make some good 1 for me jazzy? i dont have inductance meter

btw out of the box the sound will be abit edgy in the high, but it depends on speaker too..input cap solve tht problem easily

i told my friend tht this fella beats my old setup in my car he totally dont believe it, i was using a 2k++ amp b4 with same electronic crossover and speaker, the only different is the car, i dont think the car alone make so much different to the sound. and i was using blaupunkt 2nd to top of the line HU vs my current mp3 player tro handphone

thts my initial tot, and i haven even mod my tweeter amp yet, gona compare it with my cheaper but equally good USAmp (comparing to my rm2k++ amp) tis weekend if i can resist my self spending the time moding the amp

---

Added on August 15, 2008, 9:48 ambro they are coming

2nd shipment coming, doing the tt today

This post has been edited by xtorm: Aug 15 2008, 09:48 AM

xtorm,
the pleasure is mine! thank you for 'bulk'ing it

yes, the input caps does affect the sound. I did 'play' around with it last night. More experimentation to come!
you reckon 6600uF will do the trick? I may have to consider that too. I'll wait for your further input on this!
the output filter, what is your direction? I have in hand a few ferrite rings that was meant for some other project but was put on hold, I guess it's the time now to utilised it!
What values of inductance (uH) are we dealing with? I could make one, well two in this case for one board! Just furnish me with the values, ya? Refer attached pic if that is what you/we can use?
You sure this thing is useable in the car?
anyway, keep us posted with your mods ya? pics if possible.. I will too as soon as I am done playing around with the input caps and output filters.
I have to decide whether to use a linear PSU or switched mode. I also have a DIN55 battery at home. May use that to see any worthwhile sonic improvement running on a car battery!
I finally have the opportunity to test out my DIY preamp with T-Amp. Will do that this weekend.
Wait till you guys see the casing that I am saving for the completed integrated T-Amp...

Bro march,
WE brothers will not let any brother alone in the audio world!
Any plans for your T-Amp?

This post has been edited by jazzy939: Aug 15 2008, 11:08 AM


Attached thumbnail(s)

yea more is beter for power rail, those 220uf is recomended to change to better unit same value, and leave the 6600uf away nvrmind cos its kinda big

the inductors are 10uh, low resistance and low capacitance will be great, eh you need 4ler for each board

smps sounded the best from what i see online

mine is runing in my car fine! sounding very good too

oh ya, four per board! price wise, no big deal!
ok, 10 uH. Will do that next.. hmm so much thing to ler !

If thats the case, will give smps a shot. i have a few computer's psu laying around.. 12V at 16A may do wonders!
BTW, I was running the PSU at 12.6VDC last nite. The TA2024 chip is just warm to the touch. I am impressed!



This post has been edited by jazzy939: Aug 15 2008, 11:24 AM

voltage wise..

13.8 for more power!! hahaha

and put some metal around those inductor and ground it, shielding make quite a difference i heard, gona do tht tomolo

This post has been edited by xtorm: Aug 15 2008, 11:28 AM

13.8? I might give that a shot!
yes.. while I was testing/experimenting with the input caps, I noticed a little hum when i got close to the input caps and the inductor area (output filter).. If we were to enclose the whole board and ground it, it will be much better?

This post has been edited by jazzy939: Aug 15 2008, 11:37 AM

A honest and excellent write-up, jazzy939.

The shy low frequencies of Sonic Impact T Amp also using Tripath TA-2024 chip was also mentioned in a TNT review on Trends 10.1 amp of which its author pointed to as attributes of "how the circuit was designed around chip" and "quality and value of capacitors and resistors used". See article here. To seek better bass, we may need to experiment with better caps of different value.

Thanks Y.C. The pleasure is mine!
Experiencing the sonic performance is nothing like reading the reviews! Although 6moons and tnt-audio have a good write up, I was initially sceptical on the audio performance of the little 'thing'.. Hearing is believing, they say, now I know!

Yes, a lot has been mentioned on the caps, resistors and inductors alike.
As good as it is in it's stock configuration, what I like about this 'kit' is that there are still room for some 'tweaking' to further fine tune the audio to your liking.. A DIY enthusiast 'lil toy made in heaven..
Thank you for the link, will share/update my findings in this thread...


This post has been edited by jazzy939: Aug 15 2008, 02:34 PM

Well said, jazzy939.

I too have placed my order for the Class T amp from xtorm and is eagerly awaiting for their arrival. In my excitement, I poisoned 2 friends around me and shall have company in assembling our amps into their casings with the connectors required.

Will need to go parts hunting in JP / Octave Electronics during the weekend. BTW, do you think I could find Neutrik RCA connectors or others with equivalent quality for RM6.50 each or cheaper there? And, would a 50k ohm pot be a better choice for this kit amp than one with 100k ohm?

This post has been edited by Y.C.: Aug 15 2008, 03:11 PM

bro jazzy,

Damn...you really wrote a good and detail review of the TA2024
I dunno how to write such review but really like the SQ of T-Amp
Some more I dun have as many "ka chang" as you

What is your speaker configuration? (size of driver)
My T-amp pairing my Yamaha bookshelf (BS) 1xtweeter plus 1x6.5" woofer /ch, but the Yamaha 6.5" drivers been replaced with Mission M3 driver, refer here:
http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=766126&hl=

The soundstage, mid and vocal is outstanding Just the bass not that "kick ass" type, maybe due to the smaller speaker enclosure box.
I am another bass head like you

I tested this amp with Yamaha floor standing speaker (FS), 2x8" woofer, 1x8" Mid + 1 tweeter per channel (just afraid T-Amp not powerful enough to drive FS)
Surprisingly it drives my FS speakers well, if I turn up volume till 80% at night sure will get complaint from my neighbour
Bass is much more improved compare to BS speakers, but the bass is kinda "soft", maybe due to the low power (15W?) output of this amp.
Even driving FS for 30min the TA2024 still can be touched with hand...around 45C I guess....damn nice.
AVG current draw at 50% volume with FS still less than 200mA!

bro, please wind another 4 coils for me can? Like for xstorm bro one, he really recom me to replace the coils...pm me the cost, thx!

This post has been edited by ongbs: Aug 15 2008, 03:48 PM

Wow.. you must have been a good salesman eh, selling items which you yourself don't have!!

I have NOT seen Neutrik RCAs in JP, they might have them but I never need them (yet). I normally got mine, a normal gold plated RCAs from NIXIE Electronics. I know one shop, at the end of the road after the traffic light heading towards Kg. Pandan. They have 'Neutrik' connectors there.. the one that I saw and bought was an audio jack for my headphones.. I'd say the best bet would be a 50K log pot.
As I am turning the T-Amp into a pure power amplifier, I have a separate preamplifier to drive it.

Btw, when will the stuffs be coming?


This post has been edited by jazzy939: Aug 15 2008, 04:12 PM

yea when i read the article i was like...hmm wtf, for real or not?
yes is pretty fun to play with TA10.1 basically same with our board, same evealuation board...

hopefully the item reach within 10days, previously around 8 days or so only, my suplier mention he might send it on monday. sending tomolo the stuff will be left in the office till monday, which serve no point

yea probably bcos of the wattage, but it got kickmah...no meh, no deep basslah...
haha those neutrik fake ah
saw some mondter RCA b4, the design totally look alike

Bass got lah..actually bass too loud with my FS, need to reduce a bit my bass setting.
I mean those "kick heart" bass feeling lah!
Normally with only get this "kick heart" feeling with higher output power amp.

Thanks bro ong
It was a pleasure writing it as much as auditioning the little marvel..

My speakers have two 7 inch bass drivers per unit.
Initially, on my preamp, the volume setting was around 10 to 11 o'clock positions.. at the end of the two hour sessions, the level I need is just at 9 o'clock. Any higher, I think my neighbours might be knocking on my door! It's hard to believe that it can be that loud!

I'll make the coils first and see how it performs, then I make some to you guys. Noproblemo!

jazzy how's your power supply configuration???? I mean how does the power supply circuit looks like? I though T-amp uses 12V PSU???? and did you snubbed it or what ever you could call it????

After much reading I have decided to go with a DC power supply using SLA or in my case, a DIN55 battery.
Have not done any sonic evaluation on this but I believe, the performance will be many times over a linear PSU. This is to the fact that there will be more than ample current from the battery to cater for transients requirement. No doubt, a linear PSU is able to do this but at a higher cost(better high quality circuits).
On top of that, it will be the cheapest way to power up the T-Amp...



This post has been edited by jazzy939: Aug 16 2008, 06:48 AM