Y.C.,
More T-Amp purchase eh? Would there be another bulk?
I have two spare/unused T-Amp boards.. PM me if interested

Jazzy, many thanks for offer.
The last round, Lai and I wanted 3 pcs of T-amp boards but Xtorm only has 2 pcs to supply so there is a backorder of 1 pc still unfulfilled. If we need more, we would revert to you accordingly. Thanks again.

I have one unused&virgin t-amp board from xtorm to let go too. PM if you are interested.

No problemo Y.C.
Anytime.. BTW, I still owe you some monies..

I was at my old folks’ place during the last weekend. I have a Denon DCD-690 cdp, Denon PM-360 integrated amp driving a pair of 86dB Celestion 7 (sealed boxes) there. After so many years of hardly playing them, I found the sound to be slightly out after their set-up. I’m contemplating selling everything away and build a T-amp (and just make use of a Sharp DVD player) to drive a smaller pair of entry level mini monitors to obtain neater looks, good sound and get back some money in return. If the plan is on with no objection from my old folks, I’ll PM you guys.

Jazzy, that is small issue. When we meet up next time or we actually have the TT t/t session in the Sin City.


This post has been edited by Y.C.: Dec 2 2008, 08:24 PM

Whoa.. more plans brewing!
I think your folks will love the T-Amp! Should be able to drive that Celestion beautifully..
BTW, I have forgotten how a Celestion sounds like. My first pair of speakers was a Celestion Ditton 100, a bookshelf driven by the 3020. Sweet!

Ok.. will wait for your cue

I've just ordered 3pcs from Xtorm last few days
Looks like there will be more t-amp owner out there...

cyl,
by the quantities bulked by xtorm, there are a number out there! They're forum shy I supposed!

My T-Amp has no more progress. I have also stopped at my current buffer pre-amp which to me complements the T-Amp rather well.. whatever leftovers of sharpness/roughness in the sonics has been smoothened by the buffer pre-amp. Its totally so musical now...

Here is an interesting documentary at YouTube on Surface Mount Soldering. With the right tools, it does not look that scary to work on including the TA2024 chip.

nice video, downloaded it...!

due to the simplicity of the amp,there is not much to tweak unless you do something on its peripherals like pre/buffer and a nice casing like yours

I have maxed out the tweaks, thats why!
Unless you're contented with the input caps replacements and the two power caps.. and don't forget the SMDs!.. there's nothing left to do but enjoy the music!

My almost completed 3rd T-amp board (supposed to be with full discrete parts) which would eventually find its way into the casing of my 1st T-amp:


As of now, there are only 2 SMDs remaining on the board: R7 and C5.
R7: 8.2K 1W resistor, the discrete resistor from Farnell is ¼W and I don’t quite trust the JP resistor (I bought both).
C5: 1.0uF capacitor. I’ve yet to figure out the placement of polarity of Panasonic cap for it. No specification from the schematics, this is output from pin 36 of TA2024 chip going to VDD.

The T-amp board with full discrete components doesn’t look too ugly, ya?

Y.C.,
Good job there!
Yep.. look great to me!

Y.C. hows the improvement by changing all to discreet components (and the cost too) , im planning to do the same like you..

Positive cap terminal to Pin 36. Negative terminal to Pin 33.
Hope that helps.

This post has been edited by bsl555: Dec 4 2008, 10:16 PM

Thanks Bsl. I actually soldered the electrolytic cap (C5) with its negative terminal to pin 36 as I thought its other link is to positive side of the 12V DC input by looking at the physical T-amp board. My apology for the incomplete infomation provided.

For info of all, I've fitted the T-amp board with discrete components into the casing of my 1st T-amp in the office after work today. I shall post a picture of it later tonight. As the T-amp board plus all discrete components (apart from my 24-steps 50K discreet attenuator) are brand new and yet to be run-in, I can't really pass a judgment on its sound now but my first impression is a more transparent, more mellow and less clinical sound but slightly softer at the same volume. I thought this T-amp sounds more analogue than my other units. Some of us heard Jazzy's T-amp also replaced with discrete components during our T-amp t/t session and I like it a lot. Cost of discreet components (all from Farnell) used on my T-amp board are as per below. Do note that some of the caps are sold in multiple of 5 or 10.

Vishay Roederstein MKT1813 2.2uF 250V coupling caps (2) - RM14.66
Panasonic FC 470uF 25V electrolytic caps (2) - RM4.82
Vishay BC 0.47uF 63V caps (6) - RM15.84
Vishay BC 0.1uF 63V caps (6) - RM7.02
Vishay BC 1000pF 400V caps (4) - RM2.68
Vishay BC 100pF 50V caps (2) - RM2.58
Panasonic Audio Grade 1uF 50V electrolytic caps (2) - RM1.90
Vishay BC 1% Metal Film 20K ohm resistors (4) - RM1.68
Vishay BC 1% Metal Film 10 ohm resistors (2) - RM0.84
Total: RM52.02

If electrolytic caps are to be used (I myself use Panasonic 1.0uF caps in C5 and C17), please observe their polarity. A better way to mount the resistors on the T-amp board would be to let them stand parallel instead of being horizontal as in my case. I could hardly find enough space to mount them in R9 and R10 so much so that I need to remove the 10ohm resistor after having soldered it properly and in the process accidentally lifted the soldering pad of R9 bottom and ended up having to tap its leg to the blotch of solder below C28 bottom. Please exercise care and do not solder and desolder many times as the soldering pads could come out quite easily. If the power buffer caps are to be replaced, the stock caps should to be removed prior to the soldering in of the discrete components.

This modification is rather 'absurd' as we are putting in discrete components onto the T-amp board meant for SMDs. It took me 6 hours to complete mine but I feel the outcome to changes to sound of the T-amp is totally fantastic, no regrets. Most important of all, at the end of day we are using it to listen to our music. Enjoy.


This post has been edited by Y.C.: Dec 5 2008, 12:47 AM

Y.C.,
Excellent work with details there!
Shall we have another audition/session?

Thanks for the compliment, Jazzy

I would be game for another T-amp session but if possible let us have one towards end of the month if the timing is also okay to most who are looking forward to it.

You're welcome Y.C.!
Sounds good to me Shall we pick a date/venue later?

This post has been edited by jazzy939: Dec 5 2008, 12:57 AM