T amps vs. gainclones

[Dxvideo]

Hi all,

May be this question has been asked a lot of times.
However, I need your experiments more than the others.

- I have never listened a Class T amp until now, but I read a lot of good reviews about them.
- But I've listened a lot of gainclones (but not with audio grade components) made of me.

Now I need an ultimate amplifier for my living room and my Wharfedale Diamond 9.6s..

The question is:

Should I make another gainclone but with dual mono design and audio grade components?

Or should I buy a 41Hz kit (especially Amp10 or Amp4)?

What do you say as your experiences?

[Andrewbee]

built a dual mono inverted gainclone with "good" parts about 4 years ago and enjoyed it. About 2 years ago I bought a "Charlize" kit from diyparadise. I much prefered the Charlize, it just sounded better to me.

I wanted more of the Charlize sound so bought 2 Amp5 kits from 41HZ and did a dual mono amp. Very similar to Charlize but of course more power although I think Charlize may be a bit more resolving. Overall however I prefer the Amp 5 and it is bone stock whereas the Charlize has aircore output inductors and "fancy" input caps and is powered by an SMPS now. I tried a battery with Charlize originally but it lacks the dynamics I find with an active power supply.

I have since built a Truepath form 41HZ but have not completed it, waiting on ancillary components.

I have also built several tube amps PP and SET with a host of different tubes and topologies and AB SS amps.

By and large, I prefer the Tripath amps. The only amp I have that to my ears is in the league of the Tripath amps is a Transcendent SE OTL that I built and that only has 1.5W/channel.

I have since been flirting with the idea of a higher powered OTL but have not done so yet


So that is all in my opinion, yours may very well be different

[Dxvideo]

Of course, its all about ear taste! However, there should be a comparison by the meaning of other things than the technical definitions. Like; airy, boomy, articulation, ambience, detail etc...
In fact I dont like the LM3886 and LM4780 s sound, they have not detailed sounds. But I like the LM4702 + lateral MOSFET s.. I cannot identify the sound of it. However its better than the others.
However, I am seeking a better sound. Last months I made a SE headphone amplifier with OPA134 + IRF510.. Its a quick and dirty work. But the sound is unbelievable. I have a Philips 805 and a Ultrasone DJ1 headphones. With both of them, the result is uncomparable with the speakers. So I cannot listen from speakers anymore.
In my future plans, I will make a tube amplifier. However its too early for that.
Now I need an amplifier as best as possible and with an acceptable cost of course.
And Amp4 looks me very strong alternative for now. In other hand, I have a lot of components for a LM3875 gainclone.

May you make a comparison with dual mono gainclone and Charlize by the meaning of channel seperation pls? Because I plan to but one Amp4 for stereo config. And I will use it with native components.

Thx.

[BWRX]

Originally posted by Dxvideo
I have a lot of components for a LM3875 gainclone.

I would suggest building a dual mono instrumentation amp with a couple of LM4562s and LM3875s. Have a look at this thread for some schematics of how I've done it: Instrumentation Gainclone

It's a little more complicated than a plain gainclone circuit but will give you more of the sound you are looking for. I've been listening to my pair for months now and really enjoy how they sound. I'm also very fond of the low power class d sound.

[ssmith]

I've a 2020 t-amp board modded with boutique components.
I''ve also built an LM3875 gainclone, using standard components.

I found the 2020 amp to be dazzling at first, but it hasn't been a long-term love affair. There is something about the Gainclone that is just a bit more involving. That's not to say I think the tripath is bad -- on the contrary, it is fantastic value and sets the bar very high. I think in the end for me it seems a bit 'dry'.

At the moment I'm building a Pass mini Aleph around 10+wpc class A. Then when I'm feeling brave enough I'll try tubes.

I agree entirely with what has been said above -- it's all down to taste and I don't think you can go far wrong with either choice.

[Dxvideo]

I would suggest building a dual mono instrumentation amp with a couple of LM4562s and LM3875s. Have a look at this thread for some schematics of how I've done it

Interesting work! I havent seen it before. However balanced input causes some additional works. Like DRV134 board etc.. But Ill keep it in my mind.
Thx.

I think in the end for me it seems a bit 'dry'.

You like colored sound? Or what you mean with DRY?
Thx..

[rjb]

I have compared a T-amp from 41Hz (amp3), a commercial class-d, a commercial gainclone, an old discrete SS(25watt), and a modded quad 405 clone. Unfortunately in the same sesion. All were run well within their ratings, ie at resonably modest listening levels.

They all sounded acceptable but different. My personal preference is the 405 followed by the T-amp, but I would not argue with a different choice. To me the gainclone was "warmer and fuzzier", the T-amp "clear but a bit cold", the 405 seemed more neutral. I felt the 405 and t-amp had better control of the speakers, which were multiways and not the easiest to drive.

Changing the speakers may well produce a different preference order, although the single "full-range" unit I tried with the gainclone and T-amp showed similar characteristics.

Other people have placed these in the reverse order, so its your choice.

[Ipanema]

I've listened to TA2020 for sometimes. It is just not my cup of tea. Compared to GC LM3875 it is sterile and uninvolving. Not sure why some ppl describe that Class T has a warm tubey sound.

[dublin78]

I've listened to TA2020 for sometimes. It is just not my cup of tea. Compared to GC LM3875 it is sterile and uninvolving. Not sure why some ppl describe that Class T has a warm tubey sound.

What power supply was being used?
I have heard that even differing qualities of smps get very different results.

[Dxvideo]

Originally posted by dublin78


What power supply was being used?
I have heard that even differing qualities of smps get very different results.

Better results by meaning "supply with SMPS"?