Help me choose an amp please! (learner)

[lersince1991]

Hi

I've been looking for an electronic amplifier for ages and cant seem to get very far, maybe someone can help me out.

Not bothered if I have to assemble it but would be good if I didn't.
I can solder competently though.

Im looking at low budget, spec should be:

8ohms
20W RMS
50W Max
Stereo (or 2x mono if that will be the same?)
cheap as possible

I will be running x2 monacor SPH-30x 8ohm off them.

Thanks!

[Dan2]

is there a reason why u want a class d amp?? for that power rating i would go for a chip amp

[lersince1991]

nope, I haven't a clue about amp class's. Whatever suits best.

Also would it be possible to have an amp without a power supply that meet these specs?

Why are all these little circuit amps so expensive!?
I was thinking they were like £10 for 20W RMS 8ohm stereo and didn't think I'd have to buy a separate power supply either.

Is there no cheap amps with a power supply that can be plugged into the wall socket with those specs?

[Mindcrime]

Look at the amp modules that Arjen sells, they will work with a 12v walwart. just do a search for his name.

[Dan2]

i dunno if a wall wart will give u enough current for a 20w x2 amp

Unfortunately you will need a power supply, which is a transformer, bridge rectifier and smoothing capacitors - and it will probably cost more than the amp itself (well the transformer anyway) luckily transformers last forever so maybe u can look around for a used one.

i still think you should go for a chip amp (although i hav never built a chip amp myself the schematics look pretty easy).

just remember not to skimp on the power supply or you will never enjoy the sound of the amp (any amp)

[Saturnus]

Originally posted by Dan2
i i still think you should go for a chip amp (although i hav never built a chip amp myself the schematics look pretty easy).

Well, why suggest one over a class D amp then?

A small class D amp of good quality, for example those from www.41hz.com, will match any chip amp at almost any cost in sound quality. That's because chip amps need a very good and expensive power supply before they start sounding reasonable whereas t-amps aren't particulary fuzzy about that.

[Dan2]

Saturnus thanks for correcting me, i have only seen the class D amp on Rod's site and that looked really complicated, but now checking it again the amp module is bought as a complete set ( http://www.sound.westhost.com/project114.htm ). sorry, i was wrong

[kristleifur]

I think you actually will find a wall wart that can give you 40W. I use an adjustable-voltage 90W SMPS with my Tripath ClassD.

I've never used a 10 GBP Class D amp, but I can confirm that they work exceedingly well at the 35 EUR level. I'd blindly trust the 41Hz Amp32, at EUR 27 each.

Arjen's modules look promising too, but I can't vouch for them as I haven't heard them. The TI Class D chips are a bit cheaper than Tripath aren't they? There have been good reports of the TI TDA class-d chip designs on this forum.