Class D Audio, Who are these guys?

[Mark Allen]

I picked up a rather large dual output Magnatek 48 volt 13 amp per output switching supply at RaElco this morning. It's brand new never used and the 50 dollar price seemed good for a supply with dua modules/outputs. Pics below.
Anyone happen to know if that power connector shown below is an AMP Powerlock? If not what the heck is it?

Mark

[5th element]

http://www.semiconductorstore.com/pdf/MG%20SERIES.pdf

Here be the data sheet

I've got a build around a PBTL version of the TAS5630 under way too. I'm just waiting for the chips to arrive, which seem to be in short supply

[mr_macgee]

Originally Posted by Mark Allen

Anyone happen to know if that power connector shown below is an AMP Powerlock? If not what the heck is it?

Yes, It is a AMP connector. It's show's in the spec as J1 at the bottom of page 3 in diagram.

I think you'll find it here:
http://www.tycoelectronics.com/catal...&RQPN=556883-2
or
http://www.tycoelectronics.com/catal...&RQPN=556880-2

or

http://www.tycoelectronics.com/catal...60,17536,17533

[Mark Allen]

5th, You might call or e-mail ClassD and see if they can spare you one chip. It is a brand new product.

Mr. McGee, Thanks for posting those links!! I thought it was some sort of AMP connector but only had time to breeze though the Mouser catalog and didn't see anything in there. Now just got to find out who has them...

Edit: Just ordered two of them and the contacts from Mouser.

Mark

[luka]

50& only? cheap, I like

[5th element]

Originally Posted by Mark Allen

5th, You might call or e-mail ClassD and see if they can spare you one chip. It is a brand new product.

Thanks for the suggestion. Farnell did have some in stock, but I was busy with another project at the time, so didn't think to buy any. A few days later I went to buy and boom, none there!

I'm apparently going to get 2 of them as samples from TI by the 20th of october, so I'll see how that goes. I've also got 2 on back order with Farnell.

The price for that SMPS seems too good to be true

[Mark Allen]

Well, Ra Elco is a surplus place and this power supply was a one up thing. They have many other supplies there too but I think this was the only 48 volt one they had. They also have alot of new parts and such and just about the largest assortment of 1% tolerance resistors I've ever seen anywhere on the planet.

Mark

[classdaudio-usa]

Hello all! This is Tom from Class D Audio (Class D Audio, We Manufacture Class D Audio Equipment). Mark Allen asked if I would join in this forum and answer questions about our class C audio amplifiers. I was a little hesitant as I didn’t know if it is appropriate to participate in this forum as it is DIY and I don’t want anyone to get the impression that I would use this forum to promote or try to market our products here. I keep very busy with new designs we’re working on now such as the new SMPS for these amps and a few other products, so please don’t get angry if I’m not able to respond right away to questions. You can always contact me directly for a faster response. Right now, I will read through the threads here and provide a few answers.

[classdaudio-usa]

Originally Posted by Mark Allen

Mine came yesterday by Priority Mail. Hooked it up to my variable bench supply and running it at about 45 volts... end less current available since the supply can do 20 amps. This Class D board requires but a single 50 volt supply to operate. Initially I didn't like what I heard.. a bit ragged top end... but later as the amp warmed up a bit things started to get better. It's certainly a very different sound from what I am used to (Pass and Krell). One thing I will attest to is the abundant power this tiny board can put out!!! It is also stable all the way down to 2 ohms. Plenty of status LEDs are on the board... Reset, Shutdown, Hi Temp, and Ready. There are also connection points on the board to tie external indicator LEDs for these and I know fopmr the T.I. data sheet that this chip also has a pin for Clip Indicator and I wonder why they did not bring this out to at least a tie point??? There is a two pin connector for a 12 volt fan and another 2 pin socket for external sync. I ran it all afternoon yesterday and the heat sink only got mildly warm even when pushing this amp at very loud levels for long periods. So unless you're running 2 ohm loads I shouldn't think that either a fan or larger heatsinking would be needed. More later...

Mark

As to... the T.I. data sheet says that this chip also has a pin for Clip Indicator and I wonder why they did not bring this out to at least a tie point??? Answer... T.I. has (or had) 2 different chips, one 64 pin chip that has the clip feature, and a 44 pin chip we use. The 44 pin chip does not have the clip feature. It seems that they either have decided not to go forward with the 64 pin chip, or will not have it available for sale or market any time soon. In fact, as many of you know, the 44 pin chip is almost impossible to get (I think we're the only ones with this chip now). The T.I. site says 20 week wait for these chips. This doesn't mean they will have them in stock in 20 weeks, but that you have to order them and wait 20 weeks to get them.

[classdaudio-usa]

Originally Posted by mr_macgee

Thanks Mark for the update. I'm very interested in hearing more about this amp and it's sound, pics would be great. In your opinion, how is the build quaility and layout?

My second comment is we know this is not a "D class amp" design but it's design and concept has the same spirit as a D class amp. I for one would be very curious to find out how this amp sounds compared to a good D class amp.
It would be great if some how we can get a decent review between the D Class amp, a A/B amp like the one above and a Chip amps. Out of all of these which design is producing the best sound/music (I know subjective) at the same level of build quality?

Yes, these are Class D Audio amplifiers. The amplifier discussed in this forum used the Texas Instruments TAS5630 Class D audio chip. Our other amplifiers use the International Rectifier IRS2092 Class D driver chips.