Hypex, or Autocostruire?

[dublin78]

Hi

I am about to upgrade my Charlize T amp module, as I am using less efficient speakers these days.

My speakers are: AOS Sudio 12XL, they are 4Ohm, 87 dB 1W/1M.

I have been looking at two possible replacements:

(1) Autocostruire Class T100 HCL-m, which uses the Tripath TAA4100A, powered by a Meanwell 24v 5A SMPS.

Autocostruire il negozio degli autocostruttori

(2) 2x Hypex UCD 180 (ST, HG - not decided yet), powered by 1x Hypex SMPS.

http://www.hypex.nl/docs/UcD180400.pdf

I have limited space in my cabinet, but I could accomodate both options. My cabinet does not have much ventilation. Could this be a problem? See photo of housing below. It has a 12mm thick glass lid.

Please could people offer some opinions, as to which solution would give a better performance for my use?

[Scratchy]

Have you considered a Tripath Amp from 41Hz Audio - News ?
The AMP9 is a good single rail amp & th AMP10 is a split rail +/- 35V amp.

[dublin78]

I have been doing a bit of cruising on this class D forum, and have come across the TK2050 from HiFiMediy.

TK2050 TP2050 2*100W CLASS-T D TRIPATH T-AMP Board on eBay (end time 01-Nov-10 11:16:41 GMT)

This is so much cheaper than the Hypex and Autocostruire modules. Could the performance be comparable? I have read one thread where a poster suggested that they were on par.

Opinions please.

[kristleifur]

Originally Posted by dublin78

I have been doing a bit of cruising on this class D forum, and have come across the TK2050 from HiFiMediy.

TK2050 TP2050 2*100W CLASS-T D TRIPATH T-AMP Board on eBay (end time 01-Nov-10 11:16:41 GMT)

This is so much cheaper than the Hypex and Autocostruire modules. Could the performance be comparable? I have read one thread where a poster suggested that they were on par.

Opinions please.

If it's a good implementation of a TK2050, it's going to outclass the TAA4100A by a significant margin. Compared to the TK2050, the TAA4100A is a 4-channel high-current "brute" (albeit with very good sound quality too). The TK2050 Just Sounds Better. Check the distortion specs in the datasheet if you like. Besides the chipset difference, I've seen pretty bad reviews of the Autocostruire Tripath gear.

The TK2050 is going to be on similar footing as the Hypex - the Hypex is a little more clean/clinical, the TK2050 a little more "magic".

If the hifimediy implementation is good. It looks better than the Sure amps, and the Autocostruire stuff. I doubt you'd be disappointed if you bought one and tried.

My favorite amp is the 41Hz Amp4 however, which is the only amp I can emphatically recommend. It's a TK2050 amp, and a reaaaaallly good implementation too. I doubt I'll be building or using any other amplifier for a long while.

[Yves Smolders]

-offtopic- What an absolutely gorgeous case!

-ontopic- Have no experience with the chipamps mentioned - all I can say is, if you do go the distance and take 2x180HG - amps will not longer be a bottleneck of sound quality.

I was running my B&W 804S (on 2x400HG +SMPS) direct from my squeezebox this morning, just as a test - I could easily hear the differences compared to the Denon 4306 DACs (those are way better & quieter)

This is now putting me on the path to build a buffalo II dac (or at least test a decent DAC)

[Yves Smolders]

Originally Posted by kristleifur

The TK2050 is going to be on similar footing as the Hypex - the Hypex is a little more clean/clinical, the TK2050 a little more "magic".

Yes - so it's up to what you want: Clean/clinical means - what goes in comes out. "magic" means, it's sprinkled with something.

Usually "something" doesn't work for all kinds of music. I'd go with clean, and if you want later, just add some magic dust with tubes in the preamp or such

[kristleifur]

Originally Posted by Yves Smolders

Yes - so it's up to what you want: Clean/clinical means - what goes in comes out. "magic" means, it's sprinkled with something.

This is where it's up to the listener

In my opinion, it's clinical, not clean – Tripaths are really clean actually – and "magic" means that the amp is conveying the finest of fine nuances: The music is the magic.

I don't like colored output really. Tripaths just sound really really good. I really recommend you listen to a good TK2050 sometime!

If the Tripaths had "artificial coloring" or were "sprinkled" with something, you would get bored of it, as you get bored of all extra ingredients in the sound. But the thing with Tripath amps is that you just can't stop listening - to music - playing through them.

(Objectively, Tripath chips have very very low intermodulation distortion. This is a very good thing.)

[Yves Smolders]

Hehe, ok then we understand eachother

I don't like colored either. Color should be added at the mixing table, in the studio.

If I ever have need for a lower cost amp, I'll surely consider the TK2050, I've read a lot about it already.

Your clinical view of UCD - was that HG modules? I really couldn't be happier with them in my 804S speakers.

[kristleifur]

Originally Posted by Yves Smolders

Your clinical view of UCD - was that HG modules? I really couldn't be happier with them in my 804S speakers.

Yeah I think we're on the same page

HG or not, I don't know - it was an unknown 180, which I heard for only a few minutes. (So I really shouldn't be saying anything ... )

I have to back up a little bit — I can't really say that Hypex was clinical per se ... just trying to get my point across. Both amplifier types are essentially flawless (for the money at least).

[dublin78]

Thanks for your replies.

Yes, I am proud of the cabinet. I made it out of laminating plywood sheets together. Here is another pic. I have since painted the CD drawer metalic silver.



Well, I have given up on the Autocostuire now. Thanks kristleifur.

I have looked at the 41hz Amp4. It is TA2050, and will not be powerful enough for my inefficient speakers.

I now have to decide between:

Hypex: 2x 180hg + SMPS180 = 400EUR
HiFiMediy: TK2050 + Meanwell 24v 4.5A SMPS = 80EUR

I certainly don't want a bottleneck in the system. The rest of the kit is Marantz CD63 > Tentclock XO3 > Diyparadise Monica 3 > quality stepped attenuator. On the other hand there is no point spending the extra money if there is no need.

It would be great if someone has heard both of these implimented.

More opinions welcomed.