Indeed TA2021 Class D amp anyone?

[radiosmuck]

Originally Posted by Sylver300B

What is your experience, guys, with these class D amps?

I have had a pair of vintage Corner Yorks connected to a 2020A amp for the last several months, and for me, they sound great together.
I did mention this on the Tannoy group but it was not discussed, I believe a "best cabinet polish" got more attention.

[Sylver300B]

Originally Posted by radiosmuck

I believe a "best cabinet polish" got more attention.

Yep.. those Tannoyists.. (and I'm a devoted one..) are weirdos, for sure. I still have my old IMF TLS-50 (just in case) and recently have cheated with Klipsch KG4 and was amazed at how good they can sound. They just don't have the same drama of the Tannoys. And I have lots of play toys to play with like Braun LV-1020, 630, Pierre Etienne Leon Junior, Sequerra Met-7 and well, I finally always use the Tannoys. Just too much fun with Tannoy + tubes.

But I suspect that yes, the caps in these little cheap amps are just that, cheap. After a breakin period, I'll see if things improve. For now, there's a lack of weight and presence to instruments, and that treble thing.

Thanks

[Sylver300B]

Originally Posted by AC439

I do not have TA2021 but I have a TA2024 (original sonic impact) and a TK2050 from Sure electronics. Both times showed these amps needed some break-in time to sound smooth. I have my TK2050 connected to my Tannoys and the high was surely harsh and too much at the beginning. It started to become less harsh after about 10 hours of operation. I have also replaced the input caps to the MKT type and added a Zobel network at the output. Have also replaced the tank caps to NOS ROE Gold caps. The sound is more musical now.

I have two other class A amps to compare and I have to say the class D amps sound different and have a different taste.

Well. I plugged the "Indeed" amp TA2021 on the Tannoys for a week, and I must admit things did improve. There's nice imaging, strings sound natural, and the harshness seem to be gone.. but still, the treble is not quite natural, and the bass/mid-bass do lack some flesh to be convincing. All in all, it sounds nice, but quite a bit "hollow".

When I have time, I'll try replacing caps, and I imagine that a better power supply could help.

[AC439]

Originally Posted by Sylver300B

Well. I plugged the "Indeed" amp TA2021 on the Tannoys for a week, and I must admit things did improve. There's nice imaging, strings sound natural, and the harshness seem to be gone.. but still, the treble is not quite natural, and the bass/mid-bass do lack some flesh to be convincing. All in all, it sounds nice, but quite a bit "hollow".

When I have time, I'll try replacing caps, and I imagine that a better power supply could help.

I also noticed the bass and mid-bass do lack some "muscles". However, the freq response is there and the amp will reproduce the lows, but just lacking some muscles.

I had my tripaths off for a while when I was building the JLH class A and modding my MF A1S. Afterwards, I switched back to the tripaths and I immediately noticed the bass issue. My theory is class A amps can deliver lots of current for bass immediately but the tripath can't in some ways. Even put big tank caps with the tripath but somehow the transient current for bass seems not quite there. I'm only a DIYer and mostly get things done by trial and error. I don't have the in-depth tech knowledge in digital amps/filter designs to support my theory.

[Hammett]

Peter of Indeed recommends 100-200 hours of break in time. Frankly, this seemed absurd when I read it the first time, but my experience was that the treble definitely cleaned up over a much longer time than I ever would have expected. My advice, keep running music through it.

[Sylver300B]

Originally Posted by Hammett

Peter of Indeed recommends 100-200 hours of break in time. Frankly, this seemed absurd when I read it the first time, but my experience was that the treble definitely cleaned up over a much longer time than I ever would have expected. My advice, keep running music through it.

Humm well.. I'll leave the tuner plugged on it for all Xmas and N-Year Holidays.. Ho Ho Ho!! and see what happens.

Anyway, it makes a nice little amp for the bedroom, and for giving away to friends of mines who happen not to be interested in audio gear, but love music, while owning awful cheapo el-plastico LLoyd's like systems.. And since the flea markets are crowded with good cheap speakers, I'll have fun making friends happy.

[Sylver300B]

Originally Posted by AC439

I also noticed the bass and mid-bass do lack some "muscles". However, the freq response is there and the amp will reproduce the lows, but just lacking some muscles.

Is this lack of muscles inherent to Class D? or because it's not a powerful enough model? And, has someone tried a beefed up power supply with it?

When it comes to Chip based amps, I find that the Gainclone is one of the best amp I came across. Easy on the ear while being detailed, powerful enough .. with muscles and refined. And cheap.

[AC439]

I don't have enough tripath amps to conclude if this is an inheritance issue. But both my tripaths seem so. The ta2024 has a 12v 5a smps and I modded the input cap to 2.2 uf, the onboard tank cap to 1500uf and an 15000uf cap jumped to the tank cap. I don't believe the power supply is the problem. But I can't conclude since ta2024 is the least powerful in the tripath family. I also added an 15000uf to the sure board and tripled the size of the onboard tank caps. Contrary to me expectation, I don't see much improvement after these mods.

[Sylver300B]

Originally Posted by AC439

I don't have enough tripath amps to conclude if this is an inheritance issue.

Contrary to me expectation, I don't see much improvement after these mods.

How about using a "real" power transfo, somthing beefy? or a car battery? ;-)

My old Norton motorcycle (circa 1969) is asleep for winter, and the battery is in my workshop.. hummm..

By the way, I'd be curious to give a try to more powerful TA chips.

[AC439]

Already tried with a car battery. Honestly I can't tell the difference.