Super T amp - Maybe I spoke too soon

[3-LockBox]

I finally got around to hooking up my Super T to my main rig. I've tried it on my main speakers before, but with an MP3 player as a source. This time it was hooked up through my pre-amp and the source was my old Denon CD player. My speakers are a couple of homebrews with the venerable old Radio Shack 1354 5.25" drivers running wideband (400hz and up), with an RS cone tweeter x-over @ 9khz and two Goldwood 6.5" woofers rolled off @ 400hz. I'm guess the sensativety is around 94-96 db.

I said once before that this little amp couldn't replace my 100watt SS amp, but I may have spoke too soon. With adequate signal strength, the little Super T was pushing my mains nearly as hard as the 100watt amp would. I showed my neighbor and he was floored. (I think he still thinks I was joking about the amp being only 8 watts RMS).

[Alastair E]

I have the little (and now very old!) TA2020-020 Eval board, currently in my car with an MP3, (I bought the thing with no stereo, and needed a quick-fix!)

This is alleged to give 20W per channel @ 12.5V and into 4 ohms per channel....

Its driving 1.8 Ohms (meter measured at DC....) per channel (Front and rear speakers parralleled out) and measured supply voltage at the amp bannana plug-sockets is between 13.8 and 14.5 volts It was only ever designed to run with a 4 ohm min load,

BUT it just Performs!

As a precaution more than anything, it has an old Pentium heatsink with no fan, cable-tied to the chip, and even at Very high volumes it barely gets warm!

Sounds pretty cool through the original BMW speakers, I keep thinking Im gonna pop them soon!--Give me a good excuse to upgrade them then!

[3-LockBox]

As a precaution more than anything, it has an old Pentium heatsink with no fan, cable-tied to the chip, and even at Very high volumes it barely gets warm!

I'm gonna have to crack mine open and figure out how to place a heatsink on the chip.

[lucpes]

To attach heatsink, use thermal paste and a blob of super glue/epoxy in each corner - you need to maintain firm contact for a couple of minutes to ensure it sticks there (or better thermal epoxy available at some computer shops).

[3-LockBox]

Originally posted by lucpes
To attach heatsink, use thermal paste and a blob of super glue/epoxy in each corner - you need to maintain firm contact for a couple of minutes to ensure it sticks there (or better thermal epoxy available at some computer shops).

Thanks for your response!

Do parts supply websites sell heatsinks?

Actually, I just did a search on Altronics and found some. Now I just need to figure out which one work on IC chips.

[Alastair E]

I used a Pentium heatsink, just because it was laying round doing nothing, in my junk-box.

I wouldnt have bothered using a heatsink, its just that Ive parralleled offf the car speakers, thus presenting a 1.8 (measured...) ohm load to the chip.....

At its correct load imp of 4-8 ohms, there wouldnt be a need...

It really is a little large physically, but where the amp is housed this is not really an issue

As the old saying goes, A big one is better than a small one!

Which chip are you using? It seems these chips although Tripath chips go by the names of the Module/board/kit suppliers, rather than by the chip-number!?

[3-LockBox]

Originally posted by Alastair E Which chip are you using? It seems these chips although Tripath chips go by the names of the Module/board/kit suppliers, rather than by the chip-number!? [/B]

It's the one in the Super T

TA2024 I believe

[Pano]

Look up seller "wluk" on ebay. I buy his ramdac heatsinks. They fit precetly on the Tripath chip.

They come with thermal tape. Press hard and twist slightly. The tape conducts heat, but it doesn't stick very well.

[3-LockBox]

Originally posted by panomaniac
Look up seller "wluk" on ebay. I buy his ramdac heatsinks. They fit precetly on the Tripath chip.

They come with thermal tape. Press hard and twist slightly. The tape conducts heat, but it doesn't stick very well.

The GeForce GT Video Ramsink or the Radeon Pro XT BGA Ramsink?