| AdamThorne |
Errr, I searched but didn't find anything. But then, my searches on DIYAudio frequently don't turn up what I was expecting.
So can it be that nobody has talked about the Sonic Impact T-Amp Gen 2?
$60 at Parts Express, looks prettied up from the first one, includes PS (3 A). Anyone heard it? Anyone looked inside yet? What is the same, what's different? Input caps, PS cap, potentiometer?
http://www.si5.com/products.php?pID=4046 |
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| panomaniac |
That's a new one on me!
1/2 way between the original and the Super-T?
At least you have a bigger case to work with. :) |
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| gmilitano |
| Much better looking too! |
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| theAnonymous1 |
Wow, $30 worth of extra plastic!!!!
I say buy the original and use the extra money on a nicer case. |
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| gychang |
anxious to hear how good this is.
gychang |
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| gmilitano |
| quote: | Originally posted by theAnonymous1
Wow, $30 worth of extra plastic!!!!
I say buy the original and use the extra money on a nicer case. |
I should have expected that! :) If that is the plan, go right to a kit.
Do you figure the changes are only cosmetic? I would hope they improved the LF response the the hookups.
Cheers,
Gio |
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| AdamThorne |
Getting a nice case can be pretty expensive...
I think it was the PE page that mentions it is redesigned from the ground up. So who knows, it might be different inside. If nothing else I would hope to see larger input caps, if maybe not higher quality ones...
From the pics it looks like the speaker outs are still the cheapo clamps, and the line in is still a headphone plug. |
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| theAnonymous1 |
I can't imagine there is anything revolutionary inside. They could have at least put some cheap binding posts and RCA jacks on the back.
| quote: | Originally posted by AdamThorne
Getting a nice case can be pretty expensive... |
Says who? I think this is much nicer than a plastic clam shell and it's anything but expensive........
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/show...tnumber=262-074
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| BWRX |
I find it very funny how SI used the heading "Pro Amplifiers" on their website.
It's also worth noting that they have reduced the listed output power of the standard SI and the Gen 2 to 5W per channel while leaving the Super-T's listing at 15W per channel... What a marketing ploy. |
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| theAnonymous1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by BWRX
I find it very funny how SI used the heading "Pro Amplifiers" on their website.
It's also worth noting that they have reduced the listed output power of the standard SI and the Gen 2 to 5W per channel while leaving the Super-T's listing at 15W per channel... What a marketing ploy. |
Yes the "M" word. IMHO that's all this new amp is.
I think Sonic Impact hit on something they weren't quite expecting with the original amp and now they are trying to ride the "T-Amp" horse until it has split hooves and broken legs. |
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| AdamThorne |
Anon1
Your case looks killer! Did you... what, paint it? Bronze it? Something? Yours looks bronze, but the PE part you linked looks black.
Marketing ploy? Maybe just capitalism in action. Quality amp, great price but never in stock? The obvious answer is raise the price. If SF increases it's margins maybe they'll be able to manufacture them fast enough that you can buy one w/o a 2 month wait... :rolleyes: |
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| theAnonymous1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by AdamThorne
Anon1
Your case looks killer! Did you... what, paint it? Bronze it? Something? Yours looks bronze, but the PE part you linked looks black. |
The ends are scrap pieces of copper I had. I would have been fine using the stock end plates and some hammer finish, but I had the copper already and I thought it would look better. |
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| BWRX |
| quote: | Originally posted by AdamThorne
Marketing ploy? Maybe just capitalism in action. Quality amp, great price but never in stock? The obvious answer is raise the price. |
All three amps SI offers (T-amp, Gen 2, and Super-T) use the same Tripath chip and basically the same circuit and components. I'll bet the Gen 2 is just a slightly revised T-amp (probably just a few component upgrades) in a new case with a higher price. |
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| panomaniac |
Well I'll know soon. Have one on the way.
Won't be able to do any modding until after RMAF, but I'll post what info I find - along with pix. |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by theAnonymous1
I
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your amp looks great. where did u get the knob?
| quote: | Originally posted by panomaniac
Well I'll know soon. Have one on the way.
Won't be able to do any modding until after RMAF, but I'll post what info I find - along with pix. |
always look forward your input and pictures so newbies like me can follow.
gychang |
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| AdamThorne |
| Sweet! Thx, Pano, for stepping up and taking the gamble. I figured you'd probably be near the front of the line to try a new one... :D |
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| theAnonymous1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by gychang
your amp looks great. where did u get the knob?
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They bought them off ebay.....
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-40X19-Aluminu...1QQcmdZViewItem
They are for spline shafts though. I didn't realize this when I bought them and had to modify them a bit to fit a D shaft. It was a PITA so I don't recommend trying it. |
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| panomaniac |
Got one today. Nice little box. About the same size as the original Sonic. Still all plastic, but not nearly as tall. Thinner and deeper.
And it comes with a power supply! Ah, ha. That's where the higher price come in. Same style of 12V SMPS as comes with The Super-T or the Trends.
New amp has the same cheap little spring clips on the back for the speakers. Not the worlds best, but meant for a small portable amp like this. Good binding posts might weigh more than the whole amp.
Same 1/8" mini plug for audio input. Battery compartments on the sides underneath, just like the first one. 8 AA batteries.
Here's an odd thing, it has a headphone jack! I don't know yet how it's fed, it may simply jump off the input.
You can see the photo below with an old SI case on top for comparison. |
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| panomaniac |
What's inside?
Have a look at the photo below.
All new printed circuit board. New pot and switch. Cool blue LEDs for the volume knob.
On the right you'll see the wires leading to headphone jack.
There are 3 transistors on the PCB, don't know yet what they do, maybe power-on pop suppression.
Seems to be the same output section as the Sonic Gen-1. There is a 470uF cap on the PCB near pin 1 (lower left of photo). Might be the power cap AKA "tank cap."
I'll check into all this when I get a chance. Just thought y'all would like to see the new beast. |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by panomaniac
What's inside?
Have a look at the photo below.
All new printed circuit board. New pot and switch. Cool blue LEDs for the volume knob.
On the right you'll see the wires leading to headphone jack.
There are 3 transistors on the PCB, don't know yet what they do, maybe power-on pop suppression.
Seems to be the same output section as the Sonic Gen-1. There is a 470uF cap on the PCB near pin 1 (lower left of photo). Might be the power cap AKA "tank cap."
I'll check into all this when I get a chance. Just thought y'all would like to see the new beast. |
more and more. input caps better than the original? all waiting for the sound evaluation.
gychang |
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| dweekie |
| Thanks Pano. That was faasssst shipping to Hawaii. |
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| audio1st |
| This is looking like a step back, is that 9 wires to the headphone socket:confused: . I thought the 470uf cap was meant to be as close as possible to the VDD1 & VDD2 pins.:bawling: Not for me, sorry for the negativity... |
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| panomaniac |
You can say that again! :D
I don't know yet what's going on in there. I do agree the placement of the 470uF cap is odd, if indeed it is the tank cap. However, it does have a thick trace running from it. More important are the small film caps that should be right at the pins.
Yeah, there's a lot more wires. I will sort it all out when I get the chance. The PCB is larger and easier to get to, so that is an advantage for modding.
Forgot to mention that the Gen 2 comes with a mini to RCA cable and an RCA to mini adapter. Very handy for connecting to your CD Player, but bit awkward for iPod style use. I think they should also include the spiral mini/mini cable for the iPod crowd. |
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| Lazycarton |
| Nothing to add yet, just want to get email alerts. |
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| pinkmouse |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lazycarton
Nothing to add yet, just want to get email alerts. |
You can use the button at the bottom of the page marked "Subscribe to this Thread" ;) |
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| Saturnus |
| quote: | Originally posted by panomaniac
I think they should also include the spiral mini/mini cable for the iPod crowd. |
I don't know, that was simple so bad quality that it was the first I threw out before modding my t-amp. Next was the crappy binding posts. |
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| Kensai |
Hey Pano . . . where'd you go? Some of us are dying to hear more about this. How does it sound? Did you actually mean there's a headphone output? If so, how does that sound?
Kensai |
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| panomaniac |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kensai
Hey Pano . . . where'd you go? |
Where'd I go? To Denver to attend the Rocky Mountain Audiofest, of course!
Even took the little Gen2 amp with me. Alas time did not allow me to test it. :( Really too bad.
I'll be looking at it more closely in a few days. Look for more info on this thread. I don't expect it to be much different from the original, but you never know..... |
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| Kensai |
Cool, Pano. How'd that go for you? I miss Colorado . . .
Anyway, all I'm looking for is perhaps a little better bass performance. That plus a correct PS included would be enough to make me look at this price. The headphone jack, if it doesn't kills SQ would be a clincher (I suppose that having it d-amp the headphone out would be asking too much, eh?)
Thanks for guinea pigging for all the rest of us.
Kensai |
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| panomaniac |
Glad to do it!
Denver was fun, our room was a big success. Proof that you can get great sound at 1/4th to 1/10th the cost "normal" Hi-Fi. There was no one at the show even close to what we were doing.
Colorado is nice, but it's always great to come home to Maui. :cool: |
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| Kensai |
Oh sure. Just rub it in. Colorado is just about as far west as I've managed to get so far.
Anyhow, I've been convinced that what you've been doing is the way to go since I first heard the original T-Amp. Of course, I don't have the electronics skills (or the time at present to devote to gaining them) to really dive into moding and building, so I'm just looking for the best, cheap stock things.
I don't hear much about JVC Hybrid Feedback tech, I suppose mainly because its proprietary and not much use to DiYers, but I've got the core of an old JVC Hybrid Feedback shelf system that I'll be comparing anything against. It pretty much trounced the original T-amp (mainly in bass weight and liveliness) and Presonus HP4 headphone amp I was using as pre (it had peaks around 2.2khz and 7.2khz that I had to notch out with EQ just to get proper sound, both on headphones and through the monitor outs). The JVC even sounds better driving headphones than the dedicated headphone amp (I've pretty much determined that the HP4 is a crappy headphone amp).
I use an E-mu 0404 sound card as source, and it gives me tons of EQ flexibility (which I need to use with my current B20 fullrangers on small OB), but I'd like to get away from that as much as possible. In fact, if I could get to needing no EQ (plans for either enclosures or OB bass assistance; already got the supertweeters and caps in hand so I can dump the top end EQ), I could just upsample everything to 176.4kHz which really does sound alot cleaner and more detailed. Just want to make sure any amp I might get will at least not kill the bass or SQ over the headphone out.
Kensai |
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| Lostcause |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kensai
I use an E-mu 0404 sound card as source |
Hi Kensai, I'm just playing around with one of those and wondered if you have any tips on the best setup for windows?
Sorry for the 'off-topic' question.... |
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| Kensai |
Lostcause,
Email me with more detail about what you're looking for, and I'll see what I can do.
Kensai |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kensai
Oh sure. Just rub it in. Colorado is just about as far west as I've managed to get so far.
The JVC even sounds better driving headphones than the dedicated headphone amp (I've pretty much determined that the HP4 is a crappy headphone amp).
I use an E-mu 0404 sound card as source, and it gives me tons of EQ flexibility I could just upsample everything to 176.4kHz which really does sound alot cleaner and more detailed. Just want to make sure any amp I might get will at least not kill the bass or SQ over the headphone out.
Kensai |
Kensai: as u know I have the same JVC, never heard the earphone jack til u mentioned and it sounds excellent. I assume u have it hooked up to PC, with E-mu? How do u have it all setup? Are u up sampling it via E-mu?, using foobar?
thanks,
gychang |
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| Kensai |
I have it hooked up via a 3' Hais dual mono 1/4" to stereo 1/8" cable as the line in on this unit is only the stereo minijack and the outputs on the EMu are discrete 1/4" TS phono jacks. Its the only discrete cable for the purpose I could find, and its not the most robust cable in my collection, but it sounds noticeably better than using stout phono-RCA cable of the same brand and then adapting that down to stereo mini.
The EMu runs a PatchMix application that lets you do tons of stuff (way more than I actually understand). It allows you to save settings in "sessions" and I keep different sessions for say, my B20 OBs, my Grado SR-80s, my Koss KSC-75, an unmodified session for running out to the receiver in the living room, a 176.4kHz session for listening to music over headphones or general playing around. Its ability to apply EQ in the digital domain is almost unlimited in its flexibility. You will eventually start clipping the DAC if you apply too much, so there's a bit of balancing to do between your speakers, amps, and the DAC when you start going for extreme EQ. The main drawback here is that you can only apply EQ to sessions that are running in 44.1/48kHz mode (its a combined mode since it covers all of your common materials like CD, most compressed music, DVD and video games).
The upsampling I do is via Winamp. I use the out_asio plugin for that which not only has configurable resampling but allows you to bypass the windows K-mixer which remixes everything to 48kHz (even stuff that's already at 48kHz). I've been able to resample DVD to 96kHz using FFDshow, but that doesn't sound very good (just seems like a bit of tacked on functionality there). At 176.4kHz, you can use your player's built in EQ, but in Winamp, just engaging the EQ, even if you leave it flat, obviously degrades SQ. For alot of music, using the 176.4 over my phase plugged B20s is a better trade off than 44.1 + PatchMix EQ. It seems to extend the FR in both directions, and since phase plugging the B20s, the top end has almost been good enough in this mode for me to be satisfied with no EQ or supertweet. However, the bass starts rolling pretty quickly around 100-120Hz without the EQ, so its not a good fire-and-forget strategy with my current speakers. I'm just wanting to make sure the new T-amp won't have that first order rolloff under 100Hz like the original.
Another random note on using a high sample session in PatchMix . . . it causes anything you run through the EMu's line in to be sampled at that rate, so it has a similar effect on the SQ as it does for digital music. I find it great for my game consoles that live near my PC.
Kensai
So for useablity's sake right now, I leave everything in 44.1/48 mode and just have a session for each device that has an appropriate EQ stack |
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| Lostcause |
Thanks for that Kensai, very useful info;)
I'm running a modified charlize at the moment, soon to be a duet of modified kensingtons into my fullrange MLTL's so it's a pretty similar setup.
The kensingtons will give me two more channels to play with should I need tweets....other than that the software just might do the trick....
Cheers
Lee |
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| fidelity |
I find oversampling to 176.4k (FLAC tracks) via out_asio.dll in winamp gives a inferior sound output on my stock EMU 0404 using a fid-audio breakout cable.
I've yet to attempt moding the card which gives a significant improvement to the cards analog output. :( |
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| Kensai |
I generally only use .APE which is lossless. I'm not real familiar with FLAC, but are your tracks compressed at all or lossless.
I've certainly seen enough cases of software re/upsampling causing SQ to drop, so I'm not sure what may be up there. Which version of Winamp are you using? I use 2.9x . . . I've not had the best of experience with the 5.x versions, SQ wise.
Kensai |
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| Kensai |
pano? We're still interested in hearing your impressions.
Kensai |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kensai
pano? We're still interested in hearing your impressions.
Kensai |
indeed, I am waiting also.
gychang |
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| panomaniac |
Sorry guys, I'm in the middle of a speaker upgrade, among too many other projects. So I can't even give the little fellow a good listen. :(
Will report as soon as I can. Maybe someone else will beat me to it. (hint, hint) |
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| EdT |
Yer, I just bumped onto SI's page and found they had the Gen 2 and you guys already beat me to it ...LoL
The photos on the internals is much more neatly assembled and the PCB is much better laid out from the original T and the simplier case is more pleasing on the eyes. I suspect just changing the cheap spring clips to RCA will be the only real mods needed, but I am very interested on how the headphone amp works, is it even possible for the TA2024 chip to drive 32ohm+ headphones ?
They also seem to be carrying a 30W PCI slot amp that connects directly to your soundcard ... thats an interesting option also ! |
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| Kensai |
The PCI amp is interesting, but its a power amp, and thus relies on your software volume control which is a big no-no for sound quality. Well, unless you go to extraordinary lengths to preamp it externally. So I figure that since its basically the same thing as the T-amp, costs more, is inside the RF frenzy that is the inside of your PC and is running directly off your PC's power supply which I can't believe is a very clean source, why not just get the Gen2 or maybe the Super (or a Trends) and call it a day?
Kensai |
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| KT |
I just found out that SI had released a new version of this amp. Haven't read a whole lot on the SI amps since I moved on to other gear a couple of years ago.
But I really have to say "Wow." Not about the amp but about how everyone sounds so cynical and negative about SI and the Gen 2 T-amp.
Did I miss something in the last couple of years? I always thought SI and the T-amp ushered in a new era of good sounding really affordable class-D amps. Maybe the original T-amp isn't quite as good as some of the current offerings, and maybe the Gen-2 is a minor upgrade, but at the price it still seems to be a decent if not good value.
Did SI do something to make everyone so bitter and angry?
Just wondering. Maybe I missed something along the way.
Best,
KT |
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| EdT |
^^^
Well, SI did come out with their Super T-Amp($149.99) and now their Gen 2($79.99), but I guess what everyone(DIY or budget audiophiles) hate is that they always use the cheap spring speaker clips instead of RCA and banana jacks.
The Trends Audio TA10.1($149.99) is still the current champ of the T-Amp world. I would like to try the Winsome Lab amp, but its a bit more expensive($399) then the current TA-10.1 offerings. |
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| gychang |
wish they kept the original t-amp going. Now I can't buy them.
I wonder if sonic improvement has been made on Gen2.
gychang |
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| pekar |
I'd like to know if anyone's played with the SI Tio PCI sound card?
http://www.si5.com/products.php?pID=4038
It looks convenient for those with a desktop...just plug in speakers, no power cord required. |
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| Kensai |
PE had the Gen2 as their featured item in there "12 Days of Christmas" promotion yesterday, so I ordered one last night. I should supposedly have it by the 17th.
Kensai |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kensai
PE had the Gen2 as their featured item in there "12 Days of Christmas" promotion yesterday, so I ordered one last night. I should supposedly have it by the 17th.
Kensai |
would be very interested in your impression.
gychang |
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| Kooka |
Cheap nice cases for modded t-Amps?
Nothin' easier... |
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| Kooka |
| Oh, I forgot this... |
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| Kooka |
| Or with PSU ouside... |
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| audio1st |
| Kooka, are you selling CHEAP nice cases, cause they are nice....?:D |
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| Kooka |
| quote: | Originally posted by audio1st
Kooka, are you selling CHEAP nice cases, cause they are nice....?:D |
Oh, yes, thanks, someone is nice, I agree ;) |
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| gychang |
Kooka:
how do u get the letters on the metal plate?
gychang |
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| Kooka |
| quote: | Originally posted by gychang
Kooka:
how do u get the letters on the metal plate?
gychang |
They are just very well made stickers. Very thin and made by a professional, but nothing impossible. |
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| Kensai |
I hope to have impressions next week. I also hope to have my REAL speakers back soon, too, and they will help me make a much more incisive commentary.
Kensai |
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| Kensai |
I've got it, and its up and singing.
Build quality is much better. Form factor really makes it take up alot less space. I love the popout volume control used for on/off, but using the knob for volume control is not at easy as I would like (its too small and smooth).
The 2nd Gen is not a bass lightweight like the 1st Gen. In fact it has noticeably more power through the lower registers than my JVC Hybrid Feedback amp I have been using, which was significantly more powerful than the 1st Gen I had been using before it burnt out. It also seems somewhat more powerful, even though JVC rated their amp at 30wpc into 4ohm. Using Live Free or Die Hard DVD as a reference, the JVC, at maximum volume, provided what I would call reference level in my small space, theater level sound, distortion free, through explosions and whatnot. Using the 2nd Gen under the same conditions was louder, basically too loud to handle for any real period of time, even though it proved to be noticeably more clear and legible (more easily making out dialog against noise, including on example where I had not ever been able to make out a certain phrase at all using the JVC on speakers or my Grado SR-80 headphones).
Since I haven't heard a 1st Gen in a very long time, I'm going to assume that my recollection of exactly how it sounded is worthless. Besides, I'm not using the same speakers as back then. In fact, I'm not using my speakers at all at the moment . . . they're "in the shop". I'm listening over a pair of Pioneer A11 BiBs, and I can only compare directly between the 2nd Gen and the JVC. There was an immediate and surprising improvement between the JVC and the 2nd Gen. Not only was the bass of similar liveliness and weight and somewhat tighter detail, but there were greater improvements upward in frequency. Clarity, detail, soundstage . . . everything is better. So, my guess, just thinking technically, the 2nd Gen is likely a slight upgrade, enough to overcome the 100Hz rolloff of the 1st Gen, with likely similar, slight improvements all around. I'm also guessing that alot of improvement gained in my circumstance comes from the included power supply. Its quite a bit beefier than the one I had for my old 1st Gen, and a much better match.
Anyway, I've only had a couple hours with it, but there's already little chance I'll be going back to the JVC, at least here in my office rig (the important one, if you know what I mean).
Kensai |
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| EdT |
^^^
Thanks for the mini review !
Might pick one up if there is a deal somewhere, looks like it would fit nicely ontop of my DVD player, but I think I would conver the spring speaker clip to banana jacks first. |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kensai
I've got it, and its up and singing.
Build quality is much better.
The 2nd Gen is not a bass lightweight like the 1st Gen.
Anyway, I've only had a couple hours with it, but there's already little chance I'll be going back to the JVC, at least here in my office rig (the important one, if you know what I mean).
Kensai |
Very helpful since as u know I have the same JVC.
1. which has more power, JVC? I would assume.
2. after burn in, would be interested in final subjective rating, which is better overall?
gychang |
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| Kensai |
By spec, the JVC has more power, but judging by the max SPL generated by each, the 2nd Gen is the clear winner.
I doubt that burn in will make the 2nd Gen worse . . . its already the clear winner over my JVC.
Let me make one note here . . . I know that there's basically 3 generations of the JVC Hybrid Feedback amps (the new one they call 3.5, whatever that means). I know mine is a generation 1 model and I'm pretty sure yours is a generation 2, but I don't know what the differences are.
gychang, you've also got an Amp32, right? When I check the specs on that at the 41Hz site, it looks significantly more powerful, but that might not even equate to a full 3dB greater SPL, though I'm guessing it'll depend alot on what sort of power supply you have for it.
Kensai |
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| djfake |
Kensai wrote:
The 2nd Gen is not a bass lightweight like the 1st Gen.
And Kensai wrote:
Since I haven't heard a 1st Gen in a very long time, I'm going to assume that my recollection of exactly how it sounded is worthless.
Sorry, but I'm confused - first you wrote that it is _not_ a bass lightweight like the 1st Gen. Then you wrote you haven't heard the 1st Gen in a while... Is your comparison strictly from memory?
I'd love to pick up a 2nd Gen SI, and if what you say is true - that it's got more bass than the 1st Gen SI, that will seal it.
thanks for the clarification,
c |
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| Kensai |
Meaning, of course, my recollection of exact detail. We all know that you can't actually compare amps unless you can A/B them in rapid succession. However, we all know that the 1st Gen had a rolloff starting at 100Hz. This was very well documented I can easily attest that the 2nd Gen does not have that. Running manual test tone sweeps, I'm not getting and drops in level until the known limits of the speakers I'm working with, and below that, I'm still getting strong response to the application of EQ (e.g. managed to get an audible 20Hz tone out of a set of small BiBs that are really only good down to about 45Hz naturally).
Kensai |
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| djfake |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kensai
Meaning, of course, my recollection of exact detail.
Kensai |
Thanks for the reply. I've got both right here (used an Amazon gift cert from Xmas to Parts Express), with the same PSB Alpha B's and an old Rotel CD player (nothing special).
I have to agree, the soundstage is definitely "fuller" - there's a very noticeable richness to the lower frequencies, and without a doubt, and improvement over the original T-Amp - which I'll promptly be listing on eBay!
c |
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| AdamThorne |
djfake - nice to hear of a direct comparison. Was your originial t-amp unmodified? What was it's power supply?
thx for your input! |
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| djfake |
my original tamp was unmodified, yet it had a 3amp 12v power supply (not sure if it was linear or switching - is there a difference?)
c |
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| Godzilla |
Does anyone know if the next generation Sonic Impact amp still has the bass rolloff? Has anyone compared the old one and the new? Has anyone compared the new one to the Super T?
Godzilla |
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| gurley123 |
Take a look at this thread.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/show...threadid=109033
It seems to say that if it does still roll off, then it doesn't do it to the degree that the previous one does.
I've got one of these but haven't yet put it through it's paces. |
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| Godzilla |
Thanks! I should have searched that forum. The link provided is perfect.
Godzilla |
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| Godzilla |
So the next question is how the Gen 2 compares sonically to the Super T. Anyone compare the two? Seems the Gen 2 addresses the bass rolloff to a degree.
Thanks.
Godzilla |
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| Kensai |
I've got one, Zilla. It actually has stronger bass output than my JVC Hybrid Feedback amp which was an order of magnitude better on the bottom end than my old, burnt, Gen1 T-amp. Its an upgrade from your Gen1, IMO.
Kensai |
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| John L |
| Has anyone checked to see if the IC in the original was a TA 2024 or TA 2024C. It's possible that the upgrade of the IC may add to the increase in the price. The 2024 is now outdated, and may have been cheaper. |
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| John L |
| quote: | Originally posted by Kensai
I've got one, Zilla. It actually has stronger bass output than my JVC Hybrid Feedback amp which was an order of magnitude better on the bottom end than my old, burnt, Gen1 T-amp. Its an upgrade from your Gen1, IMO.
Kensai |
As I mentioned on the link provided, Tripath upgraded their TA 2024 and reworked the IC. The latest edition is now the TA 2024C, and may well be the reason for the improvement and increase in cost. New chips always cost more when new than when they have the market flooded. |
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| djfake |
Anyone have thoughts on modding the Gen 2?
thanks! |
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| fastvideo |
| quote: | Originally posted by djfake
Anyone have thoughts on modding the Gen 2?
thanks! |
I do mod this amp like what they have done on the other mod thread. I removed all those caps from the input trace. And i found there is a pop noise when the turns the power on/off if the input cap is at 4.7uf. |
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| heemid |
| is it still c3 and c4 you replace? Anything else that I should/could relace, thanks |
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| erpiii |
I guess if anyone figures out the topology of this Gen 2 amp and does the actual mods, I might take a stab at putting this into a nicer box with the mods. I've got a pair of PSB Alpha B1's that I would like to throw on this lil amp!
Has the "great" Pano given up on this one... will he ever publish again on the "Gen 2" subject? |
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| ZL2BPS |
Recd 1 of these amps today & it has the same Vol pot problem other people have reported with the 5066's.
No left channel untill full volume..
Yes it is stamped " QC passed ". Back it goes as I at least want to start the mod's with a fully working one.
Havent opened it for obvious reasons but DC offset at speaker terminals is 88 & 90 Mv.
Sounds reasonable with some Hummmmmmm @ full power & I think has some potential.
Have asked the agent if he can supply a Circuit Diagram.
Never know your luck.. |
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| erpiii |
I've ordered the Gen 2 through Buy.com... with $10.00 discount for using the Google checkout and free shipping, the price was $41.00. US
I want to mod this with a PEC pot, better/larger caps, New RCA jacks, binding posts and 2 inputs (switched). These will all be in a new box.
Or, should I maybe go to 2 pots for better volume matching for each channel?
I'd love to hear about any mods that are in the works! |
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| gychang |
| quote: | Originally posted by erpiii
I've ordered the Gen 2 through Buy.com... with $10.00 discount for using the Google checkout and free shipping, the price was $41.00. US
I want to mod this with a PEC pot, better/larger caps, New RCA jacks, binding posts and 2 inputs (switched). These will all be in a new box.
Or, should I maybe go to 2 pots for better volume matching for each channel?
I'd love to hear about any mods that are in the works! |
would be interested in how to get 2 inputs, am a newbie.
gychang |
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| djfake |
| quote: | Originally posted by erpiii
I guess if anyone figures out the topology of this Gen 2 amp and does the actual mods, I might take a stab at putting this into a nicer box with the mods. I've got a pair of PSB Alpha B1's that I would like to throw on this lil amp!
Has the "great" Pano given up on this one... will he ever publish again on the "Gen 2" subject? |
I too have the PSB Alpha B's and they're a really great match for the T-amps. I ordered one of those Sublines from AUDIO-MAGUS so I could connect the PSB Sub Zero i subwoofer, and apart from a grounding issue, the Gen 2 sounds phenomenal.
Thing about a really good system is it really shows which recordings are "good" and which aren't!
c |
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| gurley123 |
| quote: | Originally posted by gychang
would be interested in how to get 2 inputs, am a newbie. |
I don't know about two input switching (maybe with relays?) but three or more is easily done with a Four Pole Rotary Switch. They generally have four contacts in the center that each switch between a number of contacts on the perimeter. Wire the four center contacts with the four inputs on your amp L, LG, RG, R. Then you wire each set of RCA's to the appropriate contact around the edge. You'll have a quadrant for each channel's Pos. and Ground. Trying to keep them straight is the tricky part. Go slow and wire one set of RCA's at a time.
For the really cheap you could try this
http://www.futurlec.com/Switches/ROTP4P3.shtml. Data Sheet. You can see the layout.
http://www.futurlec.com/SwRotary.shtml Price list. $1.00 and no Minimum!
A little more gets you one of these. Probably a little better built and may not intrude on the signal as much.
Sorry, no data sheet but you get the idea now.
If you want to get really crazy you can get a DACT or other high dollar switch. I haven't heard them so I don't know if they are worth it. Mouser and Digikey have some also but navigating their websites makes my head hurt.
Do some searching around here and some other places around the interwebs. You'll find out everything you need to get in trouble.:clown: |
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| planet10 |
| quote: | Originally posted by gurley123
I don't know about two input switching (maybe with relays?) but three or more is easily done with a Four Pole Rotary Switch. |
For 2 inputs a double-throw, 4 pole toggle is probably best. I got a miniature one for a KingRex speaker switcher that worked a treat.
dave |
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| gurley123 |
A four pole toggle! I had no idea such a beast existed. I don't know why I never thought to look.
Thanks Dave.
Now this has got me thinking of a dozen new projects. My poor wife will know no peace:D |
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| erpiii |
Got mine...
Doesn't sound too bad... in fact, great for the price! The Alpha B1's sound pretty good.
I don't know anything about circuits... or, for that matter, about resistors or caps. I Wonder if the same mods apply on this "24C" model as the older amp. Anyone done the R 1-2 C 3-4 mod on this yet?
I would be nice if someone could figure out all the ribbon connections on the board. I see it has nine wires to the headphone; the outputs stop when the headphone jack is inserted... so I can see why nine wires. I think I would pass on the headphone jack in the final configuration. I can figure out the power in for a new switch. Not sure how the volume is wired... six posts... just like a Pec volume control.
Anyone know the difference between the plain tri-24 and the tri-24C?
Also, what do the caps across the outputs do? Can they be removed/changed?
Any help would be appreciated! |
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| nospam |
| It seems like one can do the same in-put mod. Bypassing C3 and C4 and pull out R02 and R3. |
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| nospam |
One more try to attach a picture.
Gen2 |
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| rhing |
no spam,
Thanks for the excellent, clear photo with the drawn-in circuit routing. I just ordered an SI Gen 2 T-Amp from Parts Express, so making these simple mods should be easy with your photo. |
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| nospam |
The input stage seems just like before. But it also seems like input stage is connected to the headphone connection to the left on the picture.
One should pull out both connection to verify the right pin to connect new input-stage.
Hopefully others can comment where new input-stage should be connected - to the headphone output og to the pot :confused: |
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| erpiii |
Humm... interesting.
Nospam, I notice that your tri chip is not a 2024C? I have a gen 2 too and it's got a "C" at the end. How long ago did you buy yours?
Also, has anyone taken the caps and resistors out of the Gen 2 yet? I noticed that fastvideo said he had done the mods... but he also says that he gets a pop if he leaves the 4.7 cap in place??? Not sure what he means???
I also want to replace the input traces with shielded lines to the pot. Anyone though of doing that?
Lemme know! |
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| nospam |
I bought mine a couple weeks ago from thinkgeek.
As seen in the picture board revision 3.0 20070612.
I've not done mods on this. It's so new. |
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| erpiii |
Okay... this answers a few of my questions.
As can bee seen from the photo below, the Gen 2 I received has a "C" suffix and is REV 4. I guess they made the gen 2 with different chips and revisions in the gen 2 case.
I wonder if there are many differences in the two versions... 3 and 4. Looks like the circuit board has been changed... components look like they're located in the same trace streams... but then again, what do I know! |
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| ZL2BPS |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by erpiii
As can bee seen from the photo below, the Gen 2 I received has a "C" suffix and is REV 4. I guess they made the gen 2 with different chips and revisions in the gen 2 case.
Mine is Revision 4 with the plain TA 2024. 3 Weeks old.
Have so far added a new low esr 4700uf, "tank" cap & awaiting arrival of a 50K Alps pot before doing the input caps, RCA's Binding posts etc. New cap has improved bass & general dynamics slightly.
Has anyone sat down & worked out the Vol pot board & headphone board wiring yet ? |
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| Direwolf |
Im a new member
Im interested in geting a speaker system for my parents. My friends a audiophile and recommanded me these speakers for a good set of speakers that are cheap
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7705307&type=product&id=1138085354138
I dont want anything big in the tv stand so a recievers out of the question. He recommanded me the sonic impact gen 2 t amp. Would the amp be enough to push those speakers? My parents cant really hear the audio all that well... plus the audios just average.
Any helps greatly appreciated |
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| erpiii |
| lol... I think we've been hijacked.... |
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