This new unit only has 2 inductors while the other YJ tpa3116 has 4.
Lots of room on this new board...
Of course the burning the question is, which one sounds better or can potentially send better with mods.
Hi everyone, just by the looks of the components can anyone guess which one of these supposed to sound better?
This one I found on eBay:
Latest HiFi 2 0 Stereo Output Digital Power Amplifier TPA3116 50WX2 by WLX New | eBay
or
SMSL SA-36A Pro
I like to inductors and minimum use of SMDs about the first unit, but maybe there is something I don't understand about SMSL SA-36A Pro? .))
Going to use with 24v power supply,
Thanks!
This one I found on eBay:
Latest HiFi 2 0 Stereo Output Digital Power Amplifier TPA3116 50WX2 by WLX New | eBay
or
SMSL SA-36A Pro
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
I like to inductors and minimum use of SMDs about the first unit, but maybe there is something I don't understand about SMSL SA-36A Pro? .))
Going to use with 24v power supply,
Thanks!
This also has 4. They are either double units or back to back - you can see 4 solder connections each.
it is the AC1308 sold by audiobah on ebay copied by YJ.
inductors are 22uH:
http://www.sagami-elec.co.jp/file/7G09B.pdf
inductors are 22uH:
http://www.sagami-elec.co.jp/file/7G09B.pdf
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Maybe you don't know this but all components are being faked in China. SMSL looks a lot better...
Amplifier Board TPA3116 Class D 2X50W The Only with Speaker Protection | eBay
by autobah
They also post the schematics in the pics. Looks like SMSL copied the board but use a better pcb and components.
by autobah
They also post the schematics in the pics. Looks like SMSL copied the board but use a better pcb and components.
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Looks like someone is reading these boards.
Latest Version with Extra SMD BOOTSTRAP CAPACITORS Footprint !!
Pop free in stand by mode
Ultimate V1 TPA3116 Class D Stereo Power Amplifier Board w Bootstrap Caps | eBay
Latest Version with Extra SMD BOOTSTRAP CAPACITORS Footprint !!
Pop free in stand by mode
Ultimate V1 TPA3116 Class D Stereo Power Amplifier Board w Bootstrap Caps | eBay
??? YJ copied this AC1308, copied layout, just put values on silk like he does on other pcb's. Isn't 100% equal pcbtraces but very very close. Partvalues in silk for decoupling ceramics differ from Original. Original board is a little cheaper then YJ is offering it for. Audiobah has been offering the board for huge price.
Here is the link.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=8035214&postcount=363
I have the 2 tubes version of this preamp.
I had the same conclusion as yours before I applied the described mods from this post:
I changed the poor capacitors to russian capacitors (2.2uf each),
I changed the input resistors to high value.
I removed the terminal and directly connect the preamp to my modded TPA3116.
I changed the chinese crappy tubes to russian tubes.
What I can say about the result:
When I first try this preamp with the TPA3116 I thought there was no major improvements (but few improvements for sure).
Then I upgraded the preamp, and I thought again there was little improvements.
Recently, I had to directly link my raspberry pi to the TPA3116 with a new I2S 9023 DAC, without the preamp. I thought: OK, little improvement + little improvement = Huge improvements.
Definitely, without this preamp in my system, the soundstage feel flat, event if it can compete with an excellent class D amplifier, as the soundstage of the modded TPA3116 is here.
With this preamp and mods, the sound is more spatial, high frequencies are better, low range frequencies as well. Perfect instrument separation. For french people words are: This is night and days.
definitely, for me, Tubes with TPA 3116 bring to the DIY scene a clear and not so expensive winner system.
I don't know if tramsformers have the same results or better, or if it can be mixed with this 'cheap' but nice preamp, but this preamp was less expensive for me, as shipping cost to France for transformers are very expensive, and I am very happy with the result.
My next ideas:
1/ Buy the 3 tube version for my TPA 3116 or an AIKIDO preamp, or maybe another tube preamp, to compare.
2/ DSP to TPA3116.
I think with DSP we can have better results as it is 100% possible to copy the soundstage of a preamp, and make DRC as well (google audio Convolution, or audio FIR filters).
I just bought TSM32F4 prototype. I don't know what can be the performance, but it is a good way to improve my knowlegde on it, make the code, plug the DAC, the TPA3116, raspberry, etc... Maybe try to find people who would like to make an open source project.
I don't want to try miniDSP. I don't like the specifications, but I have to admit it is an interesting alternative.
3/ Maybe try the low cost transformer described few posts below for my TPA3116, but I have lacks in electronic signals to clearly understand from the specifications the gaps between this transformer and Cinemag & co.
I guess YJ is cutting back on their "R & D" budget and just copy other design that has been shown to work. My experience with the AC1308 boards is quite positive, before I burnt them out.
The price is good as compared to the AC1308 sold by Audiobah. Actually, all these boards are about the same price in China (check TB). Audiobah just mark up the price on EBAY by a big margin.
Regards,
Your statement is a little over exaggerated - may be it should read ".... components are being copied...".
By the way, can you assure that all the components used in the SMSL are "real"?
Regards,
Yeah, my thoughts exactly - also SMSL SA-36A Pro uses lower power TPA3118 chip compared to TPA3116 in this unit:
And this one is a bit less expansive, having less parts in general and lacking the SMDs all around, not to mention the toroid inductors (btw don't know how they would compare to TDK wirewound in SMSL) - all this lead me to a conclusion that it might be a bit better unit overall than SA-36A Pro, but I still decided to ask around.))
And this one is a bit less expansive, having less parts in general and lacking the SMDs all around, not to mention the toroid inductors (btw don't know how they would compare to TDK wirewound in SMSL) - all this lead me to a conclusion that it might be a bit better unit overall than SA-36A Pro, but I still decided to ask around.))
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I don't know the sure 3116.
I can say Holly Cole "I can see clearly now" with this system does not sound distorded for me. I can clearly and distincly ear the sound of each instrument, as well as the respiration of the singer, and of course her beautifull voice which is not distorded, and this is what I like.
But I have not as much experiences as some other guys on this thread to compare.
All kind of components are being copied. Shiny green Vishay on SMSL look great, TDK inductors too, Panasonic electrolytics. Btw you do understand that Chinese copy brands? So are any real? I think if a producer buys part on open Chinese market chances are they bought fakes. If Vishay sells the caps in grey for some time, I don't think they stock them in green. The shiny part of appearance might also be suspect, I don't know, just remember seeing non-shining green Vishays. The TDK inductors are getting more popular these days in China, the cheapest new 3116 ampboards start using them on Taobao, so they are sold cheaper then the brandless inductors seen on YJblue, that is amazing isn't it?
WLX shows Sanyo's with wrong vent. Some Evox/Rifa parts, Wima. Very cool parts too, for no money. Rubycon issued a statement not so long ago, now fake Rubycons have become so close in looks, it isn't possible to identify fake from real by looking at some of them.
I have both Amps that you're talking about. The SMSL may be shiny but I believe you guys are correct that the Vishays are probably copies. The Sanyo on the WLX are also copies. The only "real" component on that board perhaps are the WIMA caps on the WLX, but those are possibly USED, according to a fellow forum member I trust.
The good news is once you swap the copies out for real caps, you've got some pretty nice performers. Skylab or impulse explained above that the toroids on the WLX are actually not bad, considering what they are.
To at least give you some experience, modding the WLX with two simple mods, throw away those Sanyo copies and put in some Panasonic FM caps, I replaced the caps between the WIMA and the heatsink with Nichicon ES or Nichicon FGs and it sounded quite good.
I modded the SMSL with SEPF Oscons and Panasonic FMs and although it improved the sound from stock, compared to the WLX (going from memory here) it didn't have quite the impact and emphasis that I liked.
Completely stock, the SMSL sounded better out of the box I believe. The WLX had some hiss issue when nothing was playing, even at low volumes. Replacing the caps helped. Hope this gives you some insight
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