Cheap TPA3118D2 boards, modding them and everything that comes with it

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#1,842
irribeo said:
alkasar reacted to posters preferring the volt+ and asked: does it measure the same or better?
I reacted: or worse?

Automatic assumption: people will prefer better.

Kingrex Tripath is an example of worse performing Tripath-design, audiophiles prefer. Most other Tripath designs are better.

Because this thread is about tpa3116/18 I mentioned the poor chinese tube amps posters prefer, best in front of worst tpa3116/18 double chip ampboard posters prefer, into Fostex or Lowther speakers, remember audio is all about synergy, making the right combinations, posters prefer.
Posters will swear this is the audiophile dream combination. It beats or equals $$$$$ expensive audiophile tube based systems.

You can't measure audiophiles, you cannot make assumptions about them.

The volt+ might measure better, might measure worse.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clearing up.
Only using Kingrex PSU these days which is the best I have.
 
#1,843
DJ le Roi said:
In exchange for a review CDGAMES sent me the Allo Volt+ amp. I received it a few days ago. I already told CDGAMES that I cannot write a technical review because I am not a technical person. What I can write is my personal experience with the Volt+ amp.

A few years ago I discovered the Class D amp. I bought a Tripath amp (2021 Indeed Hifi) for my study room and I liked it. After reading many pages in audioforums I bought a SMSL SA-60 amp (TPA3116). I liked it much more than my Tripath amp and I gave the Tripath amp to a friend.

After a few months I exchanged the laptop power supply for a linear power supply (Delta Elektronica M24-12HE. In the Netherlands, where I live, they are not as expensive as on ebay).

The 24V linear power supply had a big impact on the sound. In my opinion everything was better.

After enjoying the SMSL/Delta combination for a year or so, I read about the TPA3118 Sanwu monoboards. I ordered two, connected them (unmodded) with the Delta Elektronika PS and the Iqaudio Dac and I couldn’t stop listening. It was so captivating. I listened to this combination for half a year.

Then I read about the Volt+. CDGAMES sent me one. The board is quite heavy and soldering is good. I started to listen together with a friend (who has a technical background). We connected the Volt+ to the Delta Elektronika PS and the Raspberry Pi Zero/ IQaudio (we used three batteries, 5V, 5V, 3,3V) and my B&W DM5 speaker. We started to listen.

We listened to:
-Nathalie Merchant
-Tracy Chapman
-Lucy Ward
-Youn Sun Nah – Album: Lento
-Steven Bernstein – Album: Diaspora Soul

It was ok. There was no hiss when we paused the music. The sound was detailed, powerful, stereo-image was ok, middle notes were ok. But the high and low notes were not very good, muddy, and female voices were not captivating. Don’t understand me wrong, it was not bad, but it was, in our opinion, worse than the Sanwu monoboards. It was not very musical. After half an hour we wanted to stop listening.

Then I thought: Well the Volt+ has a Capacitance Multiplier so may be it’s a good idea to exchange the Delta Elektronika 24V Linear PS for a laptop PS. That’s what I did and what a difference it made! We listened the same songs and more and more. How does this song sound on the Volt+? And this song? Female voices were terrific.

In our opinion, the laptop PSU made the Volt+ better in every way. I will try to describe the sound, realizing it’s very difficult and subjective to describe a sound in words!

There is space between the instruments. It’s not muddy or woolly. It’s transparent. The high notes are clean. 3D imaging is good. Beautiful bass. The sound is quiet (probably the wrong word in English) and in control. The sound is detailed (not too much, exactly good) and dynamic.

We listened to Youn Sun Nah (Empty Dream from the album Lento) and it was breath-taking! Never heard it so! We listened to Steven Bernstein (L’Chaim from the album Diaspora Soul – it is one of my favourite albums). Perfect, completely in control, detailed, dynamic. We listened to the new Leonard Cohen single Want it darker (the only song we listened on Spotify). We never heard it more beautiful!

At the end of our listening session we gave marks:
Sanwu monoboards (unmodded) with 24V Linear PS – 7,5 (on a scale from 1-10)
Volt+ with 24V Linear PS – 6,5 (on a scale from 1-10)
Volt+ with 19V laptop PS – 9,0 (on a scale from 1-10)

We listened much more than we planned. And to summarize my/our experience: This is a very musical Amp. That my friend also wants to buy one says enough….
Click to expand...

An addition to my review: I turned the trimmer pot and the voltage dropped to 22.5 Volt. The sound was better, less muddy, more lively but ... not as good as the 19V laptop powersupply. I think 19V is de optimal voltage for the Volt+ amplifier. The sound is imho very good.
 
#1,844
Hello everyone ,

thx you very much for your kind words on the Volt+

I want to announce that next week we will release a 24 stepped attenuator made with 0.1% thin film (audio grade) resistors. (of course 10k potentimeter)

It will improve your Volt+ further.

I have attached the prototype pics, mass production will start next week.
 

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