Hi. Anyone tried this
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
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From a slightly different barrel.
I am currently using Rotel RSX1056 with 3e-audio as final amplification stage. Very happy. A friend asked me for a ready product with this chip. Searching reveals that if I want a convenient affordable out of the box solution then Pioneer is making some affordable d-class stuff.
Has anyone looked into Pioneer XC-HM86? It apparently uses TPA3251, however powered at low voltage. I wonder if it is any good out of the box and if it could be further improved. I wonder what other Pioneer/Onkyo AMPs/receivers are using this chip? Or maybe some other manufacturer (bells and whistles welcome - Dolby, network, 5.1 etc...).
Pioneer XC-HM86 網路CD收音擴大機-普洛影音網
I am currently using Rotel RSX1056 with 3e-audio as final amplification stage. Very happy. A friend asked me for a ready product with this chip. Searching reveals that if I want a convenient affordable out of the box solution then Pioneer is making some affordable d-class stuff.
Has anyone looked into Pioneer XC-HM86? It apparently uses TPA3251, however powered at low voltage. I wonder if it is any good out of the box and if it could be further improved. I wonder what other Pioneer/Onkyo AMPs/receivers are using this chip? Or maybe some other manufacturer (bells and whistles welcome - Dolby, network, 5.1 etc...).
Pioneer XC-HM86 網路CD收音擴大機-普洛影音網
I could think of many better ways of spending €400+ and start modding.
The problem with these products is, they want to convince you to throw away all your old gear, which can do most of the included functions better, except for the software gimmicks.
The logical add on, which is a " internet alone tuner", is more expensive than this "All In One" junk, which will not work anymore in 3 years, because the software is never updated, as promised before they got your money. Then you buy a new one, just to use your, then favorite, new audio streaming service, which is not supported any more.
Better, use a smart phone for this short lived, new streaming services and keep your old gear.
This view may not be securing work places in Vietnam, sorry.
The problem with these products is, they want to convince you to throw away all your old gear, which can do most of the included functions better, except for the software gimmicks.
The logical add on, which is a " internet alone tuner", is more expensive than this "All In One" junk, which will not work anymore in 3 years, because the software is never updated, as promised before they got your money. Then you buy a new one, just to use your, then favorite, new audio streaming service, which is not supported any more.
Better, use a smart phone for this short lived, new streaming services and keep your old gear.
This view may not be securing work places in Vietnam, sorry.
Well that is exactly the reason why I still keep using my old rotel and 3e-audio TPA as an amp connected into it (for the fronts). Probably logical addition would be a good bluetooth that I could stick into it and use the phone for streaming anything inluding DLNA (instead of tv).
(And yet I still managed to supported a good company from far east - 3e audio).
However I was thinking of a ready, out of the box solution for somebody who doesn't have an old gear and does not want to build it from scratch (time is also money and WAF is important). Some functions like DLNA and let's say dolby digital, won't die overnight. To build a convenient 5.1 receiver from scratch with dolby digital, and DLNA wouldn't be that easy and adding up all components would make it probably higher then 400usd. Also not everybody want to go raspberry Pi way, add all the remote functions... so on on.
Rotel has some nice DSP modules + class-d amps. However this is already expensive. Pioneer/Onkyo got into class d recently and I was thinking of looking into one of those, however it is hard to figure our what they sticked into that stuff. They mostly mention only DAC used. So far I found that this little fellow is using tpa3251 which gives a hope of good sound (it is not 5.1 however). I do not see a reason why it would be worse than little amps from ebay. Maybe they also use TPA325x also in some entry level 5.1 stuff which could be a good buy.
Just let everybody know that I ordered and received the eBay amp above that shows pictures of a toroidal transformer. NO TOROIDAL, requires external power supply. Bogus listing with a bait and switch scheme. There are several sellers using these bogus pictures of TPA3255 amp illustrating the toroidal and on off switch in the back. DO NOT BITE ON THESE FALSE PICTURES. Thanks
Thanks. Looks like the XC-HM86 is the only one on TPA325x. TAS5342 seems to be outdated at the moment. I haven't heard it but it doesn't receive such enthusiastic opinions like TPA or i.e. IcePower.
From the eBay add:
" In August 2017, when I visited the Hong Kong International Recordings Fair, I was fortunate to hear a digital amplifier with a price of 78,000rmb. Since that ear, I changed the idea of not being able to listen to the class D amp and created the idea of making it.
After the recommendation and guidance of Ti Chinese engineers, the final selection of TPA3255 at zero- is that the most important factor is that the sound is good and the dynamic is very strong.
After nearly eight months of schooling at the zero-zone Hong Kong team, it was finally available in the market."
So if I understand it right, he did not know what a D-amp was, but developed one in 8 month and put it on the market. He decided that what he thought was good sound and dynamics is important, the rest doesn´t care that much.
I´m sure the DIYaudio staff will happily modify his product until it works, so he can do a second edition, maybe called "Zero point one".
Sure an interesting story, probably the usual way Chinese specialists are formed.
I think I can imagine why his company is named "Zero".
" In August 2017, when I visited the Hong Kong International Recordings Fair, I was fortunate to hear a digital amplifier with a price of 78,000rmb. Since that ear, I changed the idea of not being able to listen to the class D amp and created the idea of making it.
After the recommendation and guidance of Ti Chinese engineers, the final selection of TPA3255 at zero- is that the most important factor is that the sound is good and the dynamic is very strong.
After nearly eight months of schooling at the zero-zone Hong Kong team, it was finally available in the market."
So if I understand it right, he did not know what a D-amp was, but developed one in 8 month and put it on the market. He decided that what he thought was good sound and dynamics is important, the rest doesn´t care that much.
I´m sure the DIYaudio staff will happily modify his product until it works, so he can do a second edition, maybe called "Zero point one".
Sure an interesting story, probably the usual way Chinese specialists are formed.
I think I can imagine why his company is named "Zero".
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That's an unusual interpretation. The quote specifically says he couldn't listen to it i.e he hated the sound of Class D amps. So now he has gone from hating them to designing one based on the TPA3255 which he believes both sounds good and is able to drive speakers without limitation (dynamics).
Maybe I've read so many Chi-fi ebay marketing I can interpret them without thinking. Also, Zero Zone makes solid products. Not up to diyaudio standards maybe (does any retail gear EVER meet our standards?), but a good reputation nonetheless.
Has a different output configuration than typical. No large PS caps or are they the 10k on the side?
Attachments
Very friendly interpretation, indeed.
He made the amp with the help of the TI service, so he asked in the engineer forum of TI. They told him what he did wrong, while making it cheaper than the sample design.
I have read a lot in this TI forum and the patience of these TI people answering the most stupid questions, is fantastic.
You won´t get that service at ICE, Siemens or Hypex, I fear.
So from noob to high end developer in only 8 month with finished product.
What an incredible waste of time, if you think of people like Nelson Pass and the time they put into their education and developments.
The board looks neat, nice colors and symmetrical row´s of part´s. Like the Chinese military stages it´s nukes.
My only fear, this board will be quite far away from a high frequency optimized one. Does not matter that much, as long as it explodes in Western living rooms...
I like 3e-audio products much better, they look like someone learned about electronics a bit longer than only 8 month.
Read how you can activate "symmetric input" or "blance" as they call it. You have to remove SMD parts. How stupid, with a little thought, a jumper would have been all needed. But for 8 month, maybe OK.
He made the amp with the help of the TI service, so he asked in the engineer forum of TI. They told him what he did wrong, while making it cheaper than the sample design.
I have read a lot in this TI forum and the patience of these TI people answering the most stupid questions, is fantastic.
You won´t get that service at ICE, Siemens or Hypex, I fear.
So from noob to high end developer in only 8 month with finished product.
What an incredible waste of time, if you think of people like Nelson Pass and the time they put into their education and developments.
The board looks neat, nice colors and symmetrical row´s of part´s. Like the Chinese military stages it´s nukes.
My only fear, this board will be quite far away from a high frequency optimized one. Does not matter that much, as long as it explodes in Western living rooms...
I like 3e-audio products much better, they look like someone learned about electronics a bit longer than only 8 month.
Read how you can activate "symmetric input" or "blance" as they call it. You have to remove SMD parts. How stupid, with a little thought, a jumper would have been all needed. But for 8 month, maybe OK.
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