Hello diy community,
I was one of the many who got hooked by the symasym hype train, soldered a few together and was quite happy about the result.
Very recently, i decided to build a few more amplifiers for center and rear speakers which pulled me back to the diyaudio boards.
Because i can already tick the box at discrete amplifiers ... and the Symasym somehow seems to have fallen out of time, i was now thinking of chip amplifiers....
After a little research, the old known gainclone variants also seem no longer up to date and not really available due to chip shortages...
So class D it is!
But honestly? The whole topic feels like i have actually fallen out of time 😀
Most of the builds i see are made from aliexpress boards with switching power supplies? I even saw some LED PSUs screwed into the case?? Pure blasphemy!!!! 😀
But seriously: is class D too complicated, SMD too small to push for real DIY amplifiers?
Never mind... the whole class d efficiency, available DSP for active crossovers etc. are way too fascinating.
To get started, i would like to build a >3 Channel amplifier with a good value that can outperform or at least keep up with my symasym regarding sound quality.
In addition, i would like to use one of the ADAU1701 boards (tinysine TSA1701) for room correction and crossovers.
There are currently two chips that seem to be en vogue: the MA12070 and the TPA3255
After digging through a few posts and dead aliexpress links, i found some options:
the PL-AD-160 with MA12070 seems to be accepted with the capability of providing 4 (20W) Channels for 50€
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/ampl...lifier-module-ma12070-160w-4-ohm-p-14732.html
Some wrote, that the TPA3255 sounds better but is more expensive....
but this board right here comes for 30€ (two channels) and is actually affordable as well
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005004891306422.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.7cec3a64R2jRwy&algo_pvid=15009b9a-fe1b-47a7-8be3-b5011ff84344&algo_exp_id=15009b9a-fe1b-47a7-8be3-b5011ff84344-5&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000030912292550"}&pdp_npi=2@dis!EUR!44.92!30.09!!!!!@2100bdd516676701151605743ec78e!12000030912292550!sea&curPageLogUid=jUQqLNz7Fk0t
which board should i try?
And what PSU should i take?
I used to solder huge capacitor banks into the PSU etc... can i actually use 24V LED PSUs for the MA12070 without hearing any noise and loss in dynamic sound?
Do you guys have a good value recommendation for me that fits theses lovely class d chips?
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005002843829663.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.47596d4b4XsFsi&algo_pvid=aef4cdf3-72dd-4a0c-80bc-f487228b0dce&aem_p4p_detail=202211051440373324342316823640002269095&algo_exp_id=aef4cdf3-72dd-4a0c-80bc-f487228b0dce-9&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000022434674607"}&pdp_npi=2@dis!EUR!8.39!3.77!!!!!@0b0a050116676844378256993e414f!12000022434674607!sea&curPageLogUid=kJsyApIyCJ6B&ad_pvid=202211051440373324342316823640002269095_2
I would be really grateful if you could walk me a little throu all the options, chips boards etc.
Thanks alot!
Samuel
I was one of the many who got hooked by the symasym hype train, soldered a few together and was quite happy about the result.
Very recently, i decided to build a few more amplifiers for center and rear speakers which pulled me back to the diyaudio boards.
Because i can already tick the box at discrete amplifiers ... and the Symasym somehow seems to have fallen out of time, i was now thinking of chip amplifiers....
After a little research, the old known gainclone variants also seem no longer up to date and not really available due to chip shortages...
So class D it is!
But honestly? The whole topic feels like i have actually fallen out of time 😀
Most of the builds i see are made from aliexpress boards with switching power supplies? I even saw some LED PSUs screwed into the case?? Pure blasphemy!!!! 😀
But seriously: is class D too complicated, SMD too small to push for real DIY amplifiers?
Never mind... the whole class d efficiency, available DSP for active crossovers etc. are way too fascinating.
To get started, i would like to build a >3 Channel amplifier with a good value that can outperform or at least keep up with my symasym regarding sound quality.
In addition, i would like to use one of the ADAU1701 boards (tinysine TSA1701) for room correction and crossovers.
There are currently two chips that seem to be en vogue: the MA12070 and the TPA3255
After digging through a few posts and dead aliexpress links, i found some options:
the PL-AD-160 with MA12070 seems to be accepted with the capability of providing 4 (20W) Channels for 50€
https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/ampl...lifier-module-ma12070-160w-4-ohm-p-14732.html
Some wrote, that the TPA3255 sounds better but is more expensive....
but this board right here comes for 30€ (two channels) and is actually affordable as well
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005004891306422.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.7cec3a64R2jRwy&algo_pvid=15009b9a-fe1b-47a7-8be3-b5011ff84344&algo_exp_id=15009b9a-fe1b-47a7-8be3-b5011ff84344-5&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000030912292550"}&pdp_npi=2@dis!EUR!44.92!30.09!!!!!@2100bdd516676701151605743ec78e!12000030912292550!sea&curPageLogUid=jUQqLNz7Fk0t
which board should i try?
And what PSU should i take?
I used to solder huge capacitor banks into the PSU etc... can i actually use 24V LED PSUs for the MA12070 without hearing any noise and loss in dynamic sound?
Do you guys have a good value recommendation for me that fits theses lovely class d chips?
https://de.aliexpress.com/item/1005002843829663.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.47596d4b4XsFsi&algo_pvid=aef4cdf3-72dd-4a0c-80bc-f487228b0dce&aem_p4p_detail=202211051440373324342316823640002269095&algo_exp_id=aef4cdf3-72dd-4a0c-80bc-f487228b0dce-9&pdp_ext_f={"sku_id":"12000022434674607"}&pdp_npi=2@dis!EUR!8.39!3.77!!!!!@0b0a050116676844378256993e414f!12000022434674607!sea&curPageLogUid=kJsyApIyCJ6B&ad_pvid=202211051440373324342316823640002269095_2
I would be really grateful if you could walk me a little throu all the options, chips boards etc.
Thanks alot!
Samuel
Sounds like a love letter with single dialog. Use the search feature I'm sure you will find answers.
The best Class D amp I'm aware of is the Purifi 1ET400A. I use a Hypex SMPS1200A400 to power two of them in a stereo amp.
Tom
Tom
I'd start fleshing this out into a spec e.g.
- I am willing / not willing to design PCBs and have them fabricated
- I am willing to spend X
- When I refer to sound quality, the metric I'm interested in achieving is a THD of 0.X% at a power level of X watts per channel into an Xohm load
I'll be doing similar and my approach will probably be to take heavy influence from one of the TI or Infineon evaluation module designs - as a beginner I'm hoping that copying well documented designs made by the manufacturers will leave less room for error.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to reply.
@ Reactance: Thats an ongoing process... but its definitly not easy to get a good overview for someone with little experience in this field.
These forums are not a summary of knowledge but a collection of discussions?
@tom: The Purifi 1ET400A looks actually affordable and excellent! But i guess i would start with something to play with and learn.
@drkmatr: Thanks for the questions!
1. Yes i am 🙂
But it seems like the class D community is more in to assembling/modifying boards?
If thats the general way, i would start with this approach as well.
2. About 100€-150€ for stereo
My benchmark is something like a cheap symasym with similar community support.
3. I have little real experience about the sound of X THD. I guess something <0.01% and something thats fun to listen to 🙂
Power ratings somewhere near the symasym (100W@4Ohm)
I honestly didn't expect any more answers to my post... so i just ordered a few boards..
I ordered a TP3255 Board
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004891306422.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.4af31802TCrIoO
And a MA12070 Board
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003472910959.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.4af31802TCrIoO
and (hopefully) suitable PSUs (24V and 48V)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004744139067.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.4af31802TCrIoO
I will run these amplifiers via soundcard and Equalizer APO first. Thats something i can already work with.
My plan is to compare these boards with my Symasyms... and "optimize" a few parts on the TPA3255 board.
I think thats a similar approach as drkmtr suggested?
In total, i have spent about 110€ on everything so far which sounds like a great price performance to me..
In case someone is interested, i will try to post some measurements in the next weeks..
@ Reactance: Thats an ongoing process... but its definitly not easy to get a good overview for someone with little experience in this field.
These forums are not a summary of knowledge but a collection of discussions?
@tom: The Purifi 1ET400A looks actually affordable and excellent! But i guess i would start with something to play with and learn.
@drkmatr: Thanks for the questions!
1. Yes i am 🙂
But it seems like the class D community is more in to assembling/modifying boards?
If thats the general way, i would start with this approach as well.
2. About 100€-150€ for stereo
My benchmark is something like a cheap symasym with similar community support.
3. I have little real experience about the sound of X THD. I guess something <0.01% and something thats fun to listen to 🙂
Power ratings somewhere near the symasym (100W@4Ohm)
I honestly didn't expect any more answers to my post... so i just ordered a few boards..
I ordered a TP3255 Board
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004891306422.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.4af31802TCrIoO
And a MA12070 Board
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003472910959.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.4af31802TCrIoO
and (hopefully) suitable PSUs (24V and 48V)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004744139067.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.4af31802TCrIoO
I will run these amplifiers via soundcard and Equalizer APO first. Thats something i can already work with.
My plan is to compare these boards with my Symasyms... and "optimize" a few parts on the TPA3255 board.
I think thats a similar approach as drkmtr suggested?
In total, i have spent about 110€ on everything so far which sounds like a great price performance to me..
In case someone is interested, i will try to post some measurements in the next weeks..