Alpha Nirvana 39w 8ohm Class A Amp

I have a question. My friend also wants to build a class A amplifier, but 15-20 watts of power is enough for him. What amplifier can be close in quality to AN but with less power? Maybe M2X, or maybe it is possible to modify AN to reduce power (lower supply voltage, etc.)? Or JLH2003.
 
I have a question. My friend also wants to build a class A amplifier, but 15-20 watts of power is enough for him. What amplifier can be close in quality to AN but with less power?

I would suggest your friend may be ... confused, is the best term. 🙂

How come he thinks "15-20w" is sufficient to give him great sound?

Great sound is not about the RMS power required to give a good volume of sound from his "XdB" efficient spkrs. We need to allow for transients - ie. at least 10x the theoretical power.

Why don't you build the AN ... and then, when you have got it working - take it over to his place and see whether the red "clip LEDs" ever light up with his spkrs? 😀
 
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How come he thinks "15-20w" is sufficient to give him great sound?

He listens to music at low volume, 5-7 watts.

OK, so then - to cope with transients - he may need 50-70w?

Of course, it depends on what sort of music he listens to. Jazz trios or girl-with-a-guitar don't need as much power as a symphony. 😱

Why don't you build the AN ... and then, when you have got it working - take it over to his place and see whether the red "clip LEDs" ever light up with his spkrs?

great idea 😀

Looking forward to hearing the outcome. 👍
 
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I can well understand that, yes, it "works" - ie. makes a sound.

But for "perfect" ... I suggest you need to do a direct comparison with an SLB-equipped AN. 🙂
Thank you for your unbiased opinion 😀. I am sure the SLB works as expected. My problem is the transformer.
The amp is close to where I sit and all large toroids I've tested produce a mechanical hum which I find very annoying and a show stopper.
In addition, I found that the SMPS I used performed surprisingly well. There is absolutely no hiss, no mains hum and no voltage sag.
This is what you expect from any PSU, after all.
 
Thank you for your unbiased opinion 😀.

C'mon - we're all biased, here! 😀

I am sure the SLB works as expected. My problem is the transformer.
The amp is close to where I sit and all large toroids I've tested produce a mechanical hum which I find very annoying and a show stopper.

Your mains supply would appear to be different to what I have here. (Do you have a solar power system?)

Yes, physically humming power transformers are a show stopper. Luckily ... I don't experience them. Maybe you need a DC blocker between your wall socket and the amp?

In addition, I found that the SMPS I used performed surprisingly well. There is absolutely no hiss, no mains hum and no voltage sag.
This is what you expect from any PSU, after all.

Indeed! Excellent if that's what you've experienced. 👍
 
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Now that we have several builds of this amp both in 8R and 4R which preamp do people pair with? I am using a HPA1 clone and like it slight better over FE22 dual mono. I feel the amp can shine even more with the right preamp in the setup considering I use mostly a DIY streamer of Pi4+Pi2AES via coaxial to AYA5 TDA1541 dac. Sometimes I do use my Soekris 1021 R2R dac but still prefer AYA5 over this dac. Speakers are PAP Trio 15 clones.

Thanks
 
Now that we have several builds of this amp both in 8R and 4R which preamp do people pair with?

I don't use a 'preamp', as such - as all my sources are digital.

So I use:
* a 4-way digital source selector (Audio Authority 1177A-1), to choose the source.
* the chosen source then gets fed into my miniDSP 'nanoDIGI', which provides:
- the XOs for my active spkrs,
- volume control,
- and room correction.

Between the nanoDIGI and the amps are 3x DACs.
 
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manniraj,

Any info on what drivers you built the Trio clones with. Any build plans available. The retail model looks spectacular.

MM
My build here - https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/ultimate-open-baffle-gallery.123512/post-7808646 and if you scroll on few pages back I have documented the build pics. I followed the below link to build mine including the Leonidas crossover where I could source pair of original crossover pcb boards from another member.

You can follow the build of PAP Trio 15 clones on - https://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/pap-trio-15-and-diy-discussion.6197/
 
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In my Alpha I have Mundorf Supreme EVO Oil 5.6uF, sounds great to me in the Alpha.
Never heard that much layered detail on my speakers.
I'm looking at these as an option for my build, and I noticed that there are a few voltage options 450, 600, 800 - I'm assuming these have other differences as well. Does this make much of a difference? Which did you use @danny_66 ?
 
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I'm looking at these as an option for my build, and I noticed that there are a few voltage options 450, 600, 800 - I'm assuming these have other differences as well. Does this make much of a difference? Which did you use ?
Hi,
the one with the lowest voltage because those are the smallest, the others get way too big for 5.6-10uf.
The higher voltage ones use a thicker foil and that's not needed for a line level input capacitor.
For my Alpha Nirvana I used the ClarityCap PUR 250Vdc, they're also very good.