Purrdy!
That sounds about right. I'm at 2-2.5 hours per board. But then, my fingers have also been preset to bend resistor leads to a 400 mil pin pitch since, oh, about sixth grade... 🙂
~Tom
Workin on it! Hopefully tomorrow. The good weather in NC had me divert to painting. Tomorrow is rain, so I have a chance!
Public service announcement
Just injecting that the Modulus-86 board can be used with the LM3876 as well.
I'm listening to a Modulus-86 in >>>STEREO<<< where one channel is LM3886-based and the other LM3876-based. The supply voltage is ±15 V. This is intended as a low-power build to drive a pair of computer speakers.
I stand by my previous comment that if the amp sounds good in mono, it will sound amazing in stereo. It really does sound amazing. I'm spinning Eric Clapton, "Unplugged"; Dire Straits, "On Every Street" and "Brothers in Arms". I'm seriously impressed. The speakers are Alpair 6P in an enclosure designed by Planet-10. The enclosure is originally designed for the metal cone version of the driver, but take the center port fill out and it'll work with the paper cone version.
I actually can't tell any difference in sound quality or measurements between the LM3886 and the LM3876 channels. I'm sure I can measure a few minute differences, I just haven't gotten there yet. I was a bit eager to get the contraption hooked up to my speakers... 🙂
~Tom
Just injecting that the Modulus-86 board can be used with the LM3876 as well.
I'm listening to a Modulus-86 in >>>STEREO<<< where one channel is LM3886-based and the other LM3876-based. The supply voltage is ±15 V. This is intended as a low-power build to drive a pair of computer speakers.
I stand by my previous comment that if the amp sounds good in mono, it will sound amazing in stereo. It really does sound amazing. I'm spinning Eric Clapton, "Unplugged"; Dire Straits, "On Every Street" and "Brothers in Arms". I'm seriously impressed. The speakers are Alpair 6P in an enclosure designed by Planet-10. The enclosure is originally designed for the metal cone version of the driver, but take the center port fill out and it'll work with the paper cone version.
I actually can't tell any difference in sound quality or measurements between the LM3886 and the LM3876 channels. I'm sure I can measure a few minute differences, I just haven't gotten there yet. I was a bit eager to get the contraption hooked up to my speakers... 🙂
~Tom
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Annoying. Hope you can sacrifice something to the cause. Not even a ratshack near you?
I have made interconnects out of solder in the past when desperate. And Pano has proved that 8 out of 10 listeners cannot tell a banana from wire!
I have made interconnects out of solder in the past when desperate. And Pano has proved that 8 out of 10 listeners cannot tell a banana from wire!
The project is strated
I have received my board yesterday. I decidied to test my capability with the easiest part, the power supply. I am still waiting for the enclosure.
So far so good... Instructions provided by Tom are very clear.
Dominique
I have received my board yesterday. I decidied to test my capability with the easiest part, the power supply. I am still waiting for the enclosure.
So far so good... Instructions provided by Tom are very clear.
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Dominique
Hi Tom,
Good news !
It is available from mouser, and it looks better regarding datasheet.
For low power needed (10/15 watt) with low voltage (12/18 volts), maybe it's a good way ?
Phil.
I'm running mine at ±15~16 V using an Antek AN-0512 (2x12 V, 50 VA) and a Power-86 board with 2x33000 uF, 25 V caps. Works great!
To run at low voltage, you need to swap a couple of resistors on the MOD86 board to ensure proper regulation of the on-board voltage regulators. That's now described in the design doc.
If you need the latest doc, just email me. List the email address you used to buy the boards so I can find you in my records.
~Tom
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Looking good Dominique!! Good way to ease into the build!
I need 100 feet of ICs for 3way active and for WAF gear placement, so I ordered a wad of cheapo from redco.com, Gotham GAC2 foil shield, only .20/ft! Gotham is good stuff but this version has minimum shielding, which I don't really need anyway. Balanced, twisted and foil shield should be plenty for home use. I've used unshielded SE cables before with no prob.
Edit: Glad it still sounds good in stereo Tom! 😀
I need 100 feet of ICs for 3way active and for WAF gear placement, so I ordered a wad of cheapo from redco.com, Gotham GAC2 foil shield, only .20/ft! Gotham is good stuff but this version has minimum shielding, which I don't really need anyway. Balanced, twisted and foil shield should be plenty for home use. I've used unshielded SE cables before with no prob.
Edit: Glad it still sounds good in stereo Tom! 😀
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Hi Tom,
I have not yet purchased M86, but thank's for proposal !
I keep this idea with LM3876, maybe for spring.
Phil.
I have not yet purchased M86, but thank's for proposal !
I keep this idea with LM3876, maybe for spring.
Phil.
Some of the headline specs of the LM3876 are better than those of the LM3886. SNR, for example. I also suspect some builders like the idea of the lower current limit on the LM3876 as a "safe & sane" approach to give some protection against speaker blow-out. There are probably others who simply have a personal preference for the LM3876 over the LM3886, or maybe have a large stock of the LM3876.
Perhaps we can entice Phil to elaborate on his reasons for using the LM3876...
Aside from the lower output current, hence, possibly lower output power, I doubt there'll be any measurable difference between a MOD86 using the LM3886 and one using the LM3876.
~Tom
Perhaps we can entice Phil to elaborate on his reasons for using the LM3876...
Aside from the lower output current, hence, possibly lower output power, I doubt there'll be any measurable difference between a MOD86 using the LM3886 and one using the LM3876.
~Tom
I wonder if 3876 is just low spec sample of same die, same way they sort and throttle CPUs after testing?
I would be interested to read how the improved distortion values of mod-86 will translate in real world listening experience compared to plain 3886. Will the accuracy of the source signal then become more apparent?
/path, eager to find out!
/path, eager to find out!
My own, standard, non-composite LM38xx gainclone had no trouble revealing the "accuracy of the source signal" - but it achieved this by using an industrial strength power supply, and lots of subtle, point to point optimising - this would be very rarely done elsewhere. Lots of extremely ordinary audio gear out there use the same chip, implemented in an exceedingly mediocre way; hence, mediocre sound.
What you put into it, in terms of effort, is what you get out ...
What you put into it, in terms of effort, is what you get out ...