I am a novice at electronics. I am building 3 way speakers. They are going to have an active crossover. I have 2 amps but want to build a third for the tweeters. I need at least a PSB and directions for parts and assembly or a kit. I would buy one fully built but don't have the cash. This would be for between 10 and 25 watts per channel class A/B or B. There are several online but get confused by some of the terms, i.e. "chip amp" and some just have schematics. I know what most of the schematic symbols mean after reading up on electronics a bit but am still too uncertain to try it from schematics alone. Any suggestions?
First, go with a chip amp, this usually means an amplifier based around National Semiconductor's LM3886.
Second, if you dont feel you could design a pcb from a schematic, go with an existing kit. While I haven't built one from a kit, the audiosector.com kits look good.
Second, if you dont feel you could design a pcb from a schematic, go with an existing kit. While I haven't built one from a kit, the audiosector.com kits look good.
See the group buys section and the Wiki for the Leach amp group buy. The board is complete, just plug the parts into the appropriate hole, mount on your heat sink. There is a resistor that needs to be adjusted to your rail voltages, but it is an easy calculation. Assembly is not difficult, and good results are virtually guaranteed.
Chip amps are fine for what they are, but the Leach is a significant step up in sound quality. The group buy version is probably overkill for a tweeter only application, but you could use it in any position. The Leach amp will cost more than a chip amp.
If you go the chip amp route, avoid the temptation to follow the lead of many in the chip amp forum and don't skimp on heat sink. The chips will go into their protection mode if they overheat with disastrous impact on sound quality.
The LM3886 circuits are simple enough you can attach the handful of parts directly to the chip's leads and skip the board, although the Chipamp.com kits sure make it easy for very little money.
My DIY history - for my first project I built Leach amps from the good professor's boards, then Pass-Thagard A75s, Pass Alephs, dead bug style LM4780 chip amps, a chipamp.com kit for my kids and recently Leach amps on the group buy boards. The group buy boards are much easier than the the mix of board and point to point of professor Leach's board layout.
Chip amps are fine for what they are, but the Leach is a significant step up in sound quality. The group buy version is probably overkill for a tweeter only application, but you could use it in any position. The Leach amp will cost more than a chip amp.
If you go the chip amp route, avoid the temptation to follow the lead of many in the chip amp forum and don't skimp on heat sink. The chips will go into their protection mode if they overheat with disastrous impact on sound quality.
The LM3886 circuits are simple enough you can attach the handful of parts directly to the chip's leads and skip the board, although the Chipamp.com kits sure make it easy for very little money.
My DIY history - for my first project I built Leach amps from the good professor's boards, then Pass-Thagard A75s, Pass Alephs, dead bug style LM4780 chip amps, a chipamp.com kit for my kids and recently Leach amps on the group buy boards. The group buy boards are much easier than the the mix of board and point to point of professor Leach's board layout.
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