I have both the original t-amp, and the Super-t. I have not performed what I consider major mods on either, but can tell you they sound fairly similar.
The Super T has a much larger board, so it is easier to work on. But if your not planning to keep the Super T's case and power supply, I see no reason to spend the extra cash.
The Super T has a much larger board, so it is easier to work on. But if your not planning to keep the Super T's case and power supply, I see no reason to spend the extra cash.
That's true, but the case and power supply are worth it, unless you want a really cheap or different case.
With the Super-T you are starting with a better amp. It will be easier to arrive at a good result. And there is plenty of room in the case.
It's hard to beat the price of the Sonic Impact!
Michael, or anyone else who has modified the input caps, which ones do you like the best?
Are Solen or Jantzen caps worth considering(since I could order them with the Super at PartsExpress)?
I had also considered trying the SonicCaps(from SonicCraft), because Dave Ellis uses them in his 1801b, but I don't know how those compare to the other high end options.
Are Solen or Jantzen caps worth considering(since I could order them with the Super at PartsExpress)?
I had also considered trying the SonicCaps(from SonicCraft), because Dave Ellis uses them in his 1801b, but I don't know how those compare to the other high end options.
The Jantzens are the best "budget" caps I've heard, better even than my old favoritres - Solen.
I wasn't crazy about the Sonicaps. Maybe they needed more time to melllow. Don't know.
I wasn't crazy about the Sonicaps. Maybe they needed more time to melllow. Don't know.
I ordered the Super T-amp, some Jantzen input caps, a 10,000uf stiffener cap, and a 100uf NP electrolytic cap to put across the power supply.
When you mentioned putting a 100uf cap across the power supply, were you thinking an electrolytic or something nicer like the Jantzen? I didn't get the Jantzen just because it was over $20, and so I figured it wasn't what you intended for your 'under $25' mods. Maybe if PartsExpress carried Panasonic caps I could have found something more appropriate.
Can you give me a pointer as to where the stiffener should be connected?
Thanks for your help, Ian
When you mentioned putting a 100uf cap across the power supply, were you thinking an electrolytic or something nicer like the Jantzen? I didn't get the Jantzen just because it was over $20, and so I figured it wasn't what you intended for your 'under $25' mods. Maybe if PartsExpress carried Panasonic caps I could have found something more appropriate.
Can you give me a pointer as to where the stiffener should be connected?
Thanks for your help, Ian
swett said:
The 100uF across the power supply was an electrolytic placed right on the power chassis connector where the DC comes in from outside. Sort of a "Head 'em off at the pass" strategy. I used a Panasonic FM, but I think any good electrolytic would work just fine. You might even double it up with a small value film cap.
See the image below for an idea of how to connect the stiffener cap. Try to get it close to the amp board. The 100uF cap would be upstream of this.
Best of luck! Let is know how it goes.
Attachments
Im not sure if anyone here cares, But in the october issue of stereophile there is a review of the super-t.
They also list it as a recomended component for 2006. They listed it under heading "C" on page 95.
They also list it as a recomended component for 2006. They listed it under heading "C" on page 95.
Panomaniac
It will go on their web site when the next issue comes out. You need to see it as you have done so much work on the Sonic-T. Can I e-mail you a copy?
Woodmancy
It will go on their web site when the next issue comes out. You need to see it as you have done so much work on the Sonic-T. Can I e-mail you a copy?
Woodmancy
woodmancy said:
Please do!
A number of people quote the article as saying they found the power supply undersized. That's surprising because I did not find that. It could always be bigger, but it seems to do the job just fine with no voltage droop or loss of regulation even running the amp hard.
It will be interesting to read what they have to say and what sort of tests they did. Cool!
Soldering Input Caps???
Hey All. I just ordered a Super T with Janzten input caps from PE. I live off-grid and my cabin is powered by a 12v battery bank and wired for 12v lighting and appliences. I thought this might be a good amp to drive my 167e fullrangers without the need for an inverter. I'm wondering if anyone has a photo of the input caps installed? I'm wondering how to best mount them. I also ordered a 100uf cap to put accross the power jack to try and get rid of any noise from the batts. We'll see if it makes a difference. Thanks!
-Jared
Hey All. I just ordered a Super T with Janzten input caps from PE. I live off-grid and my cabin is powered by a 12v battery bank and wired for 12v lighting and appliences. I thought this might be a good amp to drive my 167e fullrangers without the need for an inverter. I'm wondering if anyone has a photo of the input caps installed? I'm wondering how to best mount them. I also ordered a 100uf cap to put accross the power jack to try and get rid of any noise from the batts. We'll see if it makes a difference. Thanks!
-Jared
Woodmancy was kind enough to email me a scan of the review. Thanks!
Just read through it real fast. First reaction:
Ummm.... where have these guys been for the past year? Listening to kilo-dollar gear, I guess.
It's fun to read about these guys with all the gear they could ever want discovering the T-amps. 😀 The article doesn't cover much that hasn't been covered here and on other sites, but it does sum it all up nicely. The distortion measurements are nice - that's new ground.
Stereophile is widely read, so it’s good for our little T-amp buddies to get a glowing review from a big audio mag. Sure did surprise them. =) Also nice that the review was done of different systems and pretty much confirmed what we have found.
Just think - if he liked the Super-T that much; just wait 'til he hears one of the better T-amps! The Super-T is nice, but isn't as musical as some of the better T-amps. I think a lot of that has to do with the over aggressive output filter.
All and all, good news for the T-Amps. But hey, we knew that already - right?
I'm pretty sure the future of Class AB is doomed. With Class-D already sounding this good, there won't be much point in making class AB amps any longer.
Just read through it real fast. First reaction:
Ummm.... where have these guys been for the past year? Listening to kilo-dollar gear, I guess.
It's fun to read about these guys with all the gear they could ever want discovering the T-amps. 😀 The article doesn't cover much that hasn't been covered here and on other sites, but it does sum it all up nicely. The distortion measurements are nice - that's new ground.
Stereophile is widely read, so it’s good for our little T-amp buddies to get a glowing review from a big audio mag. Sure did surprise them. =) Also nice that the review was done of different systems and pretty much confirmed what we have found.
Just think - if he liked the Super-T that much; just wait 'til he hears one of the better T-amps! The Super-T is nice, but isn't as musical as some of the better T-amps. I think a lot of that has to do with the over aggressive output filter.
All and all, good news for the T-Amps. But hey, we knew that already - right?
I'm pretty sure the future of Class AB is doomed. With Class-D already sounding this good, there won't be much point in making class AB amps any longer.
Charged said:
I had two original SI t amps and one broke on it's own in no time at all, and I broke the other one modding it.
I have the super t now and it is so much nicer. Build quality is higher too. I started another thread before I bought the super t amp, and no one reported having problems with one breaking on them. The $29 t amp seems to die easily and is more disposable. The $29 t amps board is hard to work on and mine had a burn mark on it from the factory.
They are not even close to the same amp, and the super t amp sounds way better.
It is worth the extra $100 for sure. If you buy a power supply for the baby amp, then it is closer to $50. Might as well start with the better amp.
The super t amp stock sounds better then any harmon kardon or denon amp I've ever heard.
Stereophile review
Shakti stone?
Is there any data that this item can actually work?
I'm skeptical on this one. I tried a lot of the popular web gimmicks, and think a few hold ground.
One that I will swear by is using porcelain to elevate your speaker cables off the ground. (I’m not sure if the porcelain helps, but believes a benefit occurs by having your cables off the ground.
I created a DIY Design using “super glue, chopstick trays/and soy sauce saucers”. When my cables are lifted off the ground, I seem to get less hiss in the speakers.
By the way I have a pergo floor on a concrete slab. I also noticed a rather large difference when my turntable is elevated off the ground. I can’t explain this myself, but can testify to its truth.
Is anyone else using unconventional tweaks to maximize there t-amps?
Shakti stone?
Is there any data that this item can actually work?
I'm skeptical on this one. I tried a lot of the popular web gimmicks, and think a few hold ground.
One that I will swear by is using porcelain to elevate your speaker cables off the ground. (I’m not sure if the porcelain helps, but believes a benefit occurs by having your cables off the ground.
I created a DIY Design using “super glue, chopstick trays/and soy sauce saucers”. When my cables are lifted off the ground, I seem to get less hiss in the speakers.
By the way I have a pergo floor on a concrete slab. I also noticed a rather large difference when my turntable is elevated off the ground. I can’t explain this myself, but can testify to its truth.
Is anyone else using unconventional tweaks to maximize there t-amps?
The Stereophile review is now available on its website:
http://www.stereophile.com/solidpoweramps/1006sonic/
Cheers,
Dennis
http://www.stereophile.com/solidpoweramps/1006sonic/
Cheers,
Dennis
They seemed to measure a substantial amount of high frequency non-linearity, due to the output filter.
Has anyone tried to tweak the output filter to improve that?
-Ian
Has anyone tried to tweak the output filter to improve that?
-Ian
The output filter is a 2nd order low pass LC filter. As such it depends on the load impedance for its frequency response. Usually the filters in Tripath amps are targeted at 6 ohms. They could be designed for other loads, though.
(I once measured the impedance of a 4 Ohm tweeter at 700KHz - it was about 16 Ohms.)
In fact, the Super-T amp uses 2 second orders filters in series - Zobels included! This results in very low RF output, but seems to kill detail and space, IMO.
(I once measured the impedance of a 4 Ohm tweeter at 700KHz - it was about 16 Ohms.)
In fact, the Super-T amp uses 2 second orders filters in series - Zobels included! This results in very low RF output, but seems to kill detail and space, IMO.
Do I remember reading that you tried to disable one of the 2nd order filters in the Super, but it didn't work out that well?
If that didn't work, is it possible to move one of the filters up in frequency a bit(unwind some inductors?), so the 4th order filter isn't sitting right on the edge of the audible frequency range?
If that didn't work, is it possible to move one of the filters up in frequency a bit(unwind some inductors?), so the 4th order filter isn't sitting right on the edge of the audible frequency range?
swett said:
No.... I don't think so. Did I?
Anyhow, taking out the second low pass filter isn't hard in concept, but getting all those little parts unsoldered and pulled off the board can be a real pain!
No need to change any of the filter values, they seem to be the Triapth standard. You can't unwind the inductors, they're shielded! The only shielded inductors I've seen in a T-Amp.
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