The controller is a tripath, but the amp is a STA516BE designed in 2014. There are two amplifiers per pcb in PBTL mode. On the other model these are the same amplifier (2*500w). Sure less powerful t-amps are older sta chips.
http://www.st.com/en/audio-ics/sta516be.html
I was following this thread and need to say that I'm sceptical about the performance of this AB32313 amplifier.
If you're looking at the board with a engineers eyes you can't believe the numbers of technical documents. The inductors and caps are too small for such a power. Specially the inductors are a huge bottleneck and will turn very hot quite fast. This ends of in a drop of inductance what moves the corner frequency of LC filter, increases THD and ... this is the worst ... will blow up the amp.
I don't say that this amp is a bad deal, I just see that it's not made for such high power. It's like putting a Ferrari motor into a Smart chassis.
I'm really looking forward for measurment results and I'd like to test it by myself and compare it to my design (with TPA3255) but it's against my own philosophy to buy such creepy stuff
Maybe I need to jump over my own shadow because I'm really curious about the real performance of this amp.
Regards
Bernhard
If you're looking at the board with a engineers eyes you can't believe the numbers of technical documents. The inductors and caps are too small for such a power. Specially the inductors are a huge bottleneck and will turn very hot quite fast. This ends of in a drop of inductance what moves the corner frequency of LC filter, increases THD and ... this is the worst ... will blow up the amp.
I don't say that this amp is a bad deal, I just see that it's not made for such high power. It's like putting a Ferrari motor into a Smart chassis.
I'm really looking forward for measurment results and I'd like to test it by myself and compare it to my design (with TPA3255) but it's against my own philosophy to buy such creepy stuff
Maybe I need to jump over my own shadow because I'm really curious about the real performance of this amp.Regards
Bernhard
I was following this thread and need to say that I'm sceptical about the performance of this AB32313 amplifier.
If you're looking at the board with a engineers eyes you can't believe the numbers of technical documents. The inductors and caps are too small for such a power. Specially the inductors are a huge bottleneck and will turn very hot quite fast. This ends of in a drop of inductance what moves the corner frequency of LC filter, increases THD and ... this is the worst ... will blow up the amp.
I don't say that this amp is a bad deal, I just see that it's not made for such high power. It's like putting a Ferrari motor into a Smart chassis.
I'm really looking forward for measurment results and I'd like to test it by myself and compare it to my design (with TPA3255) but it's against my own philosophy to buy such creepy stuff
Regards
Bernhard
Well part of buying Sure amps is knowing that you are not getting the full potential of the design because they use cheaper parts and cut corners. So if one of their amps DOES sound great that usually means there's even better performance to be uncovered.
Hm, okay, so much newer chips in some of the models. That could explain improved performance. One piece of the puzzle solved.
mantabernd, do you have a method of testing? To measure the BTL amplifier you use a differential divider? Which programs and settings did you use? I will try to make similar measurements. It will be easier to compare.
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full acknowledge.
I got a Rohde & Schwarz UPL. This analyzer has two differential inputs with max 110V RMS input each.
I love this analyzer
What is the consensus on the model? 🙂
AA-AB32512
AA-AB32313
AA-AB32514
AA-AB31321
Are these all same chip, just different power and design (31321 is mono)?
Can someone estimate their approx. power in 8 ohms?
AA-AB32512
AA-AB32313
AA-AB32514
AA-AB31321
Are these all same chip, just different power and design (31321 is mono)?
Can someone estimate their approx. power in 8 ohms?
I'm in trouble. Because of bad galvanic separation of the chinese oscillograph I have burned a sound card E-MU 0204.🙁
I plan to buy the same sound card in the coming days.
But I noticed that the THD at this amplifier about 0.02% at 5-10 watt. Mostly the second harmonic. In the same way as in the Pass Aleph.
I plan to buy the same sound card in the coming days.
But I noticed that the THD at this amplifier about 0.02% at 5-10 watt. Mostly the second harmonic. In the same way as in the Pass Aleph.
Im sorry for your sound card...
Sorry for noi question: what should be ipotetically the thd at 70 watt?
Inviato dal mio SM-G900F utilizzando Tapatalk
Sorry for noi question: what should be ipotetically the thd at 70 watt?
Inviato dal mio SM-G900F utilizzando Tapatalk
They all looks similar (tripath + STA516B(E)). I ordered 2 AA-AB31321 monoblocks, and I think it has parallel BTL output. There are few things I don't understand. AA-AB31321 is rated 800W@1.5 ohm, so it's 400W@3ohm ,200W@8 ohm...etc. However, there is AA-AB31315 which also rated 400W@3ohm. If they are all STA-516BE based, what would be the difference? The 2nd thing is the supply voltage. The customer support told me over voltage will burn the amp., e.g 40V->50V. The STA-516BE has maximum voltage of 65V and up to 60V is recommended. I can't see why 50V will burn the amp, and they refused to answer more technical questions I asked. Weird...
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Heat.
And I've mentioned before to a certain degree you get what you pay for. Sure amps are not ones you want to push the limit with. If anything I would make extra sure to use less voltage than is recommended by them.
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My understanding
The STA516BE can handle >60V DC, but the tripath can't, therefore a regulator is used here to lower the voltage, and it can't accept such high DC input. A better solution would have a separated, lower DC input only for tripath.
Also, I believe that for different boards, if it rated as 800W/1.5ohm, it means it's 1.5ohm load safe(heavy duty), if rated as 400W/3ohm, it's good for 3ohm, but unsafe for 1.5ohm load
