TPA3116D2 Amp

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#3,101
Lo_Tse said:
People call this subjective vs objective evaluation of components and equipments. I do not think there are any conclusion. This discussion/argument will not end anytime soon.

However, I would like to point out that hearing sound is a very personal thing and is highly subjective, therefore very difficult to quantify or measure.

Regards,
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It can end if people claiming to hear differences would accept to do a well structured ABX blind test...

Let's get back on topic though.
I'd hate to see this thread become a victim of such futile discussions 🙂
 
#3,102
if you just need a temp solution, then I am not sure the YJ 3116 amp kit shipped for $130 is a good deal.

Most people have a laptop brick PS laying around.

That's pretty much all you need--maybe a power jack to go with it.

If you don't mind a very "ghetto" install and you can use the source as a volume control, the board, the cable it comes with, and some old candy tin or box will hold you over as long as you have a laptop brick.

OTOH, if there wasn't $40 shipping, I would definitely buy that kit.

I still like the board from ebay seller hiamplifier for 25$ shipped to USA better than YJ because hiamplifier includes a shielded hook up cable AND a set of the resistors you need to adjust the gain.
 
#3,103
Buffering the input with opamp

I have read somewhere that the TPA3116 sounds better if buffered at the input by a fast opamp, similar to an ADC converter. One question which came to me: is it possible to have the output of an opamp DC coupled to the inputs of the TPA3116? Is a certain bias voltage required at the inputs of the TPA3116 (knowing that there are max 6.3V allowed on inputs)?
 
#3,104
dene001 said:
I have read somewhere that the TPA3116 sounds better if buffered at the input by a fast opamp, similar to an ADC converter. One question which came to me: is it possible to have the output of an opamp DC coupled to the inputs of the TPA3116? Is a certain bias voltage required at the inputs of the TPA3116 (knowing that there are max 6.3V allowed on inputs)?
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there is a 3v bias on input, or do you mean something else?
 
#3,105
irribeo said:
there is a 3v bias on input, or do you mean something else?
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Right, there is the 3V bias on the input. But if connecting this to the output of an opamp (DC coupled), then I would need to match the output voltage of the opamp to the 3V in order to avoid stray bias currents. Is this right?
Are there any experiences with adding an opamp buffer to the TPA3116 - DC or AC coupled?
 
#3,107
Lo_Tse said:
Your comment reminded me of the age old discussion/argument that has been going on forever int the "High-end" audio equipments circle for years:

One camp says the measurement did not show the any differences, there should be no difference in the sound

The other camp says, but I can an hear a difference. Are you sure you measure the right things?

Another example, many people claim resistors of different made sounds differently. Others say they are all 1 K resistors, why would it be. The measurement show no difference.

People call this subjective vs objective evaluation of components and equipments. I do not think there are any conclusion. This discussion/argument will not end anytime soon.

However, I would like to point out that hearing sound is a very personal thing and is highly subjective, therefore very difficult to quantify or measure.

Regards,
Click to expand...

I wan't trying to poke at anything - just looking for possible objective reasons. If power efficiency is affected I can imagine that could place extra load on the supply at higher output, and maybe affect dynamic range, etc.
 
#3,108
steveeboy said:
Immediate benefits. More of that sweet tube sound from the pre but cymbals, voices, guitar strings, etc. all sound better.
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So why would a tube pre-amp improve on the sound of the 3116 power amp? By adding its own colouration is my best guess.

It could possibly improve the sound of the power amp if it better matches the input impedance of the 3116 (which does seem a bit low) or by providing a better input in terms of current thus driving the 3116 better.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with colouration if it improves the listening experience and at this cost point how can you complain. But I do think it is worth keeping in mind what may be happening here is not directly addressing any issues that the 3116 may have, rather masking them.

Anyway a friend, whose 3116 I have been moding, has just bought one of these 6N3 preamps so I will get to hear myself I guess.
 
#3,109
ChrisMmm said:
So why would a tube pre-amp improve on the sound of the 3116 power amp? By adding its own colouration is my best guess.

It could possibly improve the sound of the power amp if it better matches the input impedance of the 3116 (which does seem a bit low) or by providing a better input in terms of current thus driving the 3116 better.

Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with colouration if it improves the listening experience and at this cost point how can you complain. But I do think it is worth keeping in mind what may be happening here is not directly addressing any issues that the 3116 may have, rather masking them.
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Good points ChrisMmm - the impedance part often goes unmentioned, but a better impedance match (and current) probably is an important factor in getting more "body" or "fullness" (if I may use those subjective terms) in the music. Look forward to your impressions with the 6N3 preamp.
 
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#3,111
Just to report I swapped out the 2200uf caps I had put in place of the stock 1000uf ones in a friends YJ blue/black 3116 board. I replaced them with 100uf caps. My friend reports that "the bass is back. Much more listenable overall across a range of recording". So that fits with other peoples observation after replacing these caps with 220 or 100uf ones.

My question is how do we account for these changes? I recall that similar sized close up PS caps were also used in the original LM3875 chip amps, presumably for similar reasons.
 
#3,117
zman01 said:
Good points ChrisMmm - the impedance part often goes unmentioned, but a better impedance match (and current) probably is an important factor in getting more "body" or "fullness" (if I may use those subjective terms) in the music. Look forward to your impressions with the 6N3 preamp.
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I second this.
Will be receiving the 3116 blueboard sometime soon, and one of the tests will be to put in front of the 3116 a high speed opamp (OP826 or simlar) to see how this sounds. There's no reason why a good solid state preamp can match the 6N3 tuber preamp, isn't it?
 
#3,118
tube transcient respons might differ? but mismatching (underdamped) outputfilter does also add something transcient to music it seems?

3 tubepreamp used a lot also has 23dB gain I believe, that is very impractical i would say, so maybe some tube expert can tell how to wire the 3 tubes to get no gain or is it not that simple?
 
#3,119
O2 Headphone Amps as best pre-amp?

Do tubes amps sometimes have more 2nd harmonic distortion, which is pleasing to the ears for many and sometimes the reason why tubes are favored?

I think if you want the best and most transparent (i.e., no coloration) pre-amp, I have heard that the Objective 2 or (O2) headphone amp can't be beat for the price. It is about $69 to DIY and $130 prebuilt with case.

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.


Here is performance:
AMPLIFIER PERFORMANCE
Frequency Response +/-0.01 dB (20Hz-20kHz)
THD 1 Khz 150 Ohms 0.0016%
IMD CCIF 15 Ohms 0.001%
IMD SMPTE 0.002%
Noise (ref 400 mV) -105 dB
Max Output (33 Ohms) 613 mW
Output Impedance 0.54 ohms
Crosstalk (15 ohms) -65 dB
Channel Balance (50% volume) 0.6 dB

Prebuilt: JDS Labs - Objective2 Headphone Amplifier

An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.


DIY kit: JDS Labs - Objective2 DIY Kit

o2%252520v11%252520board_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg


Design methodology and performance data: NwAvGuy: O2 Headphone Amp

This thing beats kilo$ headphone and preamps out there under testing.
 
#3,120
It'd pay to bear in mind that we only have NwAvGuy's word for it that its 'transparent' which claim I believe he based on how it measures. Experience suggests though that it'll sound coloured given its using opamps with scant decoupling for their power rails.
 
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