TPA3116D2 Amp

Bootstrap capacitors

One question regarding the bootstrap capacitors (0.22uF originally): can I use 1uF instead? I ask this since I have several 1 uF X7R capacitors available which are pretty small and could fit well on the board. Is there a max or recommended value for the bootstrap capacitors?
 
I've done some searching, maybe not as much as I should have...

I just purchased the Blue-Black board from YJ and I have two questions about it.

Do I need a preamp?

If I do not I would like to make a very simple integrated with a toggle switch for selecting between two channels and a volume pot. I know the volume pot has been done. Would this be a viable solution?

If I do need a preamp please recommend something that would work well with the YJ board, something that i could possibly house in a full width chassis.
 
What gain setting is now the consensus to use? 20, 26, 32 or 36 dB? I have 101dB sensitive woofers.
I am waiting for my black/blue board and I am trying to decide what fun audiophool parts to get for it. I don't know why the Input DC decoupling caps would be audiophoolery, btw. In my 1st order crossovers the type of cap really affects the sound - I can hear the difference clearly!
...As long as all the caps don't just control some digital switch inside the chip.
A favourite in the crossover now is a black Mundorf Silver/Oil cap. The white/red mundorf caps sound rather plastic in comparison.
 
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What gain setting is now the consensus to use? 20, 26, 32 or 36 dB? I have 101dB sensitive woofers.

I believe gain is a matter of choice relating to both your input level and the sensitivity of speakers. I have standard 2v DAC level inputs and 90db speakers - 26db works well for me. I would go for 20db with your speakers. Advantage of lower gain is increased input impedance.
 
Okay, so new 1uF silver oil caps to replace the original 1uF for me then. If I got it right. 20dB= 1uF Input DC decoupling caps and original resistors?

Someone said 10mH CC inductors give a shrill sound, but this was just one person. Will listen to the stock inductors properly and change piece by piece to know what happens to it.
 
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All Hail the Great Heil AMT

All Hail the Great AMT Heil!

All Hail the Great Heil.jpg

ESS AMT Monitors, refurb-all-hail-great-heil.jpg

😎
 
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Changed the 1uf coupling cap to Wima MKP10 2.2uf 160V and MKS4 2.2uf 63V, the power supply cap were also changed to Panasonic 330uf 35V. Power source is from a Samsung OEM SMPS for LED TV with output 24V 5A. After playing for few hours those inductors get a bit warm. May change the inductors to coilcraft later.







 
What gain setting is now the consensus to use? 20, 26, 32 or 36 dB? I have 101dB sensitive woofers.
I am waiting for my black/blue board and I am trying to decide what fun audiophool parts to get for it. I don't know why the Input DC decoupling caps would be audiophoolery, btw. In my 1st order crossovers the type of cap really affects the sound - I can hear the difference clearly!
...As long as all the caps don't just control some digital switch inside the chip.
A favourite in the crossover now is a black Mundorf Silver/Oil cap. The white/red mundorf caps sound rather plastic in comparison.

With 85dB speakers I like 20dB gain. Input caps are not in an crossover, I think 90% of time there is less then 0.5v there, that makes differences smaller I believe. That said I do hear differences between elco, mkt and mkp in that position.
 
Had a chance to compare 4 different 3116 amps yesterday, ybdz,wiener, was among them. So I needed to check some things🙂

May2014 ybdz wiener board has 104/30C gainresistors, 26dB gain, 6.8uF inputcapacitors (4), 3 (production ended 2012?) Rubycon 470uF YXA, muting amp by shorting SD & mute does not change gainsetting, I haven't tried to short it for few hours🙂 Looks well made and SQ is good, keeping in mind the outputfilter overdampen frequencies a little below say 6-7 ohm.
 
I figured they were paranoid about the chip's ID - perhaps to head off much cheaper clones since there's nothing much on that board to justify the asking price. If a knock-off were made it would easily go for under $4 on Taobao. Eventually I'll put my own design on there....

<edit> Any interest in kickstarting a thread on TDA8932? 😀
 
The TPA3116 does much better at the top end - the HF (say above 4kHz) of the NXP chip is too ragged for my tastes. But for bass/mid frequencies the TDA wins out for me. Its bass is totally awesome, way better than any classB amp chip I've heard. In comparison the bass of the TI is not as tuneful as a classB.

Incidentally has anyone noticed TI has a new offering (as of last month) the TAS5756M? Looks to be a knockout device when it becomes available at distributors - it includes a DSP, a DAC and a classD amp, all for about 20cents more than the TPA3116. There's no need to use the DAC if you like me don't rate TI's modern DACs for SQ, there's digital output so you can provide your own DAC. Looks like a winner to me.

TAS5756M | Mid/High-Power Amplifier | Speaker Amplifier and Modulator | Description & parametrics
 
Want to reiterate y'all need to be listening to these TPAs with an Astron/TenTec linear power supply. You don't know what you're missing.

And anybody besides abrax do the pin 17 avcc RC filter yet? Come on guys there's more performance to get from these amps!