Matt, I had previously only replaced 4 of the 8 PS caps with the Panasonic Oscons, and left the other spots open, but after reading your post, I added 4 more. It really is an improvement, especially bass.
I am not getting ANY turn on or turn off pop. I feel the same as you, this new Sure TPA 3110 2x15W board is my favorite amp too. This board with the 8 Oscon swap is about the same final price as the Sure 3116 with the 2 Oscon swap.
New Sure 3110 = 15w 4ohm with Astron, Sure 3116 = 20w 4 ohm with same Astron, difference isn't as big as it seems from advertised powerratings.
Yep, look different each side and reflect light to look like different colours - kinda cool!
Gee, you really got sharp eyes! I dropped and lost one of the snubber resistors so I dug(!) out the ones I had used modding my other boards and used one of them.
DUG bootstrap caps
On my DUG boards I installed the bootstrap caps in the BOM - X5R 25v. Earlier discussions around the bootstrap caps say they should have a voltage rating 4 to 10 times what they will see (tho I am not sure what voltage they do see) an I installed X7R 250v caps.
Just considering getting some more of the 250v ones and swapping tho installing a 1210 cap on 805 pads isn't easy. Think this is worthwhile?
On my DUG boards I installed the bootstrap caps in the BOM - X5R 25v. Earlier discussions around the bootstrap caps say they should have a voltage rating 4 to 10 times what they will see (tho I am not sure what voltage they do see) an I installed X7R 250v caps.
Just considering getting some more of the 250v ones and swapping tho installing a 1210 cap on 805 pads isn't easy. Think this is worthwhile?
Stand the 1210 caps on end on the exposed output traces and put a jumper wire down to the bootstrap connection point...one of the options of the board.
🙂
ChirsMmm how's the sound on the DUG boards? Is running separate boards per channel what we all need to do now?
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Mmm try it. Sure's 150nF measured worked fine, other Sure board measured closer to 170nF, no difference. Fake? or wound Epcos/Siemens film on YJblue do not work. MMK's work just as good as the Sure SMD's put on YJblue, couldn't tell a difference on YJblue, but that could be just on YJblue, all other not yet replaced parts there could be bad too.
Initial brief listening favourable but I need to do a proper compare to my fully modded blue/black amp. Will be doing this later today and report back.
Here are my thoughts on the bootstrap discussion.
As everyone should know X5R (and X7R and other) dielectric types have a capacitance drop when a DC is applied. (see .jpgs)
This is very critical when caps are used for timing (and filtering) circuits.
The TI ap note has 0.22uF / 25V X5R 0603 package.
Let us say for the sake of discussion that the bootstrap caps are charged to 10V.
A 25V rated X5R cap at 10V will drop to 90% of value.
I would think that the guys at TI would know this.
Maybe the circuit only needs 0.2uF at 10V and they specified a 0.22uF to compensate.
So going to a 250V part will get you closer to the 0.22uF but I don't think a supply switching at 400KHz+ will notice the change.
Probably only needs 0.1uF anyway 🙂
BUT if you think it sounds better then I cannot dispute that.
Happy moding.
🙂
As everyone should know X5R (and X7R and other) dielectric types have a capacitance drop when a DC is applied. (see .jpgs)
This is very critical when caps are used for timing (and filtering) circuits.
The TI ap note has 0.22uF / 25V X5R 0603 package.
Let us say for the sake of discussion that the bootstrap caps are charged to 10V.
A 25V rated X5R cap at 10V will drop to 90% of value.
I would think that the guys at TI would know this.
Maybe the circuit only needs 0.2uF at 10V and they specified a 0.22uF to compensate.
So going to a 250V part will get you closer to the 0.22uF but I don't think a supply switching at 400KHz+ will notice the change.
Probably only needs 0.1uF anyway 🙂
BUT if you think it sounds better then I cannot dispute that.
Happy moding.
🙂
Attachments
If you've got pads to worry about, I dunno if I'd do it.
Can you do it on the bottom side like on the modded boards that don't have them?
Can you do it on the bottom side like on the modded boards that don't have them?
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DUG amp listening compare
As promised, spent about an hour listening and comparing the DUG amp to my much modded blue/black amp.
A clear winner? Very difficult, so very little in it. I would think - "aha, there is a difference", swap back and... nope! In the end I think the DUG amp is just that little less grainy, cleaner, evident mostly on vocal pieces. But really, if it was double blind, I doubt I would pick it every time.
To put into context of equipment etc. - speakers are my FH3 cabinets with 4" Tangband drivers (bit less revealing than my MA drivers), autoformer volume control and ES9023 based USB DAC. And, of course, my less than perfect ears.
Main similarities/differences between the 2 amplifiers:
Same transformer
Same PSU tho the blue/black has lower quality caps but more capacitance
Blue/black has WIMA input caps, DUG Sprague PIO
Blue/black has Bourns inductors, DUG has Coilcraft
Other minor differences.
Last of all I put in a YBDZ board, fully modded with Meanwell SMPS PSU - yes, I can tell the difference now. This amp is brighter and harsher tho still not too bad an amp.
Quick pic of set up during comparison, mainly so I can show off some of my kit!
As promised, spent about an hour listening and comparing the DUG amp to my much modded blue/black amp.
A clear winner? Very difficult, so very little in it. I would think - "aha, there is a difference", swap back and... nope! In the end I think the DUG amp is just that little less grainy, cleaner, evident mostly on vocal pieces. But really, if it was double blind, I doubt I would pick it every time.
To put into context of equipment etc. - speakers are my FH3 cabinets with 4" Tangband drivers (bit less revealing than my MA drivers), autoformer volume control and ES9023 based USB DAC. And, of course, my less than perfect ears.
Main similarities/differences between the 2 amplifiers:
Same transformer
Same PSU tho the blue/black has lower quality caps but more capacitance
Blue/black has WIMA input caps, DUG Sprague PIO
Blue/black has Bourns inductors, DUG has Coilcraft
Other minor differences.
Last of all I put in a YBDZ board, fully modded with Meanwell SMPS PSU - yes, I can tell the difference now. This amp is brighter and harsher tho still not too bad an amp.
Quick pic of set up during comparison, mainly so I can show off some of my kit!
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Thanks Chris for the transparent and honest review. Was the build price between the amps about the same?
Mmm, not so easy to say as the mods on the Blue/black were a gradual process.
The DUG amp boards would be more expensive as they are dual mono. Also buying individual components is more costly but you are sure of the quality.
I already had or re-used the cases and transformers.