I just finished modding my two dual tpa3116 boards and put them in a case, and I am very happy with the sound.
When I received them I had a lot of noise, because of the 32 db gain, and the sound was just ok, nothing special.
First thing I did was to change the pots with ALPHA A10K, and big caps (one of them already swollen after a week of use) with Panasonic FM.
I didnt expect much but I was surprised, the mids improved a lot in clarity but that made me hear a sibilance on the highs.
Second mod was to change the gain to 20 db and put the bootstrap caps.
This made a night and day difference. The mids got even cleaner, so did the highs and no more sibilance, the music is rich and full of details and dynamics. The bass performance did not change, but that was OK anyway.
The sound is cleaner and more transparent than my old Denon PMA-320.
Very good job blackbird84! My dual chip board have same issue with noise. Sorry for the question, how did you set the gain to 20dB in this board? Thank You.
BR
egra
Anybody tried this board, tda7498?
Seems to be a Sanwu
How does it sounds, any pop noise?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TDA7498-100...095585?hash=item4646d55061:g:88EAAOSw3KFWglJg
Seems to be a Sanwu
How does it sounds, any pop noise?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TDA7498-100...095585?hash=item4646d55061:g:88EAAOSw3KFWglJg
Last edited:
Anybody tried this board, tda7498?
Seems to be a Sanwu
How does it sounds, any pop noise?
TDA7498 100W 100W 2 Dual Channel Digital Amplifier Class D Power Amp Board O76D | eBay
I have one on the way.
It usually takes about 2 weeks to be shipped to germany and then another 4 weeks of victimization by the customs.
That board looks very, very promising to me, as i had good experiences so far with that chip on two different modules.
And sanwu seems to do a good job in layouts and builds of small boards.
It will (hopefully if it is good enough) work in an active speaker containing an 10" woofer and a 1" horn tweeter.
Very good job blackbird84! My dual chip board have same issue with noise. Sorry for the question, how did you set the gain to 20dB in this board? Thank You.
BR
egra
Thank's egra, to change the gain, you have to replace the gain resistors
For 20db: R1=5.6K, R2 Open,
For 26db: R1=20K, R2=100k,
For 32db: R1=39k, R2=100k,
For 36db" R1=47k, R2=75k,

Thank's egra, to change the gain, you have to replace the gain resistors
For 20db: R1=5.6K, R2 Open,
For 26db: R1=20K, R2=100k,
For 32db: R1=39k, R2=100k,
For 36db" R1=47k, R2=75k,
OK, Thank You very much.
Best,
egra
I just finished modding my two dual tpa3116 boards and put them in a case, and I am very happy with the sound.
When I received them I had a lot of noise, because of the 32 db gain, and the sound was just ok, nothing special.
First thing I did was to change the pots with ALPHA A10K, and big caps (one of them already swollen after a week of use) with Panasonic FM.
I didnt expect much but I was surprised, the mids improved a lot in clarity but that made me hear a sibilance on the highs.
Second mod was to change the gain to 20 db and put the bootstrap caps.
This made a night and day difference. The mids got even cleaner, so did the highs and no more sibilance, the music is rich and full of details and dynamics. The bass performance did not change, but that was OK anyway.
The sound is cleaner and more transparent than my old Denon PMA-320.
My speakers are biamped FAST system using Monacor spx-31m and monacor spw-150/8s, crossover is digital using Equalizer APO.
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Nice work! I like the speakers too. FAST with these amps is perfect application.
Blackbird, those bootstraps are 330pf and 10 Ohm? Seems like 1 Ohm resistors there in your photo?
Those are 10ohm 1% resistors. 100 x 0.1 multiplier brown is 1% tolerance.
Sorry, the gold strip looked to me like silver in the photo - and the fact that I'm slightly color-blind doesn't help 🙂
blackbird84,
Sorry for rookie questions:
1) Are these ceramic capacitors?
2) Anything special about them? Voltage? (Wondering what to purchase.)
3) Without pulling my board, I can't quite tell...Are the cap and resistor simply soldered to one another, then soldered at two places (top and bottom of board)?
Or is there a third solder point midway on the bottom of the board? (In other words, cap soldered to the inductor, wraps around side of board, solders to cap and at that same point THEN attaches to board, then a final solder on the board?)
Can't quite make it out from the photos.
Thanks in advance for your assistance! This looks like an easy enough modification.
Mark
Sorry for rookie questions:
1) Are these ceramic capacitors?
2) Anything special about them? Voltage? (Wondering what to purchase.)
3) Without pulling my board, I can't quite tell...Are the cap and resistor simply soldered to one another, then soldered at two places (top and bottom of board)?
Or is there a third solder point midway on the bottom of the board? (In other words, cap soldered to the inductor, wraps around side of board, solders to cap and at that same point THEN attaches to board, then a final solder on the board?)
Can't quite make it out from the photos.
Thanks in advance for your assistance! This looks like an easy enough modification.
Mark
You only have sybillance with Panasonic FM >220uF and you also have that with bootstrapsnubbers.
blackbird84,
Sorry for rookie questions:
1) Are these ceramic capacitors?
2) Anything special about them? Voltage? (Wondering what to purchase.)
3) Without pulling my board, I can't quite tell...Are the cap and resistor simply soldered to one another, then soldered at two places (top and bottom of board)?
Or is there a third solder point midway on the bottom of the board? (In other words, cap soldered to the inductor, wraps around side of board, solders to cap and at that same point THEN attaches to board, then a final solder on the board?)
Can't quite make it out from the photos.
Thanks in advance for your assistance! This looks like an easy enough modification.
Mark
Ceramic caps 200v 330pf,
3) You are right. No middle solder to the board.
Here is another post regarding this mod:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/class-d/280671-tpa3116-upgrades-3.html
It is easy to do. Good luck!
You only have sybillance with Panasonic FM >220uF and you also have that with bootstrapsnubbers.
irribeo, you suggest lowering the capacitance? Or is panasonic FM a bad choice? can you elaborate?
Thanks.
xrk791,
Why haven't you change the stock 10uh inductor to some better ones, don't you think that it could improve the sound?
You are running 4ohm speakers?, for 8ohm speakers would it be better to put 22uh ones?
Why haven't you change the stock 10uh inductor to some better ones, don't you think that it could improve the sound?
You are running 4ohm speakers?, for 8ohm speakers would it be better to put 22uh ones?
Hi all,
I have my first tpa3116 on route and looking to land any day. I'm pretty new to DIY so please forgive me in advance for this dumb question!!! 🙁
I've read through the wiki around upgrade/mods and looking to buy the following for the amp.
DC Power caps
Panasonic EEH-ZA1V271P CAP ALUM 270UF 35V
Input Signal Decup caps
Panasonic ECQ-E1106KF - metalized polyester, 10 uF 100V, 10%.
LP Output Filter
Inducter
http://www.digikey.com.au/product-search/en?keywords=732-2145-6-ND
Caps
Wima Caps?
I've got two questions if someone could guide me in right direction.
- Firstly on the input caps there seems to be a large and a small cap on the board for each side is that correct? Do I get 2 X 270uf Panasonic caps plus some smaller caps? Or just 4 270uf Panasonic? Not clear if I need to go 4 caps or two?
- output filter caps assuming I need four, I read people are using wima but I can't seem to find which exact models and specs ppl are going with???
Any help would be appreciated sorry about the stupid question!

I have my first tpa3116 on route and looking to land any day. I'm pretty new to DIY so please forgive me in advance for this dumb question!!! 🙁
I've read through the wiki around upgrade/mods and looking to buy the following for the amp.
DC Power caps
Panasonic EEH-ZA1V271P CAP ALUM 270UF 35V
Input Signal Decup caps
Panasonic ECQ-E1106KF - metalized polyester, 10 uF 100V, 10%.
LP Output Filter
Inducter
http://www.digikey.com.au/product-search/en?keywords=732-2145-6-ND
Caps
Wima Caps?
I've got two questions if someone could guide me in right direction.
- Firstly on the input caps there seems to be a large and a small cap on the board for each side is that correct? Do I get 2 X 270uf Panasonic caps plus some smaller caps? Or just 4 270uf Panasonic? Not clear if I need to go 4 caps or two?
- output filter caps assuming I need four, I read people are using wima but I can't seem to find which exact models and specs ppl are going with???
Any help would be appreciated sorry about the stupid question!

Hook them up and listen to them first.
You might just like them the way they are.
Then if you want to change them go ahead. Then listen again and let us know what the mod did for the sound.
You might just like them the way they are.
Then if you want to change them go ahead. Then listen again and let us know what the mod did for the sound.
Hook them up and listen to them first.
You might just like them the way they are.
Then if you want to change them go ahead. Then listen again and let us know what the mod did for the sound.
Hi mate
Yeh definitely plan to A/B it and bought two boards so I can keep one stock to make A/B impressions easier. Any feedback on my Questions above?
DC power caps: Look up the ESR of the ones installed and (assuming they are not fakes) find something that fits the footprint with a lower ESR if you wish to change them.
LC filter elements: Unless the inductors are running hot they could be OK and not need to be replaced. The filter caps as well. If you really want to change them find the L vs I curve and find one that is relatively flat. When current increases you don't want the inductance to change.
My opinions on the input caps are this: Any cap that is of sufficient value to maintain a low impedance relative to the load ( >9K ohms in this case) will couple the signal without issue. (i.e. not changing the sound) I am also of the opinion that a large cap of this type will pick up unwanted noise. (many others disagree) I use a 10uF surface mount X7R type. Sound OK to me. 🙂
There is my $.02 worth.
🙂
LC filter elements: Unless the inductors are running hot they could be OK and not need to be replaced. The filter caps as well. If you really want to change them find the L vs I curve and find one that is relatively flat. When current increases you don't want the inductance to change.
My opinions on the input caps are this: Any cap that is of sufficient value to maintain a low impedance relative to the load ( >9K ohms in this case) will couple the signal without issue. (i.e. not changing the sound) I am also of the opinion that a large cap of this type will pick up unwanted noise. (many others disagree) I use a 10uF surface mount X7R type. Sound OK to me. 🙂
There is my $.02 worth.
🙂
Attachments
DC power caps: Look up the ESR of the ones installed and (assuming they are not fakes) find something that fits the footprint with a lower ESR if you wish to change them.
LC filter elements: Unless the inductors are running hot they could be OK and not need to be replaced. The filter caps as well. If you really want to change them find the L vs I curve and find one that is relatively flat. When current increases you don't want the inductance to change.
My opinions on the input caps are this: Any cap that is of sufficient value to maintain a low impedance relative to the load ( >9K ohms in this case) will couple the signal without issue. (i.e. not changing the sound) I am also of the opinion that a large cap of this type will pick up unwanted noise. (many others disagree) I use a 10uF surface mount X7R type. Sound OK to me. 🙂
There is my $.02 worth.
🙂
Thanks heaps for feedback mate really appreciated. Haven't got boards yet so will know soon. Looking at pic seems to be 4 input caps yeh? One large one small per side?
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