Tripath TK2050 Amplifier Kit Review (Part 2)

This part 2 is continue from the Part 1 here.

After my office hour yesterday, I had a chance to visit my favorite component audio store. I bought several components to continuing this Tripath amplifier project. As you can see this Tripath amplifier projcet will be very interesting because the components that I choose for this project is so much better and expensive than the price of the kit itself.

 

DIY Smallest LM1875 Gainclone Amplifier

In this post, I will share the building process of the smallest LM1875 Gainclone amplifier. This is including the toroidal transformer in one casing. To make this amplifier looks simple inside, I will not using any PCB, instead all components connection is done by point-to-point wiring. Let's take a look shall we?!

 

Tripath TK2050 Amplifier Kit Review (Part 1)

The Tripath amplifier is IC manufacture that specialized making high efficiency amplifier. Tripath patent it with the name of class-T amplifier. It is basically a PWM digital processing that found in most class D amplifier, although they claimed it is better.

Because this Tripath is an IC based amplifier which come in finish board, this easily become the new star in DIY audio. It is simple to build and have a good the sound quality. This Tripath amplifier only supply with single rail DC, commonly only with 12 volt. The one I have right now is Tripath TK2050 amplifier which cost me only US$25 in this complete board.

 

What Gainclone Amplifier's IC should I choose?

When you plan to build this Gainclone amplifier on your own, especially if this is the first-time build, you might asking the question, about of what kind IC's for this Gainclone amplifier should I use? This is a normal question and I will try to help you by describing the sound quality from each IC.

DIY Gainclone Amplifier Using B&O Toroidal Transformer

The result from making an electronic project is determined by how good the components you put them in. You can build with the cheapest components and the result mostly unsatisfying. Especially for the major components, one of them is the power transformer, I prefer using the high grade transformer that built for audio use.

Like in this Gainclone amplifier project, I will using the special hi-end encapsulate toroidal transformer salvage from the old Bang & Olufsen power amplifier. This toroidal transformer is very slim and of course it is in used condition. But for the transformer, I don't think they have the short lifespan. Maybe it can be use forever as long as it is working within it's limit.

This Gainclone amplifier is popular built for beginner because it made from the National Semiconductor IC. The Gaincard amplifier which is the original product of 47 labs using the same IC and it sound great based on the reviews I've read. This amplifier is simple, only using 9 components per channel and they sell it around US$3,000. It is very expensive but no wonder for the price of Japan handmade product.

Because of this Gaincard amplifier story, then someone on the internet has open the original Gaincard and inspect the components inside it. The clone is now become very popular since it is easy to make. They called it a Gainclone amplifier. A clone from the original Gaincard amplifier.

The IC use in this Gainclone amplifier is LM3875 that cost me US$7 each. We need 2 for stereo of course. The total cost to make this Gainclone amplifier is depends on how much you want to spend with the others components. Mostly the estimate cost in building this Gainclone amplifier, using a nice amplifier casing, a good toroidal transformer like this, you might spent at least US$200.

 
Previously I already have another Gainclone amplifier, but I could not resist to built another one. Especially when I have this 160 VA special toroidal transformer taken from the Bang & Olufsen amplifier. This toroidal is heavy with sealed encapsulated cover to eliminate unwanted noise escape from this transformer. As you can see from the photo, the height of this toroidal transformer is quite shallow. It is suitable for the small amplifier casing like I am using here.

To be honest, my first amplifier layout didn't work really well. What I learnt from this built is I didn't use enough capacitor for DC filter and the position of rectifier diodes very close to IC's. This cause the interfere from the rectifier to the power amplifier IC's.

Although the first layout is the most simple layout of this Gainclone amplifier that I've ever made, but I should re-work all the components again just because of the hum noise from the speakers when this amplifier idling.

The second layout is more complex. I taken away the rectifier far from the IC's. They are now place behind the toroidal transformer. This method is 100% works well and completely silent when idling.

This Gainclone amplifier is all finish. Then I order to my friend, the front panel that he made it using Oak wood. The finish is very nice. This panel makes this Gainclone amplifier looks more elegance.

Anyway, should I mention how is the sound quality?

This LM3887 Gainclone amplifier sound very dynamic. The sound-stage presentation is wide. The details are rich, especially on mid-range to treble. The vocals, it is not too forward, also not too laid back. It is right in the center of the instruments. The vocal is not warm but not analytical as well. It is just balance, it is a natural sound presentation.

Spending this little amount to build the amplifier like this, with this high quality sound is worth so much.

Disclaimer: Any statement and photos in this article are not allowed to copy or publish without written permission from the writer. Any injury or loss from following tips in this article is not under writer responsibility.

DIY First Watt Nelson Pass B1 Buffer Pre-amplifier

If you into this DIY audio for quite long time, you should already know the audio guru: Nelson Pass with his First Watt products. His idea and concept in making the amplifier is simplicity. All of his amplifier are made by using only few FET transistors. The most important thing about Nelson Pass is he kind enough to shares all his design to this DIY audio community, so you can build one and having the same experience like he did with his design.

Nelson Pass also designing pre-amplifier with the same concept. In this post I will share the B1 buffer pre-amplifier building process. The main function for this buffer pre-amplifier is to match the impedance between input and output. So the next equipment, such as the amplifier can be work optimally.

This B1 buffer pre-amplifier is consist pairs of SK170 FET transistor per channel. It is simple to build without any PCB, or just with a point-to-point connection.

Best Article From The Stereophile Magazine Issued On December 1996

One article from the Stereophile magazine here is really taken me about what I find in this audio hobby. Issued on December 1996, it is on page 3 which mostly filled about the writer's perspective of the this audio industry. This article is written by Robert Harley for his observation about common finding in audio. It is quite funny to read it since I personally have meet the same experience like he written there. He is describing the true condition from most all audiophile facing with their system and with their society.

Sony Playstation SCPH-1001 My Reference CD player

I can predict that most audiophile have ever read the Stereophile magazine. This is the famous audio magazine and for me, this magazine is become my holy bible in audio since the first time I am focusing into it.

I still remember one quoted from the Stereophile magazine is like this:

"if the source is bad, nothing on the downstream can make it better"

It is so true indeed. I remember the first time my friend borrowing me his Sony Walkman portable CD player very long time ago, perhaps the series is D-55, then replacing my cassette deck to this CD player is just elevate my poor audio system to become so much better. The next month I should return it back and my audio system is back to crap sounding again.

By that experience, I can tell how good your whole system is mostly determined by what source you are using in it. At that time, the new CD player are not affordable for me. I keep looking the great CD player in used condition for so long.

Then this is what makes me choose the Sony Playstation SCPH-1001 as my reference CD player.

 

Welcome To THE ORRONOCO AUDIO DIY

Welcome to my blog.

A brief about myself, since I was a little kid. I often get caught by my parent dissemble their electronic stuff without their permission. From the simple torch light, a wireless telephone, and also their mini stereo system, I try to figure out on how they work. Of course I got punishment by doing that, but it is the pinnacle from me to start into this hobby.

Move forward to my junior high-school, I start making a simple electronic project that sell in a kit. This electronic kit can be assembly without soldering needed and they are variate from the simple flip-flop LED, a sirens sound, and a single transistor MW radio that operate using a 9 volt battery. At that time, this kit quite popular for beginner like me. They sell it on the books store and no wonder, in the 90's, the books store is one of popular shop. After some time I start to train myself to use the soldering iron, then I made a simple power supply as my first DIY electronic project.

From that time, my electronic project are expand based on PCB commercially available and I start to make an amplifier. I still remember how happy I am when my first amplifier start to work with just a simple speaker using a plastic cup as enclosure and a portable cassette player. From that, I start get into this hobby deeper and deeper.

This blog is made because my love to the audio stuff. I will shares, review, or post anything related to audio. This blog is my personal documentation about what I did on this audio project. You can use the contents in this blog as your DIY inspiration, or you can just treat this blog as an entertainment only.

The name ORRONOCO is has no meaning at all. It is just a name. It is across my mind when create this Blogger account.

The photo bellow is one of my DIY amplifier that I build without any PCB. Instead it is made by point-to-point for each components. The reason for this point-to-point built is has another story. I always waiting for commercial available PCB to make the electronic project. This has so much limitation such as the PCB size which always bigger than my expectation, the schematic and design that not suit to my preference, or I just want to build based my own design but I simply can't make any PCB. So one day I saw the internal of a vacuum tube amplifier that built based on this point-to-point connection. I asked myself, why I don't do the same for solid-state? This will be my new challenge to build something that I wish for without expecting from others design PCB. That's I think become my new journey to this new DIY audio world.

Back to this amplifier, it is a dual mono LM1875 Gainclone amplifier. It sound so good and it also look very beautiful. I made it several years ago and unfortunately the building process is not documented at that time. Hopefully with this blog, I will never missed to documenting the building process like this anymore.

Disclaimer: Any statement and photos in this article are not allowed to copy or publish without written permission from the writer. Any injury or loss from following tips in this article is not under writer responsibility.