All of audiophile dedication in discrete components that aim for lowest distortion and better sounding seems become a desperate goals achievements. While many modern and hi-tech chip manufacture are also design the small high performance chip that match the performance with a discrete components amplifier that we have pride in it for many years.
Lets be honest. I am a general person who looking for the best audio amplifier. Not to speak about what topology are them, if they are good then I will say so.
Tripath technology is actually already come in mid 2000, this Korean manufacture is to good to be true that enter the cheap chips amplifier while later on audiophile aware that this chip perform like a charm. They called it class T technology that very efficient and match with the most linear amplifier. It is build purpose for small device but who expected more?
This is the Tripath TA2024, a 15 watt maximum per channel stereo chip amplifier that changes the hi-fi world today!
From my audio journey since posting in this blog, I often build the Gainclone amplifier. It sound very good. It is also so simple and quite efficient. The sound of Gainclone is natural and if you want more color to the sound, just add the buffer or pre-amp stages by using op-amps, vacuum tube, or Jfet. For the discrete linear amplifier, the high quality sound can be achieve by adjusting the current bias to enter class A. It is the very common way to enjoy the very good of wine in Class A amplifier with extra heat drawback. Same with the F5 amplifier, the sound from this amplifier is very natural yet micro detail is very astonish without any ear fatigue. I live happily with this amp for years and looking no more than anything. The downside of the class A amplifier is the heat is not acceptable.
I also have build the chip amplifier from the same manufacture, it is Tripath TK2050. Although the sound is very good, but in long listening session, I felt that this amplifier is not better compare to the Gainclone amplifier. The sound especially on high noted is little bit harsh and by that reason I still chose the Gainclone compares to TA2050.
In this project I am using TA2024 kit bought online for less than US$15. I modify almost all the capacitor. This is still an on-going project and review. Components are changes many times to achieve the better sound though all frequency response.
The case is a cheap aluminum which don't use any connection rather be hard wiring via cables out. I should mention about the power requirement is only 12 volt DC and could be powered with battery or wall adapter. That it, as simple as it is to get the best sound. And this is the latest internal TA2024 amplifier layout so far.
And if you think about 12 volt, you will be related to car amplifier right?!
My answer is: yes it can drive car speakers very well. And who can resist for this efficiency in power and size then going to drive car audio speakers?
General sound impression with this TA2024 amplifier is impressive. It is mid heaven amplifier. The vocal is sweet, the guitar, the flute and many instruments play very nice with the soul as it is play in vacuum tube amplifier. No, you can measure the soul and live of the music in frequency response graph anyway! The bass response is punchy and quite solid. Mention this amplifier is only rated 15 watt per channel before it clip, so gain wise and hi sensitivity speakers are needed.
Although tube clips sound soft and cannot compare to this amplifier when clipping, this 15 watt is more than enough to drive many bookshelf speakers with decent volume. And I swear, I have heard the 5 watt vacuum tube amplifier that sound very powerful, live, and scary. It is a DIY vacuum tube amplifier with Pro Ac speakers with separate DAC and CD transport playing music from Hugh Masekela.
Back to this tiny amplifier, I play a lot with this amplifier and I happy with it. The sound is warm, sound stage is wide, and vocal is sweet. To be honest, from this price point nothing can compare with it. Unless the power requirement is need to be bigger than it specify, than this amplifier will overwhelmed. This amplifier is also tested in my car. This help the new components to burn-in faster while I am enjoying my driving experience with this amplifier.
Obviously no.
The inefficient class A amplifier like my F5 for home and modified bias Magnat for car audio offering more sound quality. The live sound through all audio frequency seems very open and natural with the class A amplifier. They also have bigger power that drive speakers easily. This lead the sound to more laid back and more natural compares to this tiny class D amplifier.
Jumping to my conclusion with 5 watt vacuum tube amplifier like I mentioned above, I never ask any question about why vacuum tube and vinyl is superior even with this modern hi-tech audio equipment. Maybe later, maybe later, another 10 years to compete with them:)
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.
Jumping to my conclusion with 5 watt vacuum tube amplifier like I mentioned above, I never ask any question about why vacuum tube and vinyl is superior even with this modern hi-tech audio equipment. Maybe later, maybe later, another 10 years to compete with them:)
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.
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