View Full Version : Class T-amps
however if the error amplifier input is fed AC rather than the 2.5V DC from the voltage reference it'll generate an AC output ;)
Clever!
Reid Malenfant
21-03-2011, 21:44
Clever!
:lol: Perhaps i should have added that the voltage reference is 5V DC & the error amp is normally fed by a resistor divider network to get the 2.5V DC.
Yes it's pretty amazing what you can do with SMPS ICs, i developed a circuit using an industry standard SG3524 to regenerate mains 240V using a transformer back in about 1991 ;) It worked beautifully but was restricted power wise by the transformer.
Thankfully i never forgot what i learned :)
I reckon a simple OP amp circuit added on can set the DC offset to just about zero & as long as i use AC feedback i can get distortion to incredibly low levels. Less than 0.1% at any rate which compared to normal mains is vanishingly small.
I also have far more than enough of some cracking power mosfets that would do the job admirably, well over rated @ 45A/550V :eek: STW45NM50 (http://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/24931/STMICROELECTRONICS/W45NM50.html)
Apologies, looks like a few clicks are needed to access the info as with the UC1876 :rolleyes: Ah well, at least you might get the picture..
I reckon a simple OP amp circuit added on can set the DC offset to just about zero & as long as i use AC feedback i can get distortion to incredibly low levels. Less than 0.1% at any rate which compared to normal mains is vanishingly small.
I was thinking about the zero DC output problem, guess this would be the makings of a servo amp. All the better for dissipation, too. Wish I had time to tinker as I used to, although my area of strength used to be class AB push/pull amps - I used to breadboard and prototype like mad. JLH was my hero. All lost in the misty past now :)
Best laid plans and all that - my "new" Spendors haven't left the living room, so my Acoustic Energy Aegis Evo 3's have ended up in the dining room, where my Roku Soundbridge is patiently awaiting a "mates rates" set of active mini-monitors. Space is limited, so I'm thinking a stop-gap might be a "T" amp... I'm keen to give one of these a whirl out of interest anyway. So far, I'm preferring the Topping TP21 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380315561529&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_2225wt_905) on the basis of the headphone option which could be useful if/when the monitors arrive, as oposed to the Mini T (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180635350560&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_3017wt_1139) - the speakers are pretty efficient (90.5 db efficiency) and only ever likely to be used for "dinner jazz" background music - so which one would people recommend, or any alternatives around the £50-60 mark? Pretty much discounted the Muse on the basis of Will's woes, and I would prefer a UK seller. Waddya reckon?
I only heard the Mini T a real bargin nice clean fast sound, to be honest I think for your needs either will do, if I was in your shoes I probarly go for the Topping as has the headphone option
Thanks John, that's what I'm leaning towards as a little cheaper and the headphone option would make it more flexible if/when the little actives arrive. Mind you, I'm not sure I really need a 5th system (6th if you count the little Myryad in the kitchen) but since when did "need" mean much with this hobby? :lol:
Pretty much discounted the Muse on the basis of Will's woes, and I would prefer a UK seller. Waddya reckon?
Thankfully the Muse's power supply has been resurrected and improved, and in combination with the M21 amp sounds great, but I have to agree that buying from China is a slightly risky business...along with the 'smuggling' aspect :eyebrows:
Strangely enough my mate recently acquired a Mini-T from the same supplier as mine, it looked slightly different (the speaker terminals are now banana plug only, very similar to the muse)...after about 2 weeks it blew up with an audible pop!
However to his credit the UK supplier replaced it within a week, no questions asked.
A UK supplier has to be the way to go with these amps, unless you're more proficient with a soldering iron than I am ;)
Thanks for that Will, pretty much only going to go with a UK supplier, savings are minimal anyway and I just don't need the hassle for such a small purchase.
Alex, l am going to sound like a broken record here but the Mini-T for the monet is a remarkable sounding amplifier for the money.... but no headphone socket:(
Thanks John, that's what I'm leaning towards as a little cheaper and the headphone option would make it more flexible if/when the little actives arrive. Mind you, I'm not sure I really need a 5th system (6th if you count the little Myryad in the kitchen) but since when did "need" mean much with this hobby? :lol:
Now that just being greedy;)
Alex, l am going to sound like a broken record here but the Mini-T for the monet is a remarkable sounding amplifier for the money..
Another broken record here, Me too, i starting to think that people are in denial that this little £60 amp can sound so good,
again i will ask has anyone tried a 2050 "T" chip amp yet?
aquapiranha
23-03-2011, 22:00
Hi Jon. I used to use a 4 channel 2050 made by Sure electronics in an active set up and I thought it was fantastic! Also I used to have a Trends TA 10.1 which is I think a 2024 and that was superb too. Hamish now has the sure amp.
Thanks Steve, i picked up one of your postings the other day from a few years back on the DIY forum when i was looking through the mountain of postings on there about class D stuff, its amazing what some people can do with a circuit board and a box to put it in, the Sure board is the one i was looking at, i'm thinking of making a pair of active speakers with a couple of boards so idealy i would want mono boards or a way to convert them.
aquapiranha
23-03-2011, 22:13
Jon, I have just noticed that Sure are doing some big mono amp boards that I had not seen before, they look interesting!
http://www.sureelectronics.net/category.php?id=17
:)
Sod it then, Mini-T it is, I've already got a standalone headphone amp anyway. :)
Sod it then, Mini-T it is, I've already got a standalone headphone amp anyway. :)
Good choice, and the extra power might come in handy...:)
The Mini T a lovelly amp, increadable sound considering how much it costs
I think you will enjoy it Alex
Reid Malenfant
24-03-2011, 11:13
You need to be able to solder John as it's a kit after all, not sure if the control IC is pre soldered onto the PCB but in all honesty i'd seriously not recommend attempting to solder surface mount stuff unless you know what you are doing & have a steady hand & can work quickly ;)
Done it myself previously so i'm not too worried about the prospect. I'll let you know how it arrives :)
Well it arrived today :) It's totally in bits so i'll need to do some surface mount soldering, just looking for an ultra fine weller tip to do the job ;)
They are pretty small to say the least, each PCB is about the same size as a king size packet of ciggies (not that i smoke the horrible things :eyebrows:). It just doesn't look like they have any right at all to stick out 150W RMS 8 ohm :D
i'll need to do some surface mount soldering, just looking for an ultra fine weller tip to do the job ;)
Tiny dab of glue under the component to hold it in place while you're soldering and a very steady hand. No beer tonight for you ;)
Reid Malenfant
24-03-2011, 11:38
Tiny dab of glue under the component to hold it in place while you're soldering and a very steady hand.
Excellent suggestion ;)
No beer tonight for you ;)
:( No i'll be ok, i'd never do that kind of work in the evening anyway :eyebrows:
Tiny dab of glue under the component to hold it in place while you're soldering and a very steady hand. No beer tonight for you ;)
Wasn't it Bill Werbeniuk who needed 30 pints a night as a beta blocker...have a beer Mark :cool:
Pictures of the build please
Reid Malenfant
24-03-2011, 12:05
Wasn't it Bill Werbeniuk who needed 30 pints a night as a beta blocker...have a beer Mark :cool:
:D Only after 6PM except on xmas day & b'days, well that is unless a m8 comes round with a bottle of pear cider & a load of tinnies :eyebrows:
Pictures of the build please
Sure thing John :)
Sod it then, Mini-T it is :)
Good on yer i hope you enjoy it, no doubt you will have something to say about it when it arrives ;) :lol:
Reid Malenfant
24-03-2011, 20:43
Pictures of the build please
Here you go matey (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?p=199250#post199250) :)
Good on yer i hope you enjoy it, no doubt you will have something to say about it when it arrives ;) :lol:
If there's any veil lifting, or night turning to day, you'll be the first to know Jon! :D
Alex play with it in your main system first, before it enters the 6th system Lol
Alex play with it in your main system first, before it enters the 6th system Lol
Fantastic service - arrived this morning! Unfortunately I haven't time to set it up but yes, I plan on giving it a go in the main system first later tonight. :)
Alex, hope you enjoy the Mini-T, vinyl is a joy to behold on it, let us know how get on with it what PSU did you order the 2A or the 5A? Those 6-7W do go quite a way:)
Alex, hope you enjoy the Mini-T, vinyl is a joy to behold on it, let us know how get on with it what PSU did you order the 2A or the 5A? Those 6-7W do go quite a way:)
Hi Andy - I went for the 5a - no point in messing about for a few quid! :eyebrows:
l got the 2A version, wondered if the 5A made much difference.
l got the 2A version, wondered if the 5A made much difference.
I got the 5A too (for the same reasons as Alex), but I doubt it makes much that much difference, if you do fancy an upgrade I've used my repaired 60W linear Muse PSU with it and that's an improvement, more body etc...but we're back in the realms of spontaneously exploding Chinese kit. ;)
Will, l do not need any more body to the sound of the Mini-T, just more inputs, remote control and even more wallop, l listen in a small room:)
Will, l do not need any more body to the sound of the Mini-T, just more inputs, remote control and even more wallop, l listen in a small room:)
Thats the down side to them you either need a selector box or a nice preferably Valve pre amp like i'm using ;)
Thats the down side to them you either need a selector box or a nice preferably Valve pre amp like i'm using ;)
Or a Squeezebox, for which they're a perfect partner...:)
jandl100
26-03-2011, 09:47
Thats the down side to them you either need a selector box or a nice preferably Valve pre amp like i'm using ;)
Hi Jonboy!
So you got a Mini-T after my leetle demo to you and your Audio Note chum at Scalford on those Tannoy Golds?
Have I missed your comments about it here, or haven't you indulged us with a mini-review?
If so, my apologies, but I'd be very interested in a quick summary of your thoughts. :)
A Audionote pre-amp would be nice l am a bit of an AN fanboy:)
A Audionote pre-amp would be nice l am a bit of an AN fanboy:)
Just give me a shout when you want to try one
Hi Jonboy!
So you got a Mini-T after my leetle demo to you and your Audio Note chum at Scalford on those Tannoy Golds?
Have I missed your comments about it here, or haven't you indulged us with a mini-review?
If so, my apologies, but I'd be very interested in a quick summary of your thoughts. :)
I will think of some words and put one together Gerry,
I got the Topping T20 - same as the T21 minus headphone output.
running a little unity gain valve buffer into fed by my pc via a 1543 NOS dac, speakers are 86dB/1W/1m used pretty well near field. Quite impressive I must say for the $$ outlay a neat setup.
Very impressed so far with the Mini-T - not had a chance to properly try it in my main system (although when I did for a couple of hours, I wasn't suddenly wanting to throw away my Creek) but in the dining room it has more than acquitted itself with the performance. Very busy couple of weeks, so probably won't be able to evaluate it properly for a while, but for what I wanted it for (a small footprint, and a cheap purchase) I'm exceptionally happy.
“Wow, another convert ”
Nah, he’s still deaf from Huckleberry, erm Whittled, err, that loud place where he caught that bad bout of audiophilia :lol:
Give him a bit to recover and he’ll get at least as sane as he was………..perhaps :eyebrows:
“Wow, another convert ”
Nah, he’s still deaf from Huckleberry, erm Whittled, err, that loud place where he caught that bad bout of audiophilia :lol:
Give him a bit to recover and he’ll get at least as sane as he was………..perhaps :eyebrows:
That don't give much scope for improvement! :lol:
Not sure I was effervescing particularly on the Mini-T YET anyway, give me a chance to have another listen, and revise on my Little Book of Hi-Fi Clichés and I'll be back! :)
I've just treated my PC to one of these, based on the TA2020. I already had a 5A PSU so this was pretty much the best deal going for an amp only.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380319241459&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
The seller even enclosed an OFC 3.5mm to twin phono cable. I used some spare Kimber PSB cable for the speaker connections. It drives my Videotone Minimax IIs very nicely indeed.
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqV,!lME1F9)FM4GBN,J,c6UVQ~~_35.JPG
I was very tempted by that one too, Martin, but needed a PSU on top, so went Mini-T.
Looking at the internal picture of yours I don't know how they can make them, ship them and post them for that money and still make a modicum of profit after the ebay fees and the seller's time are taken into account - but they obviously do make something to make it worth their while. Glad you're enjoying yours. :)
Looking at the internal picture of yours I don't know how they can make them, ship them and post them for that money and still make a modicum of profit after the ebay fees and the seller's time are taken into account
I took the lid off to look inside and had exactly the same thought. Great value for money.
I took the lid off to look inside and had exactly the same thought. Great value for money.
The economies of scale that China offers is mind boggling, when I built my PC/Tower I wanted the best possible fans money could buy, and asked for the most expensive available...£1.85 plus VAT. The packaging alone looked £3 pounds worth, the fan was/is a work of art!
I just got a new HD for my computer, seagate 7.2k, 32mb buffer, 500Gb...£22!!! :eyebrows:
And I got the Muse M21 T-Amp for £25 (plus P&P), from a guy in HK, so heaven knows what the cost price is at the factory...
I've just treated my PC to one of these, based on the TA2020. I already had a 5A PSU so this was pretty much the best deal going for an amp only.
I would be interested to hear how you get on with this Martin, I'm looking for a small low cost amp for my study?
It's sounding mighty fine, Tim, and has improved over the course of this evening as it has settled down (I won't say warmed up as there is no heat from it at all). The Videotones are great speakers and I am listening near-field so I don't need a lot of power. Air's Love2 is playing and sounding rich, deep and detailed in a way that my PC hasn't done before. It's a no-brainer at that price and you can get it with a PSU if you don't have one to hand.
Mark Grant
01-04-2011, 17:38
The economies of scale that China offers is mind boggling
The cheap labour and poor conditions are probably the main reason for the low prices.
Some excellent videos on Vimeo by Dan Chung, all worth watching.
http://vimeo.com/2169471
http://vimeo.com/2940954
http://vimeo.com/5385390
-
The cheap labour and poor conditions are probably the main reason for the low prices.
Some excellent videos on Vimeo by Dan Chung, all worth watching.
http://vimeo.com/2169471
http://vimeo.com/2940954
http://vimeo.com/5385390
-
A close friend of mine lives in Guangdong Province, north of Shenzhen, which is a large commercial and manufacturing area and he has a factory employing 180 people. He's doing OK but there has been a real downtown in local production. You can actually 'see' the difference by the air quality. From his house looking south you could normally see a smog hanging in the air, often now the skies are clear. I haven't been out there this year, but for the last 2 years I noticed the difference as well. Things are slowing down everywhere I guess, except maybe for arms manufacturers! :(
Interesting videos by the way.
Mark Grant
01-04-2011, 19:00
Dan's videos are excellent, probably the best DSLR new videos.
Another good one, this time from the Japan earthquake area , caused a bit of controversy as too Arty for some, I think it is very moving, not the kind of thing you see on the BBC news :)
Watch this full screen, remember that this was shot on a digital SLR camera, not a movie camera :)
http://vimeo.com/20987706
-
Very powerful, Mark, and ensures that this disaster will not be forgotten. How sad that such a natural disaster should be supplanted in the news by one entirely created by Gadaffi.
I have been thinking about buying a T amp for a while but wanted to wait till I heard one for myself and managed to do so during my trip to Scalford after listening to Jerrys T amp through some Tannoys I bought one there and then using my phone, I was genuinely blown away.
I have had the amp a few weeks now and it really is getting into its stride now and running in nicely, it appears to be opening up as the days go by, I have tried it in both my systems and it certainly can bring life into a dull sounding system, I have used it on its own and with an Audio Note pre amp (my preferred choice) with the volume control on the T amp turned to full volume and thus hopefully switch out as the volume pot which seems to be one of its down falls, another is having one input which can be a pain and means you are playing about with cables if you aren’t using a pre, I have had it playing all weekend on variety of music were it sounds to me better on more laid back recordings as in my view it can sound a bit forward and to my ears acoustic guitars for one being emphasized a bit too much, the bass is good on my Tannoys but ultimately lacks a little bit real low down, a bonus is that works well at low volumes on my efficient speakers which is nice for late night sessions.
last night I was fiddling with various things and swapped my Williams valve dac back onto my SB touch as I was finding the combination of Caiman, SB Touch and Mini “T” a bit too much, I was starting to get listening fatigue, it’s very nice discovering things you haven’t noticed before but I prefer my music presentation a bit more laid back, I can also detect a slight distortion in the sound which although not invasive it can be a tad annoying at times if you are listening out for it, this was picked up on buy a mate as well who borrowed it when we compared notes.
After chucking a valve pre amp on the front of it followed by a valve dac to take the spikiness out of it I am now at a point where I am hankering after my Valve power amps back in the system as it’s still there and still grating at me, it's what they call "youngsters sound" i believe, perhaps I just like my pipe and slippers too much
I still want to continue on the class D trip and try out different boards but and a very big but at the moment i think (know) It will end up with some form of valve output or a valve buffer in there somewhere , if you want to find out more about class D and like fiddling there is a whole lot of info on here (http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/class-d/) about various amps and circuits.
Well that’s about it really my summery would be “unbelievable at the price” but a very digital or forward sound that can lead to fatigue to my poor little ears.
over to you
Ali Tait
03-04-2011, 16:33
Try turning the pot on the T amp down to about three quarters or less.
Try turning the pot on the T amp down to about three quarters or less.
i was lead to believe from a very good source that full volume takes the pot out of the circuit or is that only on valve amps
Ali Tait
03-04-2011, 17:06
Well I would say with the pot turned fully up and the amp fed from an active pre, you could overload the output stage, which may be the reason for the distortion you are hearing. Try it and see.
it still there at lower a setting, or i'm starting to imagine things :mental: :scratch:,
i will have to have a proper play on my own and compare notes with my mate again, he had it on the end of a M3 and two of them heard the distortion, we all can't be mad, i think it's the way it plays music, it kinda chucks it all at you at once and your ears can't cope if that makes sense, perhaps the right word for it is that it lacks a bit of seperation
Ali Tait
03-04-2011, 17:50
I had similar with a tripath amp and cured it by turning down the pot. I was driving it with my Pre 2. Perhaps it's faulty?
perhaps it is as i have no reference, the distortion thing is very small to be fair and at its price point not unreasonable, got to go now we got company around for dinner, we shall carry this on later :wave:
Good to hear on the whole the amp is working for you. I thought it was excellent value for its cost but interesting you mention disortation; one of the things I did not like about the amp is that it made some distorted guitars sound a bit nasely, like the guitar player was playing through a cheap solid state amp!
Another Mini-T (+ 5A PSU) owner / convert here.
One thing to note: switched mode PSUs vary enormously. I've tried a 12V 4A spare one for an LCD monitor and it was noisy as hell, creating a constant low-level buzz from the speakers. On the other hand, a 12V 5A laptop PSU is whisper quiet and so is my Maplin linear 12V 1.25A, although it doesn't push enough current and runs into early distortion. The laptop one is still in circuit and doing the job nicely.
dave2010
09-05-2011, 13:25
Coming back to this thread after a while - will some of the HLLY amps, e.g the 90, have more "welly" than (say) a Bantam Gold, yet deliver similar audio quality? If not, are we then forced back to more traditional designs from established suppliers/manufacturers?
My regular amp seems to be having problems now which are not getting any better, so I may need to replace it soon.
wee tee cee
10-05-2011, 15:12
I took delivery of a temple audio bantum this morning.Have to admit it sounded very respectable out of the box.I have a art audio quintet power amp and naim 5i in the house to compare it with.
It falls somewhere between the two.
It has a lovely soundstage on some recordings its almost three dimentional.In fairness to the wee amp I will burn it in for a couple of days.
I am very impressed with it,really enjoying listening to stuff I havent played for a while.If it Improves further with running in I will be delighted.
Is theyre a big leap in quality between the bantum and the gold or even the mono blocks because this has really got me Interested.
aquapiranha
10-05-2011, 16:18
I too am using a Bantam. I got mine from Hamish, and I am very pleased with it but then I have always liked the sound of Tripath since I had my Trends TA10.1 and the Sure 2050.
dave2010
10-05-2011, 20:03
I took delivery of a temple audio bantum this morning.Have to admit it sounded very respectable out of the box.I have a art audio quintet power amp and naim 5i in the house to compare it with.
It falls somewhere between the two.
It has a lovely soundstage on some recordings its almost three dimentional.In fairness to the wee amp I will burn it in for a couple of days.
I am very impressed with it,really enjoying listening to stuff I havent played for a while.If it Improves further with running in I will be delighted.
Is theyre a big leap in quality between the bantum and the gold or even the mono blocks because this has really got me Interested.Maybe Ali has compared the Bantam with the Bantam Gold. I think he has.
The Gold makes some really amazing sounds at times, and has had my foot tapping, but I'm just not sure it goes loud enough some times. There is the extra oomph mode, but it doesn't make a huge difference, and I believe it introduces more distortion. The specs say so anyway, though what it's like to listen to for a long while I don't know.
I had the feeling that the HLLY90 amp has a good sound, but will go louder. I was just too scared to invest directly via eBay in the Chinese economy, but maybe I should reconsider.
Jandll (Jerry) has compared both the Mini-T, Muse and Hlly 90.
He says the Hlly has more oomph and bass, but lacks the midrange clarity and insight that the Mini-T has. He much prefers it to all the others.
Myself and Ali have compared the Mini-T with the Bantam (THINK it was the Gold but Ali can confirm).
The Bantam is better, more solid sounding but with the openness of the Mini-T.
The Mini-T is about 80% of what the Bantam does in my opinion.
For myself the Mini-T comfortably beat a Cambridge Audio 640A (£250) in every department except for bass weight.
This wasn't a problem though as I was too busy enjoying the music and not the equipment.:)
When I fitted the Gator though there was an increase in bass and with the T_Amp Im using just now theres NO shortage of bass - quite the opposite in fact; tight tuneful bass not boomy at all.
Great stuff.
Hope this helps?
Ali Tait
11-05-2011, 10:14
Yes, it was a Gold, and I agree with what Gary says about the comparison. The Gold is better, but the mini T is great value for money.
As for the Hlly versus the Gold, yes I've heard both, but not on the same speakers so I can't give a direct comparison. They will sound different as they use different chipsets from different companies. The Hlly does sound good though IMHO, with a valve like mid. I liked it. It should have a fair bit more clout than the Gold if that's what your speakers need.
Ali Tait
11-05-2011, 10:26
Coming back to this thread after a while - will some of the HLLY amps, e.g the 90, have more "welly" than (say) a Bantam Gold, yet deliver similar audio quality? If not, are we then forced back to more traditional designs from established suppliers/manufacturers?
My regular amp seems to be having problems now which are not getting any better, so I may need to replace it soon.
Again I have not directly compared them, but I would not say the Hlly has less midrange insight than the mini T, it just has a slightly darker balance because it has much deeper bass IMHO. If you need more power, buy the Hlly, as if you don't like it, you won't have a problem selling it on at little loss. I think you will like it though. I thought it had a very valve like mid with a sweet top and deep tight bass.
Is theyre a big leap in quality between the bantum and the gold or even the mono blocks because this has really got me Interested.
Tony I'm only going to add to the confusion here...the one definitive thing I can say is that both Bantams, the mini-t, and the muse for that matter are tremendous value for money, and one can't go wrong with either (well as long as they don't blow up that is :doh:)
I've tried the Bantam Classic, the Gold, and the Mini-T in my kitchen system, and with the equipment they were partnered with at the time, an SB receiver/analogue out and a pair of Mission 780SEs I struggled to spot much of a difference between the three. If I was really pushed then I'd suggest that the Gold was slightly smoother at the top, and perhaps the Classic does get a little harsh at higher volumes...but it's a gnat's arse :)
I think one would have to pair these amps with better sources than I had at the time to notice significant differences, as you know the analogue output of an SB receiver is probably not the best.
I think Ali & Gaz have done much more rigorous high end testing than I, I suppose it depends on the ultimate location of the amp, for a budget secondary system the classic and the mini-t are perfect. But from what Ali and Gaz have reported the Gold does seem like it's at its best in a higher end system, and given that the monoblocks are derived from it I suppose they're the next logical improvement.
A couple of interesting things I learned from John at temple audio is that the Bantam Classic is by default set at a +3dB gain (probably why it gets a little harsh at higher volumes), the Gold is 0 with an optional +6dB setting, which is why the Classic at 15wpc sound as loud as the Gold at 25wpc on it's normal setting. Hence when I first plugged the Gold in I was a little confused as to why it wasn't comparatively louder than the classic.
The one thing the Bantams do have in their favour is build quality, particularly the classic, it almost feels indestructible, great for portability etc. :)
Clear as mud :lol:
Ali Tait
11-05-2011, 11:58
Yep, pretty much agree with that Will. The difference between the mini T and the Gold was obvious, but that was through my open baffles, which are pretty transparent, and also my WAD Pre 2 valve preamp was used, which is a pretty good pre.
wee tee cee
12-05-2011, 00:25
Thanks guys,
Must admit the bantum is sounding quite remarkable,The 3d soundstage on some tracks is quite astonishing.The amp was clipping out when played at really anti social levels but otherwise wants for nothing.Gives a lovely combination of valve sound stage and ss accuracy,speed and dynamics.
I cannot get over how good it sounds for the money it knocks the socks off the valve pre power set up I have on loan for detail and punch and runs rings round my naim for musical enjoyment and Involvement.
Seriously thinking about selling the naim to bankroll some mono blocks.
allsorts
13-05-2011, 23:24
Over here in Oz there is no difference ($200 approx) in price between TOPPING TP60 TA2022 2X80W and HLLY T Amp 90. Any views on which would be better buy for my macmini to caiman gator? I was tempted by the Bantam classics but they have been out of stock for a while and the gold are around $300.
Ali Tait
13-05-2011, 23:52
Not heard the Topping, but since they use the same chipset, I'd guess they sound pretty similar. I'd just buy the cheapest.
dave2010
14-05-2011, 07:10
Has anyone tried the Bantam variants, e.e the one with the headphone output, or the USB model? I did consider the headphone one, but decided I didn't need it as the Caiman does headphones rather well. The model with USB could be useful for some who don't also have a DAC. I have no information about the quality of the DAC in the Bantam models.
Techno Commander
17-05-2011, 17:31
Right then. :)
It would appear as though the TA2020 is the preferred chip for clarity and detail. I have also (finally) found a TA2020 amp with built in DAC (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110686814193&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT) for a reasonable price. I am about to embark on building a new desktop PC and hit on the clever idea of shoehorning the t-Amp into a 5 1/2" drive bay. I know the spec says 61mm high, but I am confident that is a typo.
I can then use a cable like this (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230611298614&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT) and connect the USB input direct to the motherboard and power the amp via an unused 12v supply tail from the PC power supply. I am looking at a 700W supply with 4 x 12 rails. I shouldnt have any problems pinching a couple of amps. :)
Finally I can run a set of speaker leads out of an unused PCI slot and connect them to my new found desktop JBLs. :eek:
Your thoughts pleae.
Reid Malenfant
17-05-2011, 18:21
Your thoughts please.
Added a "s" to pleae :eyebrows:
Bring it on, i like seeing projects being put together & it sounds very do-able :)
Those T amps only draw about a couple of amps at full volume so there is no way the PSU will be stressed. If it was me though i'd use a 15V supply (if available) & put a linear regulator on it for better sound quality :lol: Always the fettler :cool:
Techno Commander
17-05-2011, 18:53
I did think of using a linear supply, but trying to cram it into the PC case might be a bit tight.
Cheers for fixing the typo. :)
wee tee cee
18-05-2011, 10:00
Anybody running a t amp off a battery?
I have a spare car battery and was wondering if I could run the bantum off it.Would i need to run a fuse in line or just connect it directly?
Covenant
18-05-2011, 14:29
I recommend taking the battery out of the car first.
wee tee cee
18-05-2011, 19:22
I recommend taking the battery out of the car first.
Thanks,
that was as helpfull as a handbrake in a canooe,
Chocolate fireguard,
Chocolate cigar........
Covenant
18-05-2011, 19:27
Thanks,
that was as helpfull as a handbrake in a canooe,
Chocolate fireguard,
Chocolate cigar........
A one legged man at an arse kicking party?
Reid Malenfant
18-05-2011, 19:30
Tony, make sure you put a fuse between the battery & amplifier ;) I'd suggest a 5Amp fast blow type which will allow the amp to deal with transients into low impedance loads.
Car batteries are quite happy to serve up 1KA or over 10,000W of power for a short while, not good for equipment if it happens to go wrong :eyebrows: 4552
aquapiranha
18-05-2011, 19:47
I ran my Trends TA 10.1 from an SLA that I charged with a motorbike charger...
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb256/aquapiranha/trends/CIMG3058.jpg
I thought it sounded very slightly smoother on the battery, but the difference was minimal at best. I never had a problem with noise from this amp despite using sensitive speakers.
Thanks,
that was as helpfull as a handbrake in a canooe,
Chocolate fireguard,
Chocolate cigar........
About as welcome as a fart in a spacesuit?
wee tee cee
19-05-2011, 16:28
Tony, make sure you put a fuse between the battery & amplifier ;) I'd suggest a 5Amp fast blow type which will allow the amp to deal with transients into low impedance loads.
Car batteries are quite happy to serve up 1KA or over 10,000W of power for a short while, not good for equipment if it happens to go wrong :eyebrows: 4552
Mark,
Thanks for that,pardon my ignorance but do I place the fuse in line with the positive or negative lead.
Regards Tony.
Reid Malenfant
19-05-2011, 16:50
In reality it probably doesn't matter, but traditionally it goes in the positive lead :)
wee tee cee
21-05-2011, 17:19
Thanks...got the maplin stalwart psu in situ to good effect.I will try a battery when I get the bits together...
Regards Tony.
allsorts
22-05-2011, 12:13
Finally got a HLLY tamp90 and have been running it in for a couple of days. Quite impressed with it and thought I would have a listen with the Caiman gator as a preamp (after moving the rca cables into the correct outlets at the back of the caiman), but I don't get any sound out. Any advice? Do i have to do something to the hlly?
Finally got a HLLY tamp90 and have been running it in for a couple of days. Quite impressed with it and thought I would have a listen with the Caiman gator as a preamp (after moving the rca cables into the correct outlets at the back of the caiman), but I don't get any sound out. Any advice? Do i have to do something to the hlly?
Hi Greg,
I assume the HLLY is an integrated amp, so you'll need to set it's volume at 50 to 75%, and use the active outputs from the Beresford.
But if it's integrated you're now going through 2 pre-amp stages, so I'm not sure how this will be of benefit, unless you mod the HLLY to be a power only amp. :scratch:
allsorts
23-05-2011, 11:19
Thanks for that. Rather than fiddle around with turning it into a power amp I will enjoy it as an integrated amp. Its still improving after 72 hours of breaking in. Quite taken with it.
Cheers Greg.:):)
Greg, do keep us informed, interesting bit of kit that:)
Peter Stockwell
02-06-2011, 23:05
Took me a few days to wade through this thread, but the Class D amps look to good to be true. Anyway, have a Bantam Gold on its way to me, it's a power amp only version, without the Alps pot. John @ Temple Audio now has faceplates for the Gold that don't have the "pot" hole.
I'll be using it with a Tentlabs volume control preamp, with an active buffer stage (Chevron Audio Pre-amp). The "buzz" has led me to have high expectations of this amp, and I'll be seeing if I like it better than my Avondale audio S100.
Ali Tait
03-06-2011, 07:21
I think you will be surprised at just how good these little amps are Peter. Also, bear in mind a further improvement can be had with a better PS.
Should be trialling a set of the Bantam monoblocks next week, let y'all know how I get on.
Peter Stockwell
03-06-2011, 09:21
I think you will be surprised at just how good these little amps are Peter. Also, bear in mind a further improvement can be had with a better PS.
Yep, I'm sure. I've heard the difference that the Teddy Power supplies make to various types of kit.
Techno Commander
08-11-2011, 18:55
The latest offering from Topping, the TP32 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Topping-TP32-T-Amp-Digital-Amplifier-Headphone-Amplifier-USB-DAC-Black-/180738639658?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Amplifiers&hash=item2a14dcc72a) with its TA 2024B chip, USB DAC and dispaly looks quite interesting.
http://www.tpdz.net/produce/tp32/tp32-s-07.jpg
Hi All,
I've just bought a 5a mini-t but when it arrives I need to pick some new speakers for the kitchen. My main restriction is that I need to wall mount them, so top of my list are some small fairly sensitive ones:-
Roth Audio OLi10 (87db)
Acoustic Energy COMPACT ONE (88db)
BOSTON A25 (87db)
Any recommendations?
You won't be disappointed with the Mini-T. The more I listen, the more I love it.
I'm not going to be much use with speakers; I have read that it is happy driving speakers down to 80dB/w/m sensitiviity. Mine are 89dB and they sound VERY loud even when the volume is at 9 o/c. I'm sure it will be happy with any of the speakers you've chosen.
[Currently listenting to Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes 12" versions. Incredible amount of detail coming out - rich, deep, tuneful bass and crisp treble. It's almost as if Reagan and Gobachev are in the living room with me! The air attack warning sounds like...]
dave2010
16-02-2012, 14:14
Giles
I have some Q Acoustics 1010is (4) which I bought cheaply with the intention of using them for surround sound. I'd expect these would do pretty well, unless you want ear shattering volume.
Unfortunately, I can't seem to find much from Q Acoustics now. Have they gone bust?
You might find some on ebay- for example here - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Q-Acoustics-1010i-Pair-Cherry-Immaculate-/270912710648?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudio HiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item3f13a7e7f8 - though they cost more there used than I paid for new.
[No - mine are not for sale - I've still not finished with them!]
I went for the Roth's in the end, they're only £70 so it's not the end of the world if I find them lacking. I'm a bit restricted for space so the fact they're not that deep is a good thing.
jandl100
17-02-2012, 07:33
Good choice, I think. I have a pair of small Roths - Oli1. Only 24cm high but remarkably heavy for the size.
Good sound, too. I bet you'll be pleased. :)
Well everything arrived today and I hooked it up. Got the fear when I first plugged it into the minijack socket of my squeezebox, could barely hear anything and it sounded very thin. Tried it with an ipod and everything was fine phew! So this amp is very sensitive to quiet inputs. I then found a straight phono and from that the squeezebox is perfect. Very impressed with the amp, easily loud enough and lots of detail.
However, I can distinctly tell where the bass response drops off on these roths, they're fine for everything apart from dance music. The frequency response is 60Hz~20KHz.. Just to make sure I wasn't going mad and it wasn't the amp I bought in a bigger speaker and could immediately hear the difference, so I think I'll try and get something a bit more beefy when I go to richer sounds to take back my sound sticks tomorrow. I'm tempted to get another mini-t for my bedroom.
I measured the power draw when on to be 1w when plugged in 0. This compares well to the 4w of the soundsticks. Just for the crack I'm off downstairs to plug it into my main speakers http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/314/index.html
Hi Giles,
Welcome to AoS :)
Could you please pop into the Welcome area and introduce yourself to our community, by telling us what system you use and what music you like, as this procedure is required by all new members joining our community; indeed you were asked to do this in your registration email.
Cheers! :cool:
Marco.
Sorry Marco, just put a message on that thread now.
3/4 on the volume is enough to power the monitor audios really loud. I didn't notice at first with dance music but as soon as I tried some feli feli afrobeat it became apparent in same volume tests with my this £60 amp is better than my aged denon avr 3805. I still don't know how I can go about running a 2 channel amp for stereo and while still using the same fronts in a surround setup but no doubt there is thread out there for me! Hrm I might be able to use this multizone phono!
jandl100
18-02-2012, 07:25
Yep, welcome to AOS, Giles. :)
I was going to suggest you try the Mini-T in your main system, and thought you would be pleasantly surprised. It's a stonkingly good amp, it really is! :thumbsup:
Mark Grant
18-02-2012, 08:38
I still don't know how I can go about running a 2 channel amp for stereo and while still using the same fronts in a surround setup but no doubt there is thread out there for me! Hrm I might be able to use this multizone phono!
Stanley Beresford makes a speaker switch called the TC-7220 that should do the job nicely.
http://www.beresford.me/PP/TC2D7220_AUDIO_ROUTER.html
-
Canetoad
18-02-2012, 12:10
I use one for just this purpose and it works a treat! :cool:
littlest hobo
18-02-2012, 22:57
Loving the sound from my Amptastic Mini-T, I would never have noticed it on fleabay if it wasn't for the positive reviews on this site. So, thanks to all who recommended it. Would love to compare it to a Bantam Gold in the future.
What impact does adding a DAC have? Considering it's cheapness is it worth the investment or should I just revel in the bang for buck it already provides.
wee tee cee
19-02-2012, 00:28
Claire,
I'm sure Gazjam on here, did a crackin wee review of both amps. The gold if memory serves came out on top.....I have an original bantum and four mono blocks all of which are keepers.
Adding a dac will improve the signal you are amplifying ( shite in shite out ) so long as the dac is superior to what you already have.
Tony.
Spent a pleasant couple of hours Saturday afternoon putting my new Amptastic through it's paces.
I'm not usually so slow in adopting Jerry's recomendations (got the B'dac and the ebay phono amp on the strength of his reviews) but it's taken me while to get one of these - glad I did though.
Did a 'scratch' setup comprising dual core Atom pc (Intel board, 120 watt psu), Hiface coax out to Aune Dac/Headamp to T Amp and JPW Mini Monitors as speakers.
Cued up a playlist of some of my favourite tracks in Foobar and away I go - amazing amounts of detail just like everyone says.
Perfectly acceptable volume levels in a room 20 x 10 and I didn't take the volume past 11 oclock on the dial.
Just need to get my butt in gear now and build some shelves so that the speakers are over my desk, and I can work at the computer and have some decent sounds at the same time.
Thanks for the recommendation guys...
dave2010
19-02-2012, 08:29
Perfectly acceptable volume levels in a room 20 x 10 and I didn't take the volume past 11 oclock on the dial.
Is 11 o' clock around 90%, or is it maybe only 50%? Vague I know, but I have a Bantam Gold, and if I want it loud I have to turn the knob pretty much all the way up. That's in the lower volume mode - which has lower distortion.
I can go higher with the high volume mode, but generally prefer not to do that.
I have been thinking about getting one of these Amptastic amps - as they seem cheap enough, and I could use it for several purposes. Our current largest room is about similar to yours though wider at around 12 feet.
I have other amps which go louder, but I can't stand the distortion and other problems they have for long.
In "old money" a lot of amps had knobs which went from roughly 7-8 o'clock round to 3-5 o'clock, so your 11 o'clock would be under half way.
jandl100
19-02-2012, 08:46
Spent a pleasant couple of hours Saturday afternoon putting my new Amptastic through it's paces.
I'm not usually so slow in adopting Jerry's recomendations (got the B'dac and the ebay phono amp on the strength of his reviews) but it's taken me while to get one of these - glad I did though.
Aw shucks. :o
Mucho thanks for that. I'm coming in for some flak on a certain other forum from the usual suspects. It's nice to know that my thoughts and reccies are appreciated. :)
The Mini-T starts at roughly 7 o'clock and stops at 5 o'clock. I'm running mine with a Caiman+...
a) If the Caiman+ with line level outputs, then the Mini-T generally is at 8-9 o'clock for normal listening levels. For louder listening 10-11 is the setting. And it is loud. The room is about 15x25 feet, but the listening area is 15x12 approx. The sound fills the whole room with no problem.
b) I usually use the Caiman+ as a preamp, so the Mini-t is set at full volume (no hiss in the speakers, by the way), and the Caiman+ never goes past 10 o'clock.
Incidentally, my second Mini-T is now in the study, and it is leagues above the old Rotel it replaces. However, it does seem a lot quieter, and it's set closer to 10 o'clock, even with the PC volume set to the highest level.
@Claire, I find the DAC does make a big difference.
Lenny,are both your Mini-Ts the newer versions?
Well they were bought since Christmas, so I'm presuming they are. Both have the 5A power supply.
They differ from the pictures on eBay and amptastic.com in that the top and bottom have a bevel routed into them. Other than that, they appear identical - blue illumination, just a power button and volume control on the front.
On the rear, there is no amptastic.com stamp, but inside the circuit IS stamped 'amptastic'.
Indeed they are the new version beasts.
Sweet to listen to, they are.
If I had more time, I'd be experimenting a lot more with them. But there simply isn't enough time...
Hi all, I've been following this thread on mini t amps with some interest. Indeed i suggested a friend try one out and he seems more than happy with it.
As some of you will know I've been a one box kind of guy and currently have an Arcam Solo Neo driving my Rega RS3s, Jerry suggested that i might try a mini t as a power amp with the Arcam handling pre amp duties. Got to say i'm intrigued at the though that one of these little jobs could outclass the 50w onboard amp of the Neo. My main concern would be that whilst the Regas are pretty sensitive at 89bB they still take a bit of driving on account of the side firing woofer they have. So for music listening at a good volume i tend pushing the Arcam to about half way.
How do you think a t amp would cope would the load of the Regas? I'm also fascinated by those using these little amps as mono blocks. How would i do this if i was to get hold of two of them? Is there a mod you can do or would the seller do this for me (I'm not a solder sniffer btw)? :scratch:
Cheers
Is 11 o' clock around 90%, or is it maybe only 50%? Vague I know, but I have a Bantam Gold, and if I want it loud I have to turn the knob pretty much all the way up. That's in the lower volume mode - which has lower distortion.
I find that a bit confusing too - most of the amps I grew up with started to sound worse after the 12 o' clock position - yet the Rega Mira I use in my main system needs to be at 1 o' clock to get a decent level and shows no sign of distortion if I take it further (that's with a low output mc into Fono mc pre-amp first)
I'm sure I'd read somewhere that T Amps could be a bit 'sensitve' so I didn't want to brick it 5 minutes after it was fresh out of the box - sounds from the other comments as though I could take it further.
jandl100
21-02-2012, 17:38
Jerry suggested that i might try a mini t as a power amp with the Arcam handling pre amp duties. Got to say i'm intrigued at the though that one of these little jobs could outclass the 50w onboard amp of the Neo. My main concern would be that whilst the Regas are pretty sensitive at 89bB they still take a bit of driving on account of the side firing woofer they have. So for music listening at a good volume i tend pushing the Arcam to about half way.
How do you think a t amp would cope would the load of the Regas?
The Mini-T seems a bit sensitive to different loads - tbh, the only real way to find out is to give it a go.
I can't see how any harm can be done if you are sensible and don't try and play technodance at wall-flexing levels from the off! Start low, then wind it up - I wouldn't be surprised if you were surprised at the outcome! ;)
Ali Tait
21-02-2012, 17:46
I think most of the Tripath chips have a thermal cutout, so just switch themselves off if you push them too hard.
jandl100
21-02-2012, 17:52
Ah, that's interesting, Ali.
I was amazed how loud a Mini-T would go with my 83dB/W speakers - and it never cut out - it's the load thing that may be problematical, and the Mini-T may (or may not) sound good with the Regas.
wee tee cee
21-02-2012, 19:10
My son has a bantum original with the maplin power supply on treble with a cyrus 1 on bass duties. It sounds lovely......however his girlfriend is willing to get him a couple of mini t amps for his birthday.......oh boy.....
I am looking forward to comparing it with my four temple audio mono blocks. I read the great review with the gold and mini t......I will trust my ears .
Tony.
Ali Tait
21-02-2012, 19:17
Which review is that Tony?
wee tee cee
21-02-2012, 19:33
I'm sure it was you and Gary that wrote up a crackin comparison.....I cant seem to find it ...
Ali Tait
21-02-2012, 20:55
Oh yes, i remeber that one. That was good day at Gary's.
wee tee cee
21-02-2012, 21:03
Ali,
I cant find the review....any chance of digging it out and tacking it on here,
for the reference of the great and the good.
All the best...Tony
I'll have a rummage Tony and stick it up.
Still cant get over the size of Ali's OB's when they came out the car!
*EDIT*
Found it: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=9458&highlight=gazjam+towers
Ali Tait
21-02-2012, 21:17
Found it!
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=9458
wee tee cee
21-02-2012, 21:57
Thanks chaps....A crackin review.......Reading through it does make me remember just how fantastic the OBs sounded.......mmmmm.
Ali,
If you get those fuck off electrostatics up and running please give me first dibbs on them.
Regards Tony
For myself the Mini-T comfortably beat a Cambridge Audio 640A (£250) in every department except for bass weight.
This wasn't a problem though as I was too busy enjoying the music and not the equipment.:)
This comparison is useful but, are there any comparisons out there between the Mini-T and a more modern budget amp released in the last couple of years? Something like the What Hi-Fi? 5 star rated Marantz PM6003 or PM6004?
I was searching for such a comparison but i have not found anything. Comparisons between the Mini-T and older amps like the Cambridge Audio 640A are fine but technology has moved on and the Marantz amps I think are quite a bit better than the Azur 640A, which can now be picked up for as little as £100 on ebay.
Is it possible for someone who owns the Mini T to do such a comparison with a modern budget amp?
jandl100
01-03-2012, 06:52
You can read all the reviews and forum posts in the world and still not have much of a clue if you'll like it - there are enough positive vibes about it, so why not just buy one and send it back for a refund if it doesn't suit you! :thumbsup:
... from my own point of view, forget the latest budget priced wonder amps, I've compared a Mini-T directly to current and very recent production multi-£k amps as well as true classics from years gone by, and I'd rather listen thru a Mini-T than most of those. ;)
D (dz1) - please would you go to the welcome area as instructed and introduce yourself before making any further posts? Many thanks.
dave2010
01-03-2012, 11:11
This comparison is useful but, are there any comparisons out there between the Mini-T and a more modern budget amp released in the last couple of years? Something like the What Hi-Fi? 5 star rated Marantz PM6003 or PM6004?
I was searching for such a comparison but i have not found anything. Comparisons between the Mini-T and older amps like the Cambridge Audio 640A are fine but technology has moved on and the Marantz amps I think are quite a bit better than the Azur 640A, which can now be picked up for as little as £100 on ebay.
Is it possible for someone who owns the Mini T to do such a comparison with a modern budget amp?I have to say that it would be helpful to have some comparison with amps such as the Marantz models you mention, though many round here seem to think that the Amptastic and similar will do as well or beat it, and certainly the Amptastic ought to be very good value for money. On the other hand the Marantz models will have multiple inputs, and also provide pre-amp features, and the higher priced model also has an input for moving magnet cartridges, so there may be an element of convenience and versatility to consider. If you only ever want to play music from a single (or simple) digital source, then the T amps will serve very well if you use a suitable DAC, which may be able to do some switching, and perhaps give provide a modicum of pre amplification.
It would still be interesting to hear from anyone who has heard some of the recent crops of good value/best buy amps, such as the Marantzes and Cambridge Audio etc. At one time I thought that Arcam did some good things, and one of the best amps I've heard in the last couple of years was a rather expensive Musical Fidelity.
Does anyone know where TA2020 based amps, eg Topping TP20 can be bridged? Not so much for power but for running as monoblocks - with the pot on max or internally shorted and run from a preamp.
allsorts
02-03-2012, 02:00
I had a Tamp-90 and still have a bantam gold. To my deteriorating ears neither was in the same league as the Marantz PM-7003 which was a superb amp or my current Yamaha AS 500. The Bantam was clearly better at everything than the T90 and should have been - for the price differential. The Bantam also didn't sound so good when switched to gain mode. Not that i needed the gain with music generally.
For me , The Yamaha at AU$400 is the clear value for money winner, agreat cool running amp, crisp, quick, and plenty of power for my tastes; followed by the Bantam Gold (AU$300) which also lost out due to causing ongoing rf interference with my pvr and tv. The Tamp -90(AU$150??) I just didn't think was all that organised and was a trifle muddy in the trebles.
The Marantz was easily the best amp for sound quality (about AU$1K). Might have to buy it back one day, but for now the Yamaha is providing excellent service hooked up to a Beresford Gatorized dac, macmini with audirvana plus.
I never posted about my speaker choices with a mini-t. I sent my Roths back, that'll teach me for listening to What HI-FI like it's the bloody gospel! Anyway, I tried some Monitor Audio and B&W compact bookshelfs and they were alright, the 602's were 6ohm and sounded impressive on speaker stands but should do for £300. I demoed the Q-Acoustics 1010 and they sounded excellent for £100 and dealt with being in the worst positions I could find in the demo room, which is exactly what I'm dealing with in my kitchen. I would have bought them there and then but the guy in Sevenoaks was a real plonker. When a customer says they want one speaker don't tell them they should have gone for the one 3x the price that they just demoed!
Anyway I ended up at RicherSounds taking back my soundsticks and they recommended the Dali Zensors. They were powered really easily by the mini-t and hook onto the wall, great bass and amazing soundstage. Thank you RicherSounds for not trying to flog me Cambridge Audio. </rant>
I had a quick question about matching speakers to this amp. Would the Q Acoustics Q2010i's work well? I'm new to hifi but from what I've gathered, this amp likes 8ohms and high sensitivity, but these Q2010i's are 6 ohm and 86db. I'm looking for some speakers that are good for £100 ish.
I had a quick question about matching speakers to this amp. Would the Q Acoustics Q2010i's work well? I'm new to hifi but from what I've gathered, this amp likes 8ohms and high sensitivity, but these Q2010i's are 6 ohm and 86db. I'm looking for some speakers that are good for £100 ish.
Hi I have the very same speakers wired to my Amtastic T-amp. Highly recommended!
BW
Bonky.
Just aquired a Virtue Audio Sensation M451 T-amp and to my ears this amp has for me redefined what is possible from reasonably priced amplification- this is EASILY the best amplifier l have had at home (and l have had a few l can tell you), if anybody wants a more in depth review l will do one, it is certainly worthy of it, for me it is agame changer:cool:
jandl100
31-03-2012, 08:33
Just aquired a Virtue Audio Sensation M451 T-amp and to my ears this amp has for me redefined what is possible from reasonably priced amplification
Interesting find, Andy!
There's a review here (http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/virtue_sensation_e.html) and yes, they seem to like it too!
A step up in price from many other chip amps, mind. ;)
Interesting find, Andy!
There's a review here (http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/virtue_sensation_e.html) and yes, they seem to like it too!
A step up in price from many other chip amps, mind. ;)
Hi Jerry, we love the Mini-T, well, move the goalposts on ten times and you are there, to say l am gobsmacked would be an understatement, l got a good deal on mine, l cannot bang on about VFM enough regarding this amp:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool ::cool:
jandl100
31-03-2012, 08:56
... l cannot bang on about VFM enough regarding this amp:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool ::cool:
Well, with all those pints of beer you're downing there, you seem to be managing OK! :lol:
Well, with all those pints of beer you're downing there, you seem to be managing OK! :lol:
Sunk a few last night went to see Aussie Pink Floyd, and very good they were to- the beer and Aussie Pink Floyd:)
electric beach
01-04-2012, 08:25
Just aquired a Virtue Audio Sensation M451 T-amp and to my ears this amp has for me redefined what is possible from reasonably priced amplification- this is EASILY the best amplifier l have had at home (and l have had a few l can tell you), if anybody wants a more in depth review l will do one, it is certainly worthy of it, for me it is agame changer:cool:
Hi Andy,
I would be interested to hear more of your direct comparison to our hero. I use it with an £800 active preamp and consider this lifts it into a different plane though. In what areas has the Virtue amp rocked your world?
Hi Andy,
I would be interested to hear more of your direct comparison to our hero. I use it with an £800 active preamp and consider this lifts it into a different plane though. In what areas has the Virtue amp rocked your world?
Hi Steve, we could set something up, l was gong to listen to your Mini-T with your horns a while ago, so l will consult my diary, but am a bit busy at the moment, but as a taster, The Sensation has around 35wpc, and has bass that is full, supple, really well controlled and really drives along, wide open midrange, multiple inputs, remote control, clean as a whistle tone, and a musicality that is quite a revalation, having watched Aussie Pink Floyd on Friday evening, l am revisiting thier later catalogue ( Division Bell, The Wall) and l am hearing them in a completely new light with this amplifier, l feel it is definately a giant killer, it sounds as clean as a Lavardin, boogies like a Naim, witha full 3D sound of a valve amp- l love this amp!:cool:- Oh and this is the basic model, which can be upgraded slowly- battery pack is next:)
electric beach
01-04-2012, 14:49
Hi Steve, we could set something up, l was gong to listen to your Mini-T with your horns a while ago, so l will consult my diary, but am a bit busy at the moment, but as a taster, The Sensation has around 35wpc, and has bass that is full, supple, really well controlled and really drives along, wide open midrange, multiple inputs, remote control, clean as a whistle tone, and a musicality that is quite a revalation, having watched Aussie Pink Floyd on Friday evening, l am revisiting thier later catalogue ( Division Bell, The Wall) and l am hearing them in a completely new light with this amplifier, l feel it is definately a giant killer, it sounds as clean as a Lavardin, boogies like a Naim, witha full 3D sound of a valve amp- l love this amp!:cool:- Oh and this is the basic model, which can be upgraded slowly- battery pack is next:)
Cheers Andy, thanks for that.
It remains an open invitation, you're welcome anytime.
I for one am not at all surprised at the potential of Tripath chips with a bit of love thrown at them ;)
Steve,Loved the sound of T-amps the first time l heard the Mini-T l knew l had found the way to amplifier bliss and has rekindled my love of music,l own 3 different T- amps now, they all sound different but all very good.:)
wee tee cee
01-04-2012, 16:10
Steve,
If memory serves you had some temple audio mono blocks in your system for a while, I would love to hear your take on things when you have heard the amp. I run four monos with a musical fidelity m1 hpa pre to great effect but the addition of another T amp is always on the cards....
Regards Tony.
Hi Ali,
As you already know, I removed the volume pot in favor of digital volume control.
Remember our short discussion about replace the input capacitors with more "exotic" ones? Well, that didn't happen due to space constraints. The only Mundorf that fits is the 0.33uf variety. Not good.
Fortunately, I found a great alternative - the MKP2000.
http://ucccap.myweb.hinet.net/pics/2KP4u7J100.jpg
They aren't the best caps around, but pretty damn close when VFM is factored in. These caps are balanced, neutral, and sound clean without being analytical. I like the "MKP2000" because they can be used practically everywhere, and it's actually OKAY do so without adding too much color or breaking the bank.
I feel that the MKP2000s are significantly better than the stock Epcos MKPs as input capacitors (even without any burn in). The vocals are much improved, and the low end sounds more "solid" than stock.
After listening to the modded amp for a while, I couldn't help but wonder what other mods can be done (with the absence of the schematic). So I opened up the amp again and took a careful look. To my dismay, the chassis wires and internal connectors seemed rather shoddy. Definitely room for improvement. I removed the stock wires and connectors, and soldered in Mundorf 1.5mm silver/gold (PCB to speaker terminal) and Belden silver plated copper wires (input 1 RCA jacks to PCB).
The sonic improvement was significant, even more so than the input capacitor mod. :eek: The sound of my TP60 has become noticeably more musical, tonally balanced, and detailed. Not what I expected, but I like pleasant surprises!
I think the TP60 is a great VFM amp in stock form, and a serious contender as a main system amplifier after eliminating its biggest weaknesses.
http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/6562/img0049d.jpg
Can anyone that has modified their TP60 give me a link of where to buy the capacitors in the post above or something else they'd recommend for me to use?
Ali Tait
28-02-2014, 16:01
Try here - http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/claritycap.html
Choose whatever fits your budget.
Try here - http://www.hificollective.co.uk/components/claritycap.html
Choose whatever fits your budget.
Thanks,
Is there also somewhere i can learn easily about selecting caps? Do i just go something with the same uF and V rating or is there a magical art to selecting them?
Thanks,
Is there also somewhere i can learn easily about selecting caps? Do i just go something with the same uF and V rating or is there a magical art to selecting them?
The chap at Hificollective is very helpful indeed- forget his name though......:doh:
Cool, i'll have a look at the caps in there and send him an email. Cheers
Anybody running a t amp off a battery?
I have a spare car battery and was wondering if I could run the bantum off it.Would i need to run a fuse in line or just connect it directly?
l am and it sounds spectacular.
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