Yes Will that is correct. If you want you can add a pot, or better still the rotary encoder that Sure can supply or leave as is and use a pre amp.
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Yes Will that is correct. If you want you can add a pot, or better still the rotary encoder that Sure can supply or leave as is and use a pre amp.
Looks like a real interesting project, now if there was only a idoit guide to this I go for it Would people be willing to help a complete novice in this
Hi John. I am sure you will find the folks on here more than helpful when it comes to building stuff like this.
Any suggested vendors for a Topping TP60? I figure most if not all come straight from Asia, but any sellers more reputable than others? Really wish there were more North American dealers for T-amps. Mind you Parts Express have a nice little unit:
http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=300-383
I digress, looking for something with more power, so TP60 it may be...
The photos I have seen of the insides of the Toppings would suggest their capacitors are of better quality than many other makes use. The TP60 or TP21 would be my choice for a T amp.
Can I assume therefore that the Rotary Encoder is effectively a 'Digital Volume Control', and therefore better than a pot.Quote:
Originally Posted by aquapiranha
I might try an 'integrated' one first, my long term goal is to use 'digital amps' throughout (possibly to replace my Audiolab SX & P power amps), for efficiency reasons...as long as there's no compromise in sound quality that is...;)
Own up time.
I’ve been reading this T Class amp thread with a great deal of interest. For a start, there are a few contributors on this thread who’s opinions on audio I have come to respect, no silly claims, a willingness to experiment, seemingly no particular bias for any medium or any equipment, and more importantly, Scotsmen; probably almost as tight as me :rolleyes: :lol:
Despite my piss taking concerning the eye candy/secondary central heating/overpriced knobs and dials display addicts I baulked at the thought of some 3” by 3” non descript box with a transformer hanging off the back replacing my current array.
Yep, I’m human too ;)
Add to this my recent experience of some NuForce kit and the self acknowledged reality that I wasn’t going to be able to afford a NAD M2 for the foreseeable future (may not be that long at my age:eek:), the temptation to find out whether a T Class amp could put a smile on my face and stop my wallet from cringing in a corner eventually proved too much and I, or rather we, myself and two friends (told ya I was tight) bought one, or rather a bit of a selection.
We all tried to find out as much as we could about the different makes/kit combinations available and some very interesting discussions ensued; which chip? what power? Omg, those case look awful, your bloody joking mate, no tubes in my setup, those chokes look like they’ve been ripped out of a wall wart, switch modes, no thanks.
Me, well I was all for getting the cheapest, but I got over ruled:doh:; the general consensus being, lets give the T Cass the best chance of performing and go for something adaptable, caseless and with minimal building and maximum reputation.
This is what we bought.
http://www.autocostruire.com/catalog...c0c2719f592836
http://www.autocostruire.com/catalog...c0c2719f592836
http://www.autocostruire.com/catalog...c0c2719f592836
http://www.autocostruire.com/catalog...c0c2719f592836
We had a range of transformers between us so that saved a few quid.
Despite my protestations of having recently spent six quid on some exotic interconnects from Belkin and the heart stopping payment of fifty quid to a robbing electrician for a bit of paper I was forced to borrow a crowbar and prise open my wallet to the tune of £150!! :eek:
Autocostruire were extremely tolerant of our enquiries, delivered quickly a well packed box with excellent instructions and I highly recommend them as a company.
It took less than a day to build the 2020 kit and wire up so that the 2020 and T100 could both be used with the Tube Pre and the Power supply. The only real drawback is having to swap transformers and connect up the power supply from board to board.
I’m supposed to be putting them in cases but we haven’t got past squabbling over who’s turn it is to listen to them yet.
Frankly I’m gobsmacked by the sound these produce. The 100watt version is easily as good as my Quantum’s and does some things better than my Exposure and they haven’t even been properly boxed and connected yet, never mind tweaked and fully burnt in.
The 20 watt has enough power to drive my speakers where I live now but in a larger room they will clip and T class clipping is a lot more unpleasant to listen to than say a tube amp clipping.
The 20 watt can’t drive my mates Quads. The rest of us all have hand built speakers which we’ve had differing degrees of success with.
I’ve read a number of comments in the vein that while T Class may be some things, musical they’re not; bollocks, these are extraordinarily musical and so far completely untiring to listen to, one of the things I find most important and why I’ve stuck with the Exposure for years :mental:
Whether these are better than the Sonic T’s and the Bantam Golds I cant say having heard neither. However, these do have some sensible components, the air core chokes being particularly interesting.
True, they need boxes and this starts to push the price up considerably, particularly if you’re going for separate boxes for PSU and Pre and Power.
Autocostruire say that their single board built Tube Pre/PSU/T100 probably performs better than separates and I’m quite happy to take their word for this.
Are they worth the money? For around £400 for this
http://www.autocostruire.com/catalog...c0c2719f592836
and this
http://www.autocostruire.com/catalog...c0c2719f592836
or this if you were consider two T100 power amps (extra of course)
http://www.autocostruire.com/catalog...c0c2719f592836
plus cases and time it would seem initially that the main reported benefit of T Class (cheapness) is no longer relevant.
I would say, forget about T Class as the poor mans option and start thinking that even if you spent £500 on a build these will blow anything else I’ve heard at the price out of the water.
John, you may like the ta 2022 as in the Hlly T 90. Does very good bass with a liquid valve like mid with great detail. It does sound different to the 2020 though.
Regarding your comments in general, I have heard the Bantam against the mini-T, and I did prefer the Bantam. With the limited power from the bantam though, I don't think it will excel with a lot of commercial speakers of average sensitivity. Does work extremely well with the 95Db OB's though. In fact, I'd say they are as good as all but the best valve amps I've heard in most respects.
... the Mini-T is very good for the money though, probably 80-85 % of the Bantam sound.