are there budget class t amps about (apart from Sonic impact)

[jon]

When visiting the US, I've been thinking of taking advantage of lower prices/the strong pound

I've been very impressed with the sonic impact t amp I bought, and quite like the idea of getting a slightly more powerful/better built amp based on similar technology. Are such things available (budget probably upto $400ish, and would be happy to buy secondhand) or am I going to wind up with solder burns from trying to mod a sonic impact amp

Jon

 

[SSM]

I browsed a tech mag at the stands recently and saw a blurb on an Audiopak(?) product - the Amp. It has the same Tripath chip as the Sonic T and 12W x 12W. It is built as a small squarish red box. The speaker outputs are an oddity. They are not springclips or bananas but 3.5mm 'female' jacks! Wonder if this makes it easier to modify than a Sonic T?

Try as I might I can't find any details of the Amp on the Net. Perhaps I got the brand name sp. wrong.

 

[nixon_fiend]

well i think it was tony who pointed out 'red wine audio' to me... states-based t-chip modders.. sounds exactly like what you;re after .. i can't recall the addy but its probably just red wine audio .com .. might want to google 'em

 

[jon]

Cheers Nixon/solid.

tbh, the red wine audio amp does look remarkably similar to a modded t amp...was hoping for something with a bit more power (tbh, rather than buy from red wine I'd probably try to mod one my self - to save a few hundred bucks has to be worth a couple of solder burns

)

And yeah solid, let me know if you find any more details on the audiopak

Jon

 

[Guest]

speak to Tony Jon, he has experience of other class T chips, and can perhaps suggest just the one your after.

 

[Kiang]

try

chipamp.com

41hz.com

talkgarden.tripod.com/sonic_impact_5066.htm

Follow links from these sites

 

[jon]

Cheers. Kiang, will think about a kit (those 41hz ones do look nice

); AK, I've PMd tony/Mr Coherent.

Jon

 

[Guest]

jon wrote:

Cheers. Kiang, will think about a kit (those 41hz ones do look nice

); AK, I've PMd tony/Mr Coherent.Jon

john I'm sure I saw kits somewhere once, tripath amp chips in a kit form with boards components and cases too I think, various power ratings from a few watts to a mega watt or so!!

oops it my be one of them kinag mentioned, (note to self, stop speed reading, your not good enough

)

 

[PARAGON]

Wow! have you seen the quality of some of the "home-made" amps on those sites?

I have been toying with the idea of buying a sonic-T for a while, but after seeing those I think I will investigate further. There appears to be a whole communinty built up around this kit amps, andI am sure there are better ones available that the T.

To see what a proper company can do with digital amps, see Flying Mole, good enough to be incorporated in active PMC monitors.....

http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/shop/flypage/product_id/5545

 

[jon]

Yeah, they do look nice, but if I made one it'd no doubt end up with bits hanging off and some strategically applied masking tape

Like the look of those Flying mole jobs...out of budget, though

Jon

 

[arjn]

Try the Dr Amp at

http://www.audiotrak.co.uk/music_production/dr_amp/dr_amp.shtml

You have an option of replacing Op Amps on this one and it comes with a dedicated PSU unlike the SI.

It is better built as well.

 

[Kiang]

Alternatively , some more food for thought

www.auricles.com/new_page_22.htm

 

[PARAGON]

Lots to think about there, begining to think this should be in the DIY topics though!

 

[SSM]

arjn wrote:

Try the Dr Amp athttp://www.audiotrak.co.uk/music_production/dr_amp/dr_amp.shtml

You have an option of replacing Op Amps on this one and it comes with a dedicated PSU unlike the SI.

It is better built as well.

Yeah! This is the one I was talking about. Audiotrak, not Audiopak.

Note to self: must speedread mags at stands more leisurely

 

[technobear]

http://www.lcaudio.com/index.php?curr=3

 

[jon]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Hmm - wasn't meant to be DIY, as plan was to avoid having to do the work

Looks like I might have to dig out my soldering iron again, though... Now, how many watts could the differnent kits pass through my hand when I leave the case live by mistake

Jon

 

[technobear]

jon wrote:

Hmm - wasn't meant to be DIY...

LC Audio do a ready built power amp but it costs about the same a a TacT SDA2175.

http://www.lcaudio.com/index.php?page=2

If you want one for £400 you have to build it yourself.

 

[jon]

Thanks for all the info. Will probably wind up using a t amp in my office, and looking to buy a better class a/b amp for the main room

Jon