[pekingduck]

Great info. Cheers

 
Now I need to find someone to do the soldering for me LOL

 
Quote:

I like this T-amp. It is well constructed, good parts, speaker protection relay and good potentiometer for easy zeroing of the DC offset. It is also inexpensive.

SMSL SA-36 T-amp :
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170606603437&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


Here are the sources of quality cable components, nothing exotic. Also inexpensive.

Audeze LCD-2 connector wiring:
http://wiki.faust3d.com/wiki/index.php?title=Image:Audeze-lcd2-wiring-scheme.png

Mini XLR, female, 4 pin:
http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=1301&bc=no

High quality, 4 conductor cable:
http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=536

Banana plugs:
http://www.redco.com/shopexd.asp?id=320&bc=no
 
Happy DIY! 

 

 

[]eep]

If you are looking for a good T-amp, I suggest the Muse M21 or Topping TP21 TA2021 amps ( I own both). I don't use em for headphones but for my big speaker setup. I allso have 3 SE tube amps (KT88, EL84 and KT77/EL34) but lately I'm perfectly happy with the Muse M21. It sounds big, it sounds bold, it's spacious, detailed, everything I am looking for. The tubes are just a little more fluid in the midrange and up, but they lose in the base-department. The 2021 is just a little spitty (emphasis on little) in the treble sometimes but not so much it distracts from all the other highlights. the Muse M21 costs $40, my tube amps $4000, $500 and $300. So you decide if the TA-2021 is a bargain. :rolleyes:

What I am saying is: the 2021 sounds very much like a tube-amp in overall charakter, but with benefits in bass. Get one!

 

[viatraco]

Those looks very nice.With and without headphone out.
 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SA-S21-TA2021B-25wx-2-Class-T-Headphone-Amplifier-Amp-B-/170625420972?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27ba114eac
 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SA-S3-TA2021B-Class-T-Digital-Amplifier-HiFi-25W-x-2-/270756797332?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0a5cdb94
 
Which chip is the best in your opinion and sounds hmmm ... most pleasant ?  2020 , 2021 or 2024 ?

 

[ETAHL]

 
Quote:

If you are looking for a good T-amp, I suggest the Muse M21 or Topping TP21 TA2021 amps ( I own both). I don't use em for headphones but for my big speaker setup. I allso have 3 SE tube amps (KT88, EL84 and KT77/EL34) but lately I'm perfectly happy with the Muse M21. It sounds big, it sounds bold, it's spacious, detailed, everything I am looking for. The tubes are just a little more fluid in the midrange and up, but they lose in the base-department. The 2021 is just a little spitty (emphasis on little) in the treble sometimes but not so much it distracts from all the other highlights. the Muse M21 costs $40, my tube amps $4000, $500 and $300. So you decide if the TA-2021 is a bargain.

What I am saying is: the 2021 sounds very much like a tube-amp in overall charakter, but with benefits in bass. Get one!

Good to hear from another T-amp fan. I too use T-amps for my speaker rigs, a TP30 for my office and a DIY Helder TK2050 with my main rig. Your description of the sound is very close to what the LCD-2 sound like driven by the T-amp. The bass control is phenomenal; you will hear texture in bass that you won't hear from other types of amp; and the LCD-2 can do exceptional bass.
If someone has a budget of $1200 on a headphone rig. You just cannot beat a LCD-2 + Mini DAC TDA1543 X4 + T-amp. The only hold back is that it is not plug and play, a custom headphone cable is required for the system to work. Unless you can DIY, simple to do; you get soaked by the custom cable guys with their exorbitantly priced cables.

 

[ETAHL]

 
Quote:

Those looks very nice.With and without headphone out.
 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SA-S21-TA2021B-25wx-2-Class-T-Headphone-Amplifier-Amp-B-/170625420972?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27ba114eac
 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SA-S3-TA2021B-Class-T-Digital-Amplifier-HiFi-25W-x-2-/270756797332?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0a5cdb94
 
Which chip is the best in your opinion and sounds hmmm ... most pleasant ?  2020 , 2021 or 2024 ?

Nice looking T-amp!
You can't use any headphone plugs with T-amps, due to the common ground issues. T-amp can only be accessed via the speaker connections, four separate wires and connection are required. All T-amps with headphone socket uses a separate headphone amp circuit that has different sound from that of the T-amp.
 
All the different T-amp chips sounds very similar. My preferences is for the TA2024 by a very slim margin. They are all excellent.
Only issue with T-amp is the noise floor. It might be overwhelming with highly sensitive and/or high impedance headphones. They are best suited for less efficient orthodynamic headphones.
 
 

 

[Chefano]

Sad news, 2nd unit is dead silent. I think my last unit will be the third.
This is getting kinda expensive LOL.

 

[ardilla]

 
[size=medium]

I have the "quad" version of this thing - sound is quite similar to the Muse
 
Metrum NOS min dac
 
http://www.nosminidac.nl/NOS_mini_DAC_English.html
 
 
 
I see there has been added a new version - the "octave" (with a better PSU and 8 dac chips)
 
http://www.nosminidac.nl/Octave_English.html
 
 
 
 
 
A review of the "duo/quad" version here - in Dutch..
 
http://www.hifi.nl/recensies/4265/Metrum-Acoustics-NOS-Mini-DACs.html
 
6moons is on the "octave" - review is coming...
 
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/metrum/1.html
​

[/size]


Quote:

Sad news, 2nd unit is dead silent. I think my last unit will be the third.
This is getting kinda expensive LOL.

 

 

[Chefano]

Instead of buing another unit, Im going to make my own board using high quality copper traces and using premium quality components.
I really love the sound of this litle unit.

 

[ETAHL]

Quote:

Sad news, 2nd unit is dead silent. I think my last unit will be the third.
This is getting kinda expensive LOL.

Did it die of natural causes or die under the operating table?

 

[ETAHL]

Quote:

Instead of buing another unit, Im going to make my own board using high quality copper traces and using premium quality components.
I really love the sound of this litle unit.

 
I too love the sound of the TDA1543. I order this TDA1543 board last week to see what it will sound like: http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320712606533&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
I'll give you guys some feedback on its performance when it shows up.

 

[Chefano]

Natural causes, listened to 2 albums... then it became silent. Tried to search for possible causes but I could not find nothing broken. Both regulators are working, the TDAs are getting warm, when I sync it using coax or fiber the led goes off, dont know what is going on.
 
Raindrop has really good quality DACs. I have a TDA1541A and an AD1865 from him. Great support also.
Quote:

Did it die of natural causes or die under the operating table?

 

 

[SP Wild]

Quote:

Natural causes, listened to 2 albums... then it became silent. Tried to search for possible causes but I could not find nothing broken. Both regulators are working, the TDAs are getting warm, when I sync it using coax or fiber the led goes off, dont know what is going on.
 
Raindrop has really good quality DACs. I have a TDA1541A and an AD1865 from him. Great support also.


 

I have been eyeing those DAC boards and people say that the TDA1541 is even better than the TDA1543.


Quote:

 

I have the "quad" version of this thing - sound is quite similar to the Muse
 
Metrum NOS min dac
 
http://www.nosminidac.nl/NOS_mini_DAC_English.html
 
 
 
I see there has been added a new version - the "octave" (with a better PSU and 8 dac chips)
 
http://www.nosminidac.nl/Octave_English.html
 
 
 
 
 
A review of the "duo/quad" version here - in Dutch..
 
http://www.hifi.nl/recensies/4265/Metrum-Acoustics-NOS-Mini-DACs.html
 
6moons is on the "octave" - review is coming...
 
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/metrum/1.html
​

 

This "Octave" is extremely promising...great to read up on this company...this is very tightly engineered...is this THE ULTIMATE NOS DAC?  Or is Audio Note and Zanden the only way to go?  I am extremely interested...in the ULTIMATE NOS DAC. 

 

 

[Chefano]

SP Wild, you are correct. TDA1541 and AD1865 are king´s of NOS dac´s, IMO.
I love then all (1543, 1541 and 1865).

 
Quote:

I have been eyeing those DAC boards and people say that the TDA1541 is even better than the TDA1543.



This "Octave" is extremely promising...great to read up on this company...this is very tightly engineered...is this THE ULTIMATE NOS DAC?  Or is Audio Note and Zanden the only way to go?  I am extremely interested...in the ULTIMATE NOS DAC. 

 

 

 

[wushuliu]

Quote:

SP Wild, you are correct. TDA1541 and AD1865 are king´s of NOS dac´s, IMO.
I love then all (1543, 1541 and 1865).

 


 

From my experience, the Raindrop AD1865 DAC benefits from the same modification path as the Muse: if at all possible use direct output with high quality passive I/V and upgrade as many of the resistors and caps as is feasible. I sold my AD1865 before I made major improvements to my setup. Wish I had it now to compare with the Muse.
 
Also there are plenty of fake AD1865s and TDA1541s out there and chances are the Raindrop chips are not genuine (unless he can prove otherwise). There is a guy on diyaudio selling AD1865 chips straight from AD....

 

[Chefano]

Why not to prove they are fakes, instead of saying there is a good chance that are not genuine.
Raindrop is really a good seller...honest seller. Lukasz Fikus lampized a couple of raindrop boards and not even mentioned the idea of fake components.. neither a single capacitor nor the DAC itself. I prefer to believe in my ears and in Lukas opinion 

.
Quote:

From my experience, the Raindrop AD1865 DAC benefits from the same modification path as the Muse: if at all possible use direct output with high quality passive I/V and upgrade as many of the resistors and caps as is feasible. I sold my AD1865 before I made major improvements to my setup. Wish I had it now to compare with the Muse.
 
Also there are plenty of fake AD1865s and TDA1541s out there and chances are the Raindrop chips are not genuine (unless he can prove otherwise). There is a guy on diyaudio selling AD1865 chips straight from AD....