2. amps-preamps
  3. 143557-20253

How to DIY yourself very nice Class D monoblocks

If you want to know what the hoopla is about Class D and want to put together a very nice sounding kit I have a starter recommendation for you.

Go to Parts Express and search for "ICEPower ASP"
Next, look online for Ghent Audio. They make many sets of cases.

You'll need a high power soldering iron, and screw skills.
Between those two, you can put together a very nice monoblock for around $500 a piece.

I highly recommend both. I have no financial interest in either. 
You may need wiring kits, so make sure to order appropriately.
erik_squires
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Do you want to stay away from Chinese or Euro stuff?

Here’s quality USA made Class-D audio kits, these look to be great value with some big wattage’s and they use linear power supplies!!!, "said" to sound as good as APL’s Alex Peychev’s $150k tube amp.
http://classdaudio.com/amplifier-kits.html

It also looks like they maybe be producing GaN fet technology kits soon, as they are linked to the GaN site along with Purely Emotional Audio
http://gan-fet.com/2014/02/13/desert-rocks/

Cheers George
rotarius
431 posts
 
My TI tpa3255 evaluation board is the best solid state amp I have ever had.  My references for ss amps are mid-level pieces I have owned such as Belles 150a, Bryston 4BST, B&K, Aragon 8002, NAD units and such.
erik_squires OP
16,447 posts
 
@rotarius

That is an interesting find! 300W/channel, and uses a very high (relatively) 2.1 MHz switching frequency!

It would be really nice to see frequency vs. phase plots for these amps.

Best,

E
ricevs
1,543 posts
 

Erik,

Looks like 500K switching to me.  The oscillator is in the megs.....not the PWM frequency.....maybe I don't know nothin.

George,

Your link to Gan-fet is from 2014 and Purely Emotional Audio is an offshoot of classdaudio.  They have yet to produce anything using that name.

rotarius
431 posts
 
Erik, TI has quite a bit of info on their website with plots for the whole chip family.  Interesting threads about tpa3251/tpa3255 on diyaudio as well.  The TI module is plug and play essentially and the sound is refined with some serious low end grunt.  Best with an active preamp. 
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