2. amps-preamps
  3. 175368-1069

Chip amps, not spoken about much, except on the diy sites.

I will try and make this a reasonable amount of reading for you all, while keeping it real. I also feel blessed, that the speakers I live with and enjoy so much, can be driven with any amp on the planet.......I consider myself an ampoholic, and in the last 5 years or so, I have been listening and evaluating all of my treasured amps to determine what I will not listen to anymore ( this after buying my 1st Nuforce STA200 ). 15 months ago, I came across an ad here for a Dalaudio Retro 4780, and contacted the seller through email ( what a super member, being a pleasant and easy transaction, on so many levels ). I was intrigued, for a few reasons. 1st, all this talk about class D; 2nd, I have not seen many chip amps for sale by owners ( except diy ); 3rd, I had 1st hand experience with the " Gainclone " amp and it’s Humpty power supply in ’98 /’99 ( I believe that was the time ). 4th, as my amp collection was getting smaller, I was experiencing an emptiness within me. Many reasons for that, with covid being one. 5th, wanted to try something new. 6th, and of course, all of the online and yt reviewers, whom I will not discuss, because of politics. So, after I received the chip amp, and living with it for a few weeks, it went back into my inventory, replaced with another. So, returning home after spending a nice VsD with my gf, I connected the Dal again ( all the while, I did my complete chassis damping thing to it, as it needed it badly ), and it has been playing in my main rig, since then. My thoughts................... Holy Mama ! More to come. Enjoy ! MrD.

mrdecibel
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,554 posts
 

The only high powered one I heard was from Channel Islands and it was very good.

I sat with the Channel Island guy for a long time at "The Show" while he was playing with his amp. It was good but he knew there was more to get out of it and was still working on it. Not sure if he hit the sweet spot now or not. 

@russ69 I doubt I'll ever buy another set of speakers that needs more than 25 wpc, probably not more than 10.

I run low powered tube amps but they have huge power supplies and punch way above their weight. I also have two chip amps, pretty good for what they are but a big step down from true higher end stuff. OK for low end systems. 

klh007
621 posts
 

The LSA Warp 1 from Underwood HiFi is also a chip amp,  Texas Instruments TPA3255 Class D amp-on-a-chip: here is a current review;  

 

mrdecibel OP
3,067 posts
 

As stated by @jasonbourne52, the Topping PA5 is a chip amp, and since I have been listening, they are not just for low end systems.

4krowme's avatar
4krowme
542 posts
 

I may have purchased the last LM3875 chip amp kit from Peter Daniel who is likely still selling completed Patek chip amps. In this case, all wiring is about as short and simple as you can imagine. The power supply uses a 330VA transformer that seems scary big for a 40 WPC amp. I will make a chassis for it now, since I find it far beyond worthy for my system. I bet the total parts cost will end up being less than $300 or so. 

 FWIW, I am presently building a 50 WPC class D amp designed Peter Millett. It is a different animal that's for sure, using a pair of Korg SP1 triode for inputs! Still working out a kink in the amp, but this is the second one that I have built. I am quite anxious to horse race these two amps, but I expect that the PM will give a warmer sound.

 In each case a Nelson Pass B1K preamp will feed these amps.

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