Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Have you done an Ebay search for "tripath" lately? There are many units using the 2024 (familiar Tamp Chip) 2020 chip (somewhat more powerful than the Super T amp) and the 2022 chip (which provides about 60wpc and was used in a Teac receiver) There at least three different manufacturers offering finished amps and gobs of kits. I've been using a HLLY T-amp 20 for a while and have been pleased with the results. It uses the Tripath 2020 chip and sounds very good. Haven't put it head to head with the Super T amp, but the sound seems the same to my memory. Most of the Ebay units are shipped direct from China, though I purchased mine through p-macaudio.com. There's a few favorable reviews posted various places by folks that have gone to some considerable work to get things written up. Anyway, what I'm wondering is if anyone is building tripath chips again. Tripath, unfortunately, did go under after bankruptcy. Their old domain name turns up nothing. Perhaps these are being produced using old tripath stock which found it's way out on the market through bankruptcy liquidation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 The HLLY T amp-20 is close in size, but slightly larger than the Trends T amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 The HLLY T amp-20 and T amp-10 are both 12 volt units and come with an A/C converter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 Tripath 2020 chip on it's board Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JL Sargent Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Neat little amps with some punch. I noticed this guy has a 6 channel version to run 5.1 sound. http://cgi.ebay.com/Tripath-3-X-TA2020-PCB-6-Channel-with-intergrated-SMPS_W0QQitemZ260388202904QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item260388202904&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 This is the HLLY T amp-90 which is built with the 2022 chip. The claim is that this chip will produce 90wpc into 4ohms at 1% THD (I think). All of these tripath chips are overstated IMO in what they will honestly produce. The Teac receiver which used this chip was rated, by Teac, at 50 or 60 wpc. I did use this receiver for church A/V for a while and it sounded very good. I did take a chance on the T amp-90 when I got one cheap on an Ebay auction. Get what you pay for, is correct. I did receive the unit in a few days from China, but it was defective. Sounded good, but would only play for a few minutes at a time and seemed to go into some sort of protect mode. It would play intermittently with no rhyme or reason as to why. I'm shipping it back to China for a full refund, but I will be out shipping for the return trip. I was talking with Paul Mackenzie, the P-Macaudio guy and he told me that some of the Chinese units sold on Ebay are production seconds or pre production units. He is apparently right about that. I will be ordering a T amp-90 from Paul as I had the T amp-20 ordered from him earlier on. The T-amp 90 is a larger and much heavier unit. It runs on 110 with an IEC connector. There is no A/C adapter. There is a large torrordial transformer on the chassis which makes this amp surprisingly heavy. The few minutes I did hear it, the sound was very good. It's that same T-amp sound with more power available. Here are a few pics. I'll say more later when I have a chance to do some listening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 from the rear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 torrordial transformer partly visible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 tripath 2022 chip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 These things get no respect, except from me. Better sound for my ears, which are no respectors of cost, than any SS amp at any price. Whatever aberration makes me hear that way I thank the good Lord for it. Saves me a CHUNK of change and I've never had anyone run from my listening room in horror yet. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 Neat little amps with some punch. I noticed this guy has a 6 channel version to run 5.1 sound. http://cgi.ebay.com/Tripath-3-X-TA2020-PCB-6-Channel-with-intergrated-SMPS_W0QQitemZ260388202904QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item260388202904&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 That is an interesting configuration. One unit I noticed browsing the net had a tube preamp section and T amp power section all in the same case. There are some T amp tube buffers and other Tripath USB and headphone amps. Lots of stuff out there now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hifi jim Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Thanks for the heads up Daddy Dee. I've been researching these lately as an inexpensive way to get good 2 ch sound, but I was not aware of the Hlly amps. Very cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blvdre Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I just bought a demo version of the Virtue Audio One but haven't had a chance to listen to it yet (need to finish my crossovers). They've had some good press, and seem to sell quickly on agon, so I figured it would be a low risk venture. Anyone had any experience with these units? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Looks a bit pricey and he lost me on "break in.' Can't imagine break in on a digital amplifier. You think my spreadsheets will get more accurate after 100 hours? OTOH, if the output power is as rated and the sound is as good as I've heard from my Panny, it's not a bad price compared to the kilobuck class that don't sound a bit better, and some sound worse. You pays your dollar and takes your choice, as the long lost Pogo the Possum used to say. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blvdre Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Yes pricey, they just went from 250 to 269. I paid 209 for the demo which seems OK, easy enough to recoup. My trends was nice, but didn't quite do the trick for me (now doing TV duty), so I hope the virtue is a bit better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 Blvdre, This is the first I've heard of Virtue. It's about the same price as the HLLY T amp-90. The Virtue has a sub woofer out, which is a very nice feature. I haven't noticed another T amp with this option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg928gts Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I will be ordering a T amp-90 from Paul as I had the T amp-20 ordered from him earlier on. Thanks for this information, I've been thinking about buying one of these. I just ordered a T amp-20. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 Greg, I'll be looking forward to hearing what you think of the 20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fini Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Has anyone made a tripath headphone amp? That HLLY looks pretty cool, Dee! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody_Mack Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 For the curious (I was) who have yet to experience one of these newfangled T-amps, may I recommend the new Dayton DTA-1 Class T Digital Amplifier 15 WPC from Parts Express: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=300-380. For the $39.18 price tag, you can’t go wrong with the simply amazing sound! If you are less than impressed, give it to a non-audiophile friend; it will probably be the best piece of gear they have ever owned. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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