Arny Krueger wrote:
"Kevin McMurtrie" wrote
(Martin Schöön) wrote:
Anyone here with firsthand experience of amplifiers
based on Tripath's ICs?
For example:
http://www.41hz.com/
I haven't used them personally but I read their sample
schematics and docs. They're not audiophile but they're
nothing to worry about for the MP3 generation. Their
primary feature is enabling ultra-compact amplifiers with
low complexity and cost.
The irony is that the Tripath amp I have, which is based on their TA2020
chip and a few discrete transistors, is neither smaller nor cheaper, nor
simpler than a comparable linear amp would be. The parts count and size is
inflated by the low pass filter on the outputs. The heat sinks are tiny, but
everything else is pretty much regular-sized. The output filter network is
almost half the amp, and is loaded with inductors that were no doubt not
free.
Sure, but it'll use less power than a linear amp. That's a main reason why
switching amps have become popular, although I note that the supposed popularity
seems to have waned recently.
I was SERIOUSLY considering Tripath for a new product back around 2000 but I
wasn't impressed by the demonstration where I wanted to run it at its full
power sine wave rating but the rep said the demo amp wasn't designed to cope
with that ! What the hell were they thinking of ?
Graham