50 wpc amp from audiosource for $80 new

tom t
tom t Posts: 543
edited July 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
its cheap, its small, it has connections for two pairs of speakes,and its under $100. what is it??.. an audiosource amp at parts express. for those on the cheap and in need of a small amp how bad can it be for $80. maybe in a pinch for a amp for surround speakers. anybody have one??
Post edited by tom t on
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,081
    edited July 2009
    I have the AMP300 and love it. $135 delivered to my door from AGON is hard to beat.
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  • tom t
    tom t Posts: 543
    edited July 2009
    here it is
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited July 2009
    Just bought one of the sumbitches. Reviews to come as soon as Brock sends me them forkin' tubes for the pre.
    This one struck me as a short man with a bad attitude and the balls to back it up....

    We shall see.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited July 2009
    Guys, I wouldn't get your hopes up but if you're only expecting $100 worth of sound. Never heard one so really I'm just farting in the wind when I write this. One amp that has me back peddling is the gainclone chip amps...........they sound damn good, but here;s the caveat.....................for the money!!!!

    Russ, the tubes should ship tomorrow.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • strider
    strider Posts: 2,568
    edited July 2009
    I've had an Audiosource amp for years, it weighs a ton, and has been completely reliable driving surrounds and outdoor speakers. That being said, it's not the quietest amp nor the most refined, but it was $200 brand new. I'm not complaining.
    Wristwatch--->Crisco
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2009
    tom t wrote: »
    its cheap, its small, it has connections for two pairs of speakes,and its under $100. what is it??.. an audiosource amp at parts express. for those on the cheap and in need of a small amp how bad can it be for $80. maybe in a pinch for a amp for surround speakers. anybody have one??
    That would be good for the portable rig, as long as it is light and small. I don't like those cheap computer speakers, none of them really impressesd me. I prefer small quality bookshelf or monitor type. Using such a small amp with wireless for the rear might be great (set-up is mostly used for HT on a deck by the pool). Can't wait for Lightman's review on this. Is this a special with a deadline or it's the regular price?
    One amp that has me back peddling is the gainclone chip amps...........they sound damn good, but here;s the caveat.....................for the money!!!!
    This one is expensive you mean? How expensive? Anymore details you can provide? I don't need huge power since the fronts are powered monitors and I only need the amp to send wirelessly to the rear (wireless has it's own amp).

    Cheers!
    TK
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,081
    edited July 2009
    strider wrote: »
    it's not the quietest amp nor the most refined


    I would agree it is a little noisy.

    Russ, if you decide you do not like it I'll buy it from you.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited July 2009
    10-4 Eric. See ya tomorrow?
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  • Conradicles
    Conradicles Posts: 6,081
    edited July 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    10-4 Eric. See ya tomorrow?

    Yes sir. Calling you now...
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2009
    TECHNOKID wrote: »

    This one is expensive you mean? How expensive? Anymore details you can provide? I don't need huge power since the fronts are powered monitors and I only need the amp to send wirelessly to the rear (wireless has it's own amp).

    Cheers!
    TK
    It's a (mostly)DIY chip amp using LM3875/3886 IC's.There are many variations on the theme one being this.http://cgi.ebay.ca/2-x-68-watt-LM3886-NE5532-Audio-Amplifier-Board_W0QQitemZ190319664630QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c4fef9df6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A50.

    If you are resourceful enough you could build yourself stereo unit for under $100.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2009
    GV#27 wrote: »
    It's a (mostly)DIY chip amp using LM3875/3886 IC's.There are many variations on the theme one being this.http://cgi.ebay.ca/2-x-68-watt-LM3886-NE5532-Audio-Amplifier-Board_W0QQitemZ190319664630QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c4fef9df6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C39%3A1%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A50.

    If you are resourceful enough you could build yourself stereo unit for under $100.
    Nice to know GV, is this card fully completed cct or do you have to had any componets to this design? If so, can you lead to a DIY schematic? If this card is complete, I could install inside the rear speakers (RM10) which is great since I could use less expensive wireless kits without buil in amps and simply pre-outs. Thanks for the info, much appreciated :)

    NOTE: I wouldn't surprise those are "bridgeable" allowing you to double the O/P power???:cool:

    Cheers!
    TK
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited July 2009
    TECHNOKID wrote: »
    Nice to know GV, is this card fully completed cct or do you have to had any componets to this design? If so, can you lead to a DIY schematic? If this card is complete, I could install inside the rear speakers (RM10) which is great since I could use less expensive wireless kits without buil in amps and simply pre-outs. Thanks for the info, much appreciated :)

    Cheers!
    TK

    http://www.chipamp.com/lm3886.shtml

    Read away; also here: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=123003&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2009
    TECHNOKID wrote: »
    Nice to know GV, is this card fully completed cct or do you have to had any componets to this design?
    There are a number of vendors on ebay either selling blank boards or with components installed.Audiosector is in Canada http://www.audiosector.com/ he sells boards and kits and there are schematics on his site .Aswell googling Gainclone will give you a wealth of info about these designs.
    Thanks for the info, much appreciated :)
    Your welcome
    NOTE: I wouldn't surprise those are "bridgeable" allowing you to double the O/P power???:cool:
    Yes they are bridgable but the loudspeaker load should not be less than 8 ohm's.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2009
    heiney9 wrote: »
    http://www.chipamp.com/lm3886.shtml

    Read away; also here: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=123003&perpage=25&pagenumber=1

    H9
    Thanks for the info, both links on my desktop.
    LM3886 Dual Mono Kit Contents
    1 LM3886DM PCB set, consisting of 2 amplifier and 2 power supply boards.
    That's great, one of the kits is available as 2 mono amps (bridgeable??) allowing me to built an amp for each individual speaker possibly incorporate an existing wireless receiver to the amp casing (couldn't find any DIY wireless cct through search engine).

    Cheers!
    TK
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2009
    Yes they are bridgable but the loudspeaker load should not be less than 8 ohm's.
    What's nice with the RM series (RM10, 20, 30 at least) uses 8 ohms speakers however, the crossovers are high impedance thus best protection possible for an amp (IE: the Polk recommends their SoundBars (42 & 50) fronts to be hooked-up in parallell with the subwoofer and the reason you can do so is because of the High-Z of the crossovers :cool:
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited July 2009
    TK, just keep in mind when running in non-bridged mode close to max output in 8 ohms you will need a decent sized heatsink from what I've read. That may or may not hinder your idea of actually putting it in a speaker enclosure. At max output these chips do NOT run as cool as a typical class D amp.

    Just something to keep in mind. When building mine I'm going to use a 330Va 25-0-25 tranny and after the voltage is rectified and smoothed the voltage on the secondary will be approx 36V which at full output for 8 ohms is the nearing the max of the chip.

    If running in 4 ohms the tranny needs to be beefier the voltage on the secondaries before rectification needs to be lower closer to 18-0-18.

    This is all from what I've read.................correct me if I'm wrong GV27.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2009
    heiney9 wrote: »
    TK, just keep in mind when running in non-bridged mode close to max output in 8 ohms you will need a decent sized heatsink from what I've read. That may or may not hinder your idea of actually putting it in a speaker enclosure. At max output these chips do NOT run as cool as a typical class D amp.

    Just something to keep in mind. When building mine I'm going to use a 330Va 25-0-25 tranny and after the voltage is rectified and smoothed the voltage on the secondary will be approx 36V which at full output for 8 ohms is the nearing the max of the chip.

    If running in 4 ohms the tranny needs to be beefier the voltage on the secondaries before rectification needs to be lower closer to 18-0-18.

    This is all from what I've read.................correct me if I'm wrong GV27.

    H9
    Anyway, when you look at the double mono amp board, it is already too bulky for the smallish RM10. The appropriate way would be to have an external chassis for the amp and include the wireless circuitry to this same chassis. As far as the heat sink, this isn't a problem as I can use/recycle bulky aluminum heat sink that are used in old VCRs which will eventually be discarded. When it comes to the power supply, I tought the pwr supply included in the kit would be sufficient if not, I would need more guidance on what you actually did to make the hole cctry efficient. Thanks for all the pointers on this project which would be very intresting as a summer project. I guess in the next week or so, it would be a good idea to order a couple kits for production and possibly one for spare parts.

    Have a great weekend all! (off to the grand children Xcritening this weekend :cool:)
    TK
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited July 2009
    You get PS board in the kit with the smoothing caps and rectifiers but no transformer. Unless you see a kit which includes the transformer. None of the chipamp kits have a transformer included.
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2009
    TK ,I have some expierience with GC's so feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding parts sourcing,assembly etc. if you decide to build your own.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited July 2009
    heiney9 wrote: »
    You get PS board in the kit with the smoothing caps and rectifiers but no transformer. Unless you see a kit which includes the transformer. None of the chipamp kits have a transformer included.
    Got ya!
    GV#27 wrote: »
    TK ,I have some expierience with GC's so feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding parts sourcing,assembly etc. if you decide to build your own.
    Thanks!

    once I get to order the kits (possibly next week...) best is to start a specific thread on it and carry on from there. Serves the purpose of OP while benefit the entire forum.

    Enjoy the weekend!
    TK
    DARE TO SOAR:
    “Your attitude, almost always determine your altitude in life” ;)
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  • tom t
    tom t Posts: 543
    edited July 2009
    hey guy's, and what about the cheap,small,under $100 amp we were talking about here?? this is my thread about a, did i say cheep,small and probably crummy $80 amp.
    and you expect your custom built amp to sound better??? your probably right!
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  • tom t
    tom t Posts: 543
    edited July 2009
    good luck and have fun with it.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited July 2009
    Just looking at it and feeling it. You get what you get for $80. But it feels like the Carver m-200t's. Chassis and covers are stamped and rolled.

    Not plugged in yet. That is out of the box.
    More to come
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited July 2009
    tom t wrote: »
    good luck and have fun with it.
    Ready Tom???
    I will give you my thoughts on this personaly. $80 vs. 80,000 doesn't mean sjit.
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  • tom t
    tom t Posts: 543
    edited July 2009
    thats it,, im selling my $3,000 amps and buying a pair
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited July 2009
    Bang for the buck...not bad. But I've only used them with some 8 ohm monitors. I'll try some 4 ohm towers next. Put it through the ringer if you will.... more to come.
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited July 2009
    lightman1 wrote: »
    Bang for the buck...not bad. But I've only used them with some 8 ohm monitors. I'll try some 4 ohm towers next. Put it through the ringer if you will.... more to come.

    Does it get hot? I was looking at these for a surround amp.
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  • lightman1
    lightman1 Posts: 10,788
    edited July 2009
    venomclan wrote: »
    Does it get hot? I was looking at these for a surround amp.
    It gets a little warm on the 8 ohm monitors with modest listening levels,(subjective).
    I don't want to pass judgement just yet, until I am satisfied that I have given the amp the full benefit of performance.





    ...Damn it all! I posted something audio related!.......again.....
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