I returned to DIY electronics in 2009 after a 20 year pause by building a few kits to get in shape. This blog is for me to keep track of my progress.
Low effort Class D with ready made modules
To try out Class D without working too much, I picked two ready-made Class D amplifier modules: one is the $45 2*100 Watt Class-D Audio Amplifier Board from Sure Electronics with the optional $10 volume control board, the other is the $199 IRAUDAMP7S from International Rectifier.
The Sure Electronics module is based on Tripath's TK2050 chipset. Powered from a 150W 24V SMPS from Mean Well, it predictably puts out about 22W RMS to a 8 ohm load. (The declared 2*100W requires a 30V supply and a 4 ohm load.) The sound and the measurements are decidedly mediocre, although at the $45 price, the module still may be a good value. Also, the volume control board feels odd, as the knob only adjusts volume after a push; another push disconnects it again.
The IRF module requires dual rail supply, for which I chose an SMPS400A180 by hypex. With +/-40V rails, the amplifier delivers 100W RMS into a 8 ohm load. The measurements are good, and the sound is very interesting for me, who has never heard Class D before: it is crisp and clear, with an unexpectedly wide, deep and detailed stereo scene. My first impression is, unexpectedly, very positive.
The Sure Electronics module is based on Tripath's TK2050 chipset. Powered from a 150W 24V SMPS from Mean Well, it predictably puts out about 22W RMS to a 8 ohm load. (The declared 2*100W requires a 30V supply and a 4 ohm load.) The sound and the measurements are decidedly mediocre, although at the $45 price, the module still may be a good value. Also, the volume control board feels odd, as the knob only adjusts volume after a push; another push disconnects it again.
The IRF module requires dual rail supply, for which I chose an SMPS400A180 by hypex. With +/-40V rails, the amplifier delivers 100W RMS into a 8 ohm load. The measurements are good, and the sound is very interesting for me, who has never heard Class D before: it is crisp and clear, with an unexpectedly wide, deep and detailed stereo scene. My first impression is, unexpectedly, very positive.
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