Amplifier - alexgorbatchev/boominator GitHub Wiki

• Maybe I should explain why I still recommend TA2020/TA2021 amps, or the maxim based amp in maxAMP over the TPA3116. The reason is simple. The latter mentioned chip has internal feedback loop. That means you cannot use the feedback loop for higher order filters and/or equalization. If you do not care about this then by all means you can use a TPA3116/TPA3118 based amp. It's a fantastic chip but you cannot use it with 2x12V batteries in series as it will trigger the internal overvoltage protection. (Saturnus)

Hey Saturnus, what made you switch over to recommending the Maxamp?

Several things really.

When the TA2020 (and TA2021/TA2024) came out nearly 14 years ago they were truly revolutionary, offering for the first time a chip that DIY'ers could use to make a small highly efficient class D amp with a staggeringly good sound quality for very little money. It was such a good design that it took other chip designers over 10 years to catch up, and in the last year or 2 chips have finally started coming out that offers even better sound quality and even better efficiency for a comparable cost. And as we know, Tripath went bankrupt in 2007, so no new designs is coming from that direction, and it also appears Cirrus Logic who bought the intellectual property of Tripath have no interest in making class D amp chips using the acquired knowledge for whatever reason.

So in the light that new chips have emerged that are better and in the maxamp case is a finished board, so you don't have to mess around with trying to solder SMD parts (unless you want to add higher order input filtering or peak limiter to the board), for a competitive price that offers better sound quality, better efficiency, extensive speaker protection, and pop sensing, I think it is fair to say that while the Tripath TA202x series have served the DIY community well, it's time to say: The King is dead, long live the King. (Saturnus)