Electronics Overview

EB02- Amplifier: Tripath TA2021B


This chip amplifier has a very impressive set of specifications and quality amplifiers sporting Tripath amplifier chips are highly sought after. The Tripath TA2021B has a Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) % rating of 0.05% at 13Watts of output power loaded with a 4Ω speaker along with a decent dynamic range of 100db.

These digital switching amplifiers are causing quite the buzz among audio enthusiasts and they are finding their way into many high quality amplifiers. T-Amps have changed the way many audio aficionados view high quality audio and their relatively inexpensive cost coupled excellent specifications and high quality sound have made T-AMP powered units very popular. Tripath powered amplifiers are sometimes referred to as “Class-T” by the DIY audio crowds which is a way of signifying the type of amplifier they are to other audio connoisseurs.

Amplifiers using this “Class-T” technology can usually surpass audio components many times their value and allow many to have quality audio that was previously way out of their price range. These chipsets offer the sound quality of Class AB amplifiers with the high efficiency seen in Class-D amplifiers. With such great efficiency the need for larger passive or active cooling solutions are unnecessary and many audio designers have decided to use inexpensive heatsinks. Note: The heatsink was not removed to prevent damage to the amplifier.

The frequency response of this “Class-T” amplifier is also very impressive as it is extremely linear in nature and would account for much of the T-Amp’s sonic transparency. This Tripath amplifier doesn’t color or alter much of the frequency response in anyway even though there is a roll-off of the bass region starting at about 40hz and the high frequency range but nothing to drastic. After carefully reviewing the components, specifications and auditioning a couple different units based T-Amplifier chipsets, it is easy understand why people are giving them high praise.

TA2021B Specification Sheet


EB01-USB DAC: PCM2702E Digital to Analog Converter


This Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) has been used in many very popular “audiophile” DAC units. It is a Burr-Brown DAC chip which has very low distortion measurements with a THD+N% of 0.002% (typ 16bit), signal to noise ratio of 105dB (typ) and a dynamic range of 100db. This digital to analog converter also has an 8X over sampling filter to further improve the quality of the device. USB functionality is built into the chip itself and the DAC is self powered by the host system’s USB ports. Burr-Brown is known to make high quality DAC chipsets and their high end DAC chips have been used in expensive designs from companies such as Denon and others.

PCM2702E Specification sheet


EB01-USB DAC: OPA340 Opamp


This Opamp is used as a final stage in the EB01 Digital to Analog converter, pulling the signal level up to its final output values. With distortion values of 0.0007% Low noise values and slew rate of 6v/µs this Opamp has found it’s way into many consumer audio designs. This Opamp would be considered generic by the audio crowds and while it will do the job required, there are much better units to use for this position in the circuit. The THD+N vs. Frequency measurement show that this amp has good lower frequency range values but when the frequency approaches higher values the THD+N measurements skew up.

OPA304 Specification sheet