3e audio TPA3255 260-2-29A Amplifier Review

[Guddu]

Amazing - great to see what PFFB can do for the TPA3255 - will be interesting to see what Fosi Audio ( and Aiyima ) if they can engineer a similar solution for their next generation of class d amplifiers

I have heard from Aiyima that they are working on tpa3255 PFFB deployment and should be coming up soon.
I would probably start a new thread for further news and information on this.

 

[xschop]

I have heard from Aiyima that they are working on tpa3255 PFFB deployment and should be coming up soon.
I would probably start a new thread for further news and information on this.

Looking forward to this and, as the A07 pairs excellent with all my vintage Polks and B&O sattelites.

 

[Tazio]

Anyone cares showing me where the TPA3255s are on the PCB? I see two OPA162A only ...

 

[PhilS]

Anyone cares showing me where the TPA3255s are on the PCB? I see two OPA162A only ...

They’re on the underside of the board mounted on the heatsink. You can see the fixing bolts just below the four electrolytic capacitors

 

[daniboun]

Anyone cares showing me where the TPA3255s are on the PCB? I see two OPA162A only ...

In this module, the TPA3255 chip is mounted under the PCB, the heatspreader ensures dissipation in the same way as the Hypex NC MP.

If you need more info about this module, please follow my previous thread here :

3E Audio 260-2-29A : TPA3255 / HA3588 CoilCraft / PFFB Fully differential.

Hi amigos, I imagine some of you have had the opportunity to test the latest 3E Audio TPA3255 module with PFFB + HA3588 Coilcraft inductors I refer to version 260-2-29A dated July 2022 ) Designed with Fully differential signal chain from input to output. This module seems to be close behind...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[daniboun]

New project is now online :

"Micro Bamboo Project" : 3E Audio 260-2-29A Stereo amplifier + Micro-Audio PSU

Hi Amigos ) As promised, I remain faithful to my Diyer position ) After my dual Mono project "Bamboo" I return to the scene with a new project "Micro Bamboo" to pay tribute to Micro Audio and its audiophile grade SMPS630-SO PSU. (46V/13A or 51V/11,5A) Now that we know the measurements of the 3E...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Tazio]

In this module, the TPA3255 chip is mounted under the PCB, the heatspreader ensures dissipation in the same way as the Hypex NC MP.

If you need more info about this module, please follow my previous thread here :

3E Audio 260-2-29A : TPA3255 / HA3588 CoilCraft / PFFB Fully differential.

Hi amigos, I imagine some of you have had the opportunity to test the latest 3E Audio TPA3255 module with PFFB + HA3588 Coilcraft inductors I refer to version 260-2-29A dated July 2022 ) Designed with Fully differential signal chain from input to output. This module seems to be close behind...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Cheers buddy. That finless plate seem not very efficient: would you suggest installing it to an external dissipator?

 

[daniboun]

Cheers buddy. That finless plate seem not very efficient: would you suggest installing it to an external dissipator?

Since it is a heatpsreader and not a heatsink, by definition, its efficiency will be relative to that of the enclosure )
I always add a little thermal paste between the both to optimize the transfer, I highlighted it on my "Bamboo project" )))

 

[jkorten]

Yep ) I paid about 350€ for my "ready t use" (DIY) one. (from Audiophonics)
In this performance/price ratio, it has little competition )
I shared all the details in the original thread for those who want to follow it)

PS : Besides, I'm selling it anyway because I'm leaning towards a dual Mono project

Taking exception to your tag line "Trust the measurements" As this amp sounds WAY better than the top SINAD performer (LA90). The LA90 sounded veiled and slow by comparison. The TPA-3255 is truly an amazing sonic performer.

 

[Rick Sykora]

I DIY my 3E Audio with premium parts for 350€....Without wanting to discredit anyone. I have several Hypex at home, an NC252MP, NC500MP and a 502MP,
they are still good products.)

Competitors
View attachment 332295

Just to ensure fair comparison here, your $350 on the 3e Audio amp is a DIY price. Now that Audiophonics offers an amp, a more comparable price is more like $550. This is also for an amp with much less gain as it does not have the input buffering that the others do.

 

[daniboun]

Just to ensure fair comparison here, your $350 on the 3e Audio amp is a DIY price. Now that Audiophonics offers an amp, a more comparable price is more like $550. This is also for an amp with much less gain as it does not have the input buffering that the others do.

It s a fair point of view )
I DIY all my amps so just pointing this scope.
I said previously that the Audiophonics 3E amp is not cheap I 100 % agree .... The input buffering of the 3E audio modules is limited by the module itself since the SE mode must be enable via a little mod.

 

[HarmonicTHD]

Just to ensure fair comparison here, your $350 on the 3e Audio amp is a DIY price. Now that Audiophonics offers an amp, a more comparable price is more like $550. This is also for an amp with much less gain as it does not have the input buffering that the others do.

Plus it offers warranty. With DIY you are on your own. Not dissing DIY, I am a big fan, but something people often forget. Especially beginners who might be more prone to let out the magic smoke (not meaning you daniboun, just in general).

 

[cfwotzka]

Decided to order the stereo module (for testing, monos will be the next step) and a good PSU from audiophonics 4 days ago only since their service is always outstanding.
Listening to the modules is an epiphany.
congrats 3E audio for the modules and ASR for the review that made me aware of !

 

[Rick Sykora]

Plus it offers warranty. With DIY you are on your own. Not dissing DIY, I am a big fan, but something people often forget. Especially beginners who might be more prone to let out the magic smoke (not meaning you daniboun, just in general).

When you start to look at how close the pricing gets to Buckeye NC252MP, can see why it would make less sense for him to pick up 3e despite the nice measurements. I like DIY too, but it is not the same as being in business. Adding another vendor and supporting them has overhead expenses. Certainly cannot compete with the DIY price, so would need some other diffs sufficient to drive enough volume for a decent profit.

 

[HarmonicTHD]

When you start to look at how close the pricing gets to Buckeye NC252MP, can see why it would make less sense for him to pick up 3e despite the nice measurements. I like DIY too, but it is not the same as being in business. Adding another vendor and supporting them has overhead expenses. Certainly cannot compete with the DIY price, so would need some other diffs sufficient to drive enough volume for a decent profit.

Absolutely. Your own spare time is free assembling one’s DIY amp / speaker. But if you have to make a living out of it, labor quickly adds up next to all the other expenses….

 

[daniboun]

Absolutely. Your own spare time is free assembling one’s DIY amp / speaker. But if you have to make a living out of it, labor quickly adds up next to all the other expenses….

It actually makes sense. At the time I built my NC252mp for less than €300: to tell you how monstrous the margins are..... But labor has a price) That’s the whole point of DIY

 

[HarmonicTHD]

It actually makes sense. At the time I built my NC252mp for less than €300: to tell you how monstrous the margins are..... But labor has a price) That’s the whole point of DIY

… and it’s fun. That is the main motivation at least for me.

 

[daniboun]

… and it’s fun. That is the main motivation at least for me.

Are you planning to start a DIY project?-))

 

[HarmonicTHD]

Are you planning to start a DIY project?-))

I have checked my bucket list in 2017 and 2018. and I am good for now. But you never know when the bug strikes again.

In 2017 getting my feet wet with Neurochrome Mod286 Monos

Mod-286 build thread

Hi Tom. Thanks for confirming.

www.diyaudio.com

And then in 2018 Mod686 Monos in anticipation of the speaker upgrade including all the fun SMD soldering.

Modulus-686: 380W (4Ω); 220W (8Ω) Balanced Composite Power Amp with extremely low THD

Sounds like a good plan. The Power-86 and Power-686 are the same width, so you get to reuse two of the mounting holes too. Tom

www.diyaudio.com

 

[daniboun]

I have checked my bucket list in 2017 and 2018. and I am good for now. But you never know when the bug strikes again.

In 2017 getting my feet wet with Neurochrome Mod286 Monos

Mod-286 build thread

Hi Tom. Thanks for confirming.

www.diyaudio.com

And then in 2018 Mod686 Monos in anticipation of the speaker upgrade including all the fun SMD soldering.

Modulus-686: 380W (4Ω); 220W (8Ω) Balanced Composite Power Amp with extremely low THD

Sounds like a good plan. The Power-86 and Power-686 are the same width, so you get to reuse two of the mounting holes too. Tom

www.diyaudio.com

Will take a look asap thanks -)

I read the ASR review about the Modulus 286 :

Review and Measurements of Neurochrome Modulus-286 Amp

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Neurochrome Modulus-286 Power (speaker) amplifier Kit. It is on kind loan from company designer and member, @tomchr. It is to ship by end of this month and costs $1,299. See: https://www.neurochrome.com/product/modulus-286-kit-2/ As you may...

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