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TA3020 Amplifier Kits

Popular Amplifier Configurations

These tables show the most popular TA3020 amplifier configurations which range from a set of optimising components along with a schematic customized to the user's Truepath system to fully optimised, assembled, and enclosed Tbrick. There is detailed information on assembly and testing of these in Audiophool's Assembly Guidelines. Armed with these guidelines, patience, basic electronics skills, and preparedness to make and resolve mistakes, even a complete beginner can build these amplifiers.

Optimised Truepath

What is Optmised Truepath?

Configuration Code	O	OA	OAH	OS	OSA	OSAH	OFA	OFAH
Optimized Design and Components	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
SMT Solder/test				Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Accessories		Yes	Yes		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Full Truepath assembly and test							Yes	Yes
Truepath Kit				Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
IRFP4228		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Heatsinks			Yes			Yes		Yes
$ each	3	23	40	186	197	214	250	267

Select Optimized Truepath configuration and click cart to add

O $3.00 OA $23.00 OAH $40.00 OS $186.00 OSA $197.00 OSAH $214.00 OFA $250.00 OFAH $267.00

When you buy one of these, you will be sent an email to confirm required details for your optimization (eg. the nominal impedance of your speakers).

Tbrick

What is Tbrick?

Configuration Code	T	TA	TFA	TFAH	TFAB
Optimized Design and Components			Yes	Yes	Yes
SMT Solder/test			Yes	Yes	Yes
Accessories			Yes	Yes	Yes
Full Truepath assembly and test			Yes	Yes	Yes
Truepath Kit			Yes	Yes	Yes
IRFP4228			Yes	Yes	Yes
Heatsinks				Yes
Tbrick: VN10 and V5 regulators, speaker relay	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tbrick: Assembly and test		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Tbrick box					Yes
$ each	37	54	301	318	351

Select Tbrick configuration and click cart to add

T $37.00 TA $54.00 TFA $301.00 TFAH $318.00 TFAB $351.00

Base Truepath

What is Base Truepath?

Configuration Code	BS	BSA	BSAH	BFA	BFAH
SMT Solder/test	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Accessories		Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Full Truepath assembly and test				Yes	Yes
Truepath Kit	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Heatsinks			Yes		Yes
$ each	174	185	202	238	255

Select Base Trupeath configuration and click cart to add

BS $174.00 BSA $185.00 BSAH $202.00 BFA $238.00 BFAH $255.00

 

Optimized Truepath

Optimized Design and Components.

All Optimized Truepath configurations include optimized design and optimizing components.

Optimized Design

The optimized design comprises customized schematic, PCB overlay and SMT sheet.

Click here for the below optimized design sample in hi-res pdf format.

Schematic Page 1: The blue text shows the parts of the amplifier that are optimized.

Schematic Page 2:

PCB Overlay (shows you where to put the components):

The SMT Sheet assists with assembly of SMT componets by keeping them accessible and organized.

Optimizing Components

Only the optimizing components are fitted to the SMT Sheet in "Optimized Design and Components." The other SMT components are in the Truepath kit.

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OFA

OFA is a fully assembled and tested Truepath with optimized design and components and accessories. Includes the Trueapth kit.

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OSA

For people who want to build their own Truepath but don't want to do the SMT soldering OSA Truepath with optimized design and components and accessories. The SMT parts are fitted and tested.

 

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OFAH

OFAH includes optimized design, optimizing components, accessories, and full assembly.

OFAH = OFA + a pair of regular sized heatsinks

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Tbrick

"All you need to add is a power supply."

Tbrick TFAB is designed to be speaker or wall mounted.

Tbrick is an amp that includes all high quality support circuitry (such as speaker relay and regulators) so that a complete operational amplifier can be achieved very simply with minimal external circuitry. All that's required is a transformer with soft start, a power supply, some wire and a power socket:

The core of the Tbrick is the two little PCBs that fit adjacent to the truepath. Tbrick circuitry is supplied as two PCBs to separate functionality that is associated with the input and output of the Truepath. They are mounted separately to minimize amplifier noise.

Tbrick Features:

• VN10 fused regulator. All that is required to provide VN10 is an isolated AC somewhere between 12VRMS and 25VRMS.
• V5 fused regulator. The regulator is a dual type which means it has two cascaded regulators for an extra low ripple in the critical input stages of the TA3020 integrated circuit. All that is required to provide V5 is an isolated AC somewhere between 12VRMS and 25VRMS.
• Speaker Protection. Whenever the Truepath mutes, the speakers are automatically isolated for protection
• Eliminate startup pops. This is achieved by a one second delay after the unmute of the TA3020 before the speakers are connected (by closing the speaker protection relay).
• Eliminate shutdown pops This is achieved by disconnecting the speakers before the TA3020 mutes when the amp is switched off. This is achieved by a power fail detect circuit which monitors the V5 supply before the V5 rectifier.
• Keep V5 on the PCB To reduce EMI in the input stage of the TA3020, sockets and driver circuitry are provided for direct connection of front panel LED indicators for POWER and MUTE to the VN10 side of the Tbrick. No connection to V5 and no external resistors are required.
  
• Power indicators on PCB. Both the V5 and VN10 regulators have status LEDs on-board.
• Small size. Minimal real estate is taken up by the Tbrick PCBs, especially when you consider all these features.

Refer here for Tbrick Assembly Instruction.

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Tbrick T

Tbrick T is the most basic level of Tbrick. It's in kit form: build it yourself.

 

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Tbrick TA

Tbrick TA is the same as Tbrick T execpt it is already assembled and tesed.

Tbrick TA = Tbrick T + full assembly and test.

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Tbrick TFA

Tbrick TFA is the assembled Truepath and Tbrick core, all connected and tested.Tbrick TFA = Tbrick TA + Base Truepath BFA+ wiring between the PCBs

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Tbrick TFAH

TFAH is the same as TFA except it is fitted with regular sized heatsinks that is suitable for installation into a regular amplifier enclosure.

Note that the photo is out of date. The T-brick PCBs are now matching blue and the heatsinks are centerally fitted to the Trueapth.


Tbrick TFAH = Tbrick TFA + a pair of regular sized Heatsinks.

<website todo: Update TFAH picture>

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Tbrick TFAB

This quietest of the optimized Truepath range.

The Tbrick box acts as a large heatsink to ensure MOFETs remain cool and hence contribute minimal noise to the amplified signal. The box also acts as an effective EMI barrier. TFAB is the fully assemblied Optimized Truepath and Tbrick core fitted into a custom aluminium box ready to be bolted to the wall or to the back of a speaker cabinet to make active speakers.
The idle temperature rise of TFAB (with IRFP4228 MOSFETs) is 7 deg C.
Designed to work with an external power supply to minumise EMI.
The external dimensions of TFAB are 220 x 190 x 50mm.

The only things that needs to be connected to the Tbrick TFAB to make fully operational active speakers are: fused, rectified supplies for the main power (this, for example); Low current AC supplies for VN10 and V5; Speakers; audio source.


Tbrick TFAB = Tbrick TFA + Tbrick box.

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Base Truepath

This is the Truepath kit as supplied by 41Hz. Options include, SMT or full assembly, heatsinks, etc. Read more about Base Truepath here.

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Parts, Support Circuitry and Accessories.

Main Power Supply for VPP/VNN

• Designed for TA3020 VPP and VNN.
• Footprint: 133 x 83 mm
• Fuses for VPP and VNN. 20mm type.
• Status indicators for both VPP and VNN
• Single sided pcb.
• Large copper ground plane to keep ground clean.
• Accommodates all standard capacitors up to 40mm diameter with 10mm pin spacing.

 

Click for the Assembly Instruction

Without bulk capacitors

• Kit $16.00 each
• Assembled and Tested. $33.00 each

With Rubycon capacitors.

These capacitors are good value and nothing fancy but enough to get you started and drive your amplifier at moderate power. They are rated at 63V. You can upgrade the capacitors later.

• Kit $31.00
• Assembled and Tested. $51.00 each

PCB only

• You supply parts of your choice. $10.00 each

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IRFP4228 MOSFETs

• The best known MOSFETs for high power TA3020 amplifiers. Read here for details.

• Low noise. Low gate charge and low RDS(on) ensure fast and clean switching

• High power. TA020 amplifiers fitted with suitable power supply and heatsinks can operate in excess of 500W per channel into a low impedance load.

• Fully compatible with Truepath amplifiers.

$5.80 each

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TA3020 IC

Does your old TA3020 look like this?

You need:

$19.00 each

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Truepath Accessories

Truepath Accessories include TA3020 socket (2 sip strips with gold plated pins), connectors, 20mm standoffs, MOSFETs mounting plates and hex screws, plugs sockets for external wiring, and mute jumper, test resistors. These are either things that you need or things that make it easier to get the Truepath up and running.

$11.00 per set

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Heatsinks for Truepath

These heatsinks are selected and machined to properly fit the Truepath.

• The width is the same as the Truepath.
• The size is suitable for mounting in a regular amplifier enclosure.
• Pre-tapped mounting hole under the heatsink.
• Pre-tapped hole for mounting the MOSFETs suitable for 20mm standoffs.

  Heatsink mounting arrangement showing MOSFET screws which are included in Truepath Accessories:

  

Regular size

• Large enough to ensure Truepaths MOSFETs remain suitably cool.
• WxDxH 25 x 110 x 76 mm
• Black anodized (Yes, the picture is wrong!)

<Webiste todo: Update picture>

$17.00 per pair

Large size

• Suitable for high power applications.
• WxDxH 46 x 108 x 76 mm
• Black anodized

$25.00 per pair

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IEC Socket

Fused, switched IEC socket.

$3.25 each

Note that unless you are properly qualified, working with live mains voltage may be unsafe and illegal. Check with local authorities.