Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => Legacy Kit Products => Quicksand => Topic started by: Cary on October 19, 2014, 02:50:36 PM

Title: Choice of Chip Qustion
Post by: Cary on October 19, 2014, 02:50:36 PM

Hi Paul,

I was wondering why the TPA3122 chip was chosen for the Quicksand, instead of the TPA3116, which people sort of rave about.

Thanks,

Cary

Title: Re: Choice of Chip Qustion
Post by: Paul Birkeland on October 19, 2014, 03:29:55 PM

Hello Cary,

The 3122 was chosen for a couple of reasons.  The first being that it fits into a socket, and if something goes really wrong with the build, you can pluck it out and replace it with another one. 

The other issue is that the 3116 (and so many others now) are surface mount parts.  This gets us into the complication of getting a board printed, then stuffed with the chip.  At that point, it begins to become trivial to pay the board house to stuff all the parts, and have them all surface mounted.  If we did that, the price would go up, the fun would go down, and there wouldn't be a good way to tweak and service the PC board. 

-PB

Title: Re: Choice of Chip Qustion
Post by: Cary on October 20, 2014, 04:22:30 AM

Thanks Paul! I will be demonstrating my Quicksand amp at a DIY show this Saturday.

Cary

Title: Re: Choice of Chip Qustion
Post by: irishpatrick33 on April 14, 2019, 02:44:45 PM

The socketed TPA3125 is nearly identical and seems to be an improvement in some areas. I am tempted to try plugging it in.