Sound of chip amps / gainclones?


Has anyone tried chip amps like those from chipamp.com or audiosector.com? These are similar to the 47 labs gaincard amps and use an LM3875 chip. How do they sound compared to other types of amps? I am concerned about dynamic range, and brightness/HF ringing.
I am looking to build one for my 4" dia, 8 ohm single driver speakers and need about 6 watts.
Thanks
cdc

Showing 3 responses by cdc

Gmood1, good to hear from you. You got the patek from Peter Daniel's? From what I've read the LM3875 chips like a tube pre while a good T amp does better with a passive. I'm also looking at the Charlize amp. Which supposedly does not have the HF brightness that was mentioned in Stereophiles 47 Labs Gaincard review.

TIC I would agree with you and think that 40 wpc chip amp would be better sounding than the "D" amp - as long as you don't need 100-200 wpc. I was surprised to read in the C-I thread here at A-gon that people preferred the "D" amp.
Bemoptil23, I've got my Tang-Band W4-1320SA half way completed. They have a F-R designed for near-wall or O-B (open baffle). I also considered the FR-125 but has a 5dB boost to the bass and a correspondingly low SPL of 85 dB. Why loose efficiency for bass I don't want? People at diyaudio have complained about the bass being too boomy so I'm glad I didn't get them.
I agree as the Fostex sounded bright to me and also a lot of people who have them. Alway with the phrase "but I think I can tweak out the brightness". Good luck, ain't gonna happen IMHO.