Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: darryldale on September 14, 2015, 10:50:53 pm
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OK, so I've got a Mortal Kombat cabinet that I'm running a Hyperspin setup in with a JPAC.
Anybody recommend a cheap amplifier I can use in this box to take advantage of the speakers in the cabinet?
Ideally something that I can just run a cable from the headphones out on the computer into the amplifier and then run the speaker wires into and ideally tap the power from somewhere in the cabinet without having to have an extra power cord coming out the back.
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Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath TA2020 were popular for awhile. But I never used one.
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Lepais are good, but they've gone up in price.
I've been using these now:
http://www.amazon.com/DROK-TDA7297-Digital-Amplifier-Wireless/dp/B00C4MT274/ref=pd_sim_23_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=148ABWQ3K826NBKFVM3B&dpID=51ypdAkSTbL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_ (http://www.amazon.com/DROK-TDA7297-Digital-Amplifier-Wireless/dp/B00C4MT274/ref=pd_sim_23_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=148ABWQ3K826NBKFVM3B&dpID=51ypdAkSTbL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_)
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I've heard plenty of bad things about Lepais, most of those related to hissing, actual power being much lower than advertised or burning out without notice after some heavy use. Any tiny amp will probably be poweful enough to drive a pair of cheap ass car speakers and provide decent sound quality for most MAME games, but if you want some real punch, I'd recommend a TPA3116 based amp (http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-HIFI-Class-2-0-Stereo-Digital-Amplifier-TPA3116-Advanced-50W-50W/2053351815.html), which are going for a similar price to Lepai's. That board is currently being used by audio enthusiasts to create amazing homemade amps for a tiny amount of money and will provide you with significant power for both classic games and those that output something more complex than those old school beeps and boops, such as modern PC games.
You can probably power them from a laptop brick, but make sure to check the voltage data if you plan to buy one just in case.
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Lepais are good, but they've gone up in price.
I've been using these now:
http://www.amazon.com/DROK-TDA7297-Digital-Amplifier-Wireless/dp/B00C4MT274/ref=pd_sim_23_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=148ABWQ3K826NBKFVM3B&dpID=51ypdAkSTbL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_ (http://www.amazon.com/DROK-TDA7297-Digital-Amplifier-Wireless/dp/B00C4MT274/ref=pd_sim_23_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=148ABWQ3K826NBKFVM3B&dpID=51ypdAkSTbL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_)
+1
I'm using this amp in 2 machines, been working great
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Lepai LP-2020A+ Tripath TA2020 were popular for awhile. But I never used one.
I have one brand new open box never used I will sell the op if he private messages me. I abandoned my mame project in favor for a neo geo mvs.
.
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The Kinter is cheap, is easily decased, and has a clear ring around the volume knob that is back-lit with a RBG LED.
http://www.amazon.com/Kinter-MA170-Channel-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B007TUSXEY/ref=pd_sim_23_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=13MJA5ZK82HK3XSW6TPK&dpID=51xsua8uXHL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_ (http://www.amazon.com/Kinter-MA170-Channel-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B007TUSXEY/ref=pd_sim_23_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=13MJA5ZK82HK3XSW6TPK&dpID=51xsua8uXHL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51crXfyzBCL._SY355_.jpg)
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Kinter MA-150 is the worst amp I have ever experienced. Only really puts out a couple watts. Unacceptable distortion at any level.
I will not touch another Kinter.
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Kinter MA-150 is the worst amp I have ever experienced. Only really puts out a couple watts. Unacceptable distortion at any level.
I will not touch another Kinter.
So far the Kinter MA-170 I linked above sounds great. Loud and clear through my cab's car speaker set-up.
Only had it a few weeks, for what it's worth...
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I haven't had any issues wi th Kinter either, but BadMouth's post is a good reminder that YMMV.
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http://www.oldschoolstereo.com/2011/11/chinese-mini-amp-invasion-kinter-lepai.html (http://www.oldschoolstereo.com/2011/11/chinese-mini-amp-invasion-kinter-lepai.html)
RMS power is the number you're looking at. The "MAX" is pretty much whatever the manufacturer wants to write on it.
The MA-150 scored an "n/a" :lol
If you look at the blog entry for that test, it actually achieved 3.4w at 4ohm and 2.1w at 8 ohm.
I drove it at 14.4v for my testing, so I was actually getting a little more out of it.
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I have a Kinter MA-180 in a cabinet with a jpac and mame. I barely have the volume turned up it is so powerful. It even has a usb port but I don't have anything plugged into it.
I mounted mine in the strong box area for easy access if I need to get to it. Cost $10!
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I'm using the Lepy LP-2024A+ in my son's. Sounds AMAZING with the 6.5" Sony X-plod's. I have the volume set at only 50%.
Using this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1HE2V64865 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA1HE2V64865)
From everything I have researched on the Lepy, the main problem with it, isn't that it's a terrible amp, it's that it usually ships with a weak power supply. The Input voltage is DC12-13.5V>3A with the standard plug in that comes with it. You could always snip the power supply cable that comes with it, and feed it the juice from your PC power supply instead. 3Amp's is actually pretty weak for what the Amp needs. Most modern power supplies will pack enough punch to drive the amp, some LED's, plus the computer components without breaking a sweat.
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in bartops , cocktails or other small cabs i sometimes use the ebay 10 bucks china amps . u cant expect much of em , but they get the job done on low volume output . in fullsize cabs with decent speakers i prefer something like this :
http://www.amazon.de/Dynavox-CS-PA1-Mini-Verst%C3%A4rker-50Watt-schwarz/dp/B000G8NQ6Q (http://www.amazon.de/Dynavox-CS-PA1-Mini-Verst%C3%A4rker-50Watt-schwarz/dp/B000G8NQ6Q)
not highend .. but ok . i use em with small speakers like jbl control 1g for pc gaming and watching movies .
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in bartops , cocktails or other small cabs i sometimes use the ebay 10 bucks china amps . u cant expect much of em , but they get the job done on low volume output . in fullsize cabs with decent speakers i prefer something like this :
http://www.amazon.de/Dynavox-CS-PA1-Mini-Verst%C3%A4rker-50Watt-schwarz/dp/B000G8NQ6Q (http://www.amazon.de/Dynavox-CS-PA1-Mini-Verst%C3%A4rker-50Watt-schwarz/dp/B000G8NQ6Q)
not highend .. but ok . i use em with small speakers like jbl control 1g for pc gaming and watching movies .
I don't know about its sound quality, but that's an excellent price providing it comes with its own PSU. The one for my TPA3116 costed me about €10 and the amp itself doesn't have nearly as many controls/inputs. Reviews seem dangerously mixed, though.
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I use a Lepai LP-168HA, which is a 2.1 amp. Mounted a 6,5" subwoofer in the cab makes a big difference. The amp isn't great, and there's no way it outputs what it's supposed to, but as others have said - it works just fine on low volume.
Also, make sure to use a quality power source, as these cheap amps obviously don't filter noise coming from the power input very well..
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these cheap ass china brand amps typically range in price from 5-50 credits and none ogf them can compete with any oldscool quality stereo amp . you always get what u pay for .
some people expect to get the same audio experience with a 10 dollar ebay amp compared to a 30 kg 1xxx dollar high end machine . the typical donwsides are :
- no reserves for high level output ... 3-4 watt vs. nonsens 100-200 watt output
- distortions via power cord , esp. if ure planning to get the 12 volt from a pc power supply .
- load speaker pop in on power up
- high chance of failure within weeks , months ..
some time ago i tested 2 other dirtcheap candidates .
http://www.sanstargame.com/productsDetail.aspx?pcode=Hi-Fi%20Audio%20Stereo%20Amplifier%205 (http://www.sanstargame.com/productsDetail.aspx?pcode=Hi-Fi%20Audio%20Stereo%20Amplifier%205)
this one may not be as good as the 20+ euro lepai but its more than ok considering the price .
and :
http://www.sanstargame.com/productsDetail.aspx?pcode=Amplifier%203 (http://www.sanstargame.com/productsDetail.aspx?pcode=Amplifier%203)
this one fails after a few weeks and the pcb wobbled like a banana . considering the price it wasnt much of a surprise .
for hifi enthusiasts my advise would be to check the local used amp market or scout the electro garbage . i found a full working pioneer amp dumped aside the street next corner and sometimes see people trashing good ole 80 and 90 ties stuff ( made by pioneer , denon , yamaha ) in the junk containers .
i guess i give the DROK® TDA7297 a try . it also may be a good one for nonmame environments aka replacing defective amps in dedicated machines .
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I've used the 5v DROK amps and loved em. I fried 2 of em though cause I was stupid. One I fed 12v cause I didn't pay attention to my wire colors and one I wired backwards cause I was tired...