I built the tda2003 according to the bug eye schematic. First I used 3 2n5088s for a preamp. This worked decently, but I feel it wasn't Lou d enough. 4 transistors made it clip and cut out real bad.

I then built the pre amp with a singe mpf102, volume was about the same but less feedback.

It seems my lm386 builds might actually be louder. Both are equally clean I'd say.

Now I have switched my power supply to a lithium ion setup pushing 12v at 4.8amp peak.

Now from what I'm reading, I need to use my lm386 set up to power this thing. I currently have them bridged on 12v also. This chip is maybe 5 degrees more than room temp.

I'm thinking(no idea) that the lm386 set up would drive this thing to the point of failure. 4 transistors made the sound go from clean to popping inexistance.

http://www.newark.com/electroswitch/c4d0406n-a/switch-rotary-4p6t-500ma-125v/dp/06M4597


This make me happy -think of the possibilities!! be 1 knob and like 6 differnt versions of a pi/whatever all in 1.

I like knobs.

Awesome.  Looks like i need to buy a supply of MPF102.  I enjoy buying 100 of something opposed to 1 or 2.. little more price - crap ton more stuff to build! :-D

So far im looking at building a set up like so;

For my electricity I have 1 of these http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-Battery-Backup-Power-Supply/dp/B004RRX1CG.  The juice is not directly off the battery, it's off the 12v regulated supply.

2N5088 pre amp->Wah(just a knob)/w bypass -> muff pi/w bypass -> Fender style tone stack->MPF102/volume->TDA2003(bridge maybe) -> speaker/line out/Phones.

I figure that a Wah would allow for some odd sounds, even as a set it and forget it style knob.
  I like this idea  - probably do something like that for a little more control.

Muff pi will have an extra switch to cut the diodes for a good crunch.

Tone stack will be based on the fender 3 tone knob set up.

Before i start drawing up my schematic, any suggestions or effects I should add to the list?

I like it, i actualy thought about doing that but was unsure if it would provide enough power.  Im new to alot of this stuff, but i understand it.

My goal is to build a portable battery powered set up with good clean sound and a muff pi built in lol

Im mostly just looking into portable amps, the more versatile the tone the better.  Like to start clean then get dirty if need be.

I figured if a TDA2003 can sound good in car radios, why not an amp?.. so hear I am woundering if that is still true lol

I've also got a TDA2005.

But im thinking maybe lm386 pushing bridge tda2003/or that tda2005 in bridge.

Unless some one has a clean way to do it.

Why not just use bad ass cpu heatsinks? :-p or water cooling:-p


Most computer fans will operate on 5 volts - you wont hear that at all, fan wise.  I'd run 2 of them for a push pull set up, if 1 failed... still got 1 to go on.  Set up some LED indicators for each fan, if fan fails to start led lights up or something.

You could also go as far as using thermo resistors, higher temp would allow for more current/voltage flow.  Means fan will go faster. If its hot enough to make it go fast - you wont hear it mechanicaly.  Computer fans are also brushless, so not difficult to silence the eletricty.

If i build any high powered amps soon, I'll be using heat pipes.

Why not relocate the tubes? Or even go as far as sectioning off the tubes and having an ultra quiet computer fan for ventalation ?

Or section off the tubes and port the amp with the tubes in the port?

So.. i need to turn an lm386 into a pre amp...?

I've got 90+ 2n5088 transistors left.  Pre amp possible? 

I can also order what ever i need.  What type of output should i get from a pre amp?  at what point will the TDA2003 be over drivin?

I'm new to amp building, made a couple of LM386 set ups running on batteries, a muff pi, and a simple crappy tone killing fuzz effect.  I recently got 10 TDA2003 chips for fun ($8)

I built the simple amplifier circuit from the datasheet and had it sounded like garbage.  Would hum really bad with nothing hooked up, wasn't very loud.  If i cranked my guitar to max volume, it would cut out all together.

This was powered off the 12v lines of a computer power supply.  I also(for giggles) hooked a 9 volt to it. <-- same results with the 9volt just not as loud.

My intended use is to build a battery powered amp.  I've got me a nice little 12v 7amp security battery with a regulator/charger that will push a steady 12v at 3 amps max.



my lm386 builds are louder than this thing is currently, they also have more clean head room than this does (NONE)... So I'm doing something wrong.

Where should i start?