I have a Digitech RP150 that I'd like to build a combo amp for those times I want to play away from the computer or headphones. So, I need something that's more of a high fidelity amp that's closer to a PA or keyboard amp than the typical guitar amp. Also, talking to Digitech Tech Support, if I use the 1/4" TRS output jacks (left(mono) and right), they should go into a high-Z input. Googling turned-up some folks that were having good results with a Ruby clone and I found these: Tang Band W3-1053SC 3" Full Range Driver for the speakers. The specs seem pretty decent, especially if I put them in the right sized, ported enclosure. So the plan became building an enclosure and allowing space for a Ruby to be built in.
Then I started thinking some more: Since I'll need a High-Z input for the RP150, I could also plug the guitar directly into the amp, which would mean that I'd like keep some of the "grit" as I increase the gain and I wouldn't want something that was clean all the way through it's volume range. So, again, the description of the Ruby seems spot on; however, the Tang Band speakers are 15W, 8ohm. Is 1W output "enough" to dive them? Should I up the power stage?
The TDA2030 looks pretty good because with 12v, one-sided input, into 8ohm, it would give 8W of power. But how much of the Ruby's "great, natural overdrive" is due to the behavior of the LM386 being saturated at lower volumes? Would I have to keep the buffer gain and guitar volume very low to get some break-up from the TDA2030 at reasonable volumes? Would the TDA2030 even give me something resembling "great, natural overdrive", or just hard clipping noise? Similarly, I could use a TA7222AP, TDA1519 or a TA2020. Those last two can even be wired so I could use the RP150's stereo outputs.
(Un)Fortunately, I'm in Afghanistan, so I can't tinker. Which means, for better or worse, I'll have several months to plan this project for my return. So, is the Ruby, Noisy Cricket, etc. really the best starting point for a High-Z input, single-sided 9-12v DC input, good cleans with some decent overdrive amp?
Ray
Then I started thinking some more: Since I'll need a High-Z input for the RP150, I could also plug the guitar directly into the amp, which would mean that I'd like keep some of the "grit" as I increase the gain and I wouldn't want something that was clean all the way through it's volume range. So, again, the description of the Ruby seems spot on; however, the Tang Band speakers are 15W, 8ohm. Is 1W output "enough" to dive them? Should I up the power stage?
The TDA2030 looks pretty good because with 12v, one-sided input, into 8ohm, it would give 8W of power. But how much of the Ruby's "great, natural overdrive" is due to the behavior of the LM386 being saturated at lower volumes? Would I have to keep the buffer gain and guitar volume very low to get some break-up from the TDA2030 at reasonable volumes? Would the TDA2030 even give me something resembling "great, natural overdrive", or just hard clipping noise? Similarly, I could use a TA7222AP, TDA1519 or a TA2020. Those last two can even be wired so I could use the RP150's stereo outputs.
(Un)Fortunately, I'm in Afghanistan, so I can't tinker. Which means, for better or worse, I'll have several months to plan this project for my return. So, is the Ruby, Noisy Cricket, etc. really the best starting point for a High-Z input, single-sided 9-12v DC input, good cleans with some decent overdrive amp?
Ray