TDA2030A & TDA2030 Amplifier Observations

TDA2030A & TDA2030 Amplifier Observations - Intro

I have recently built portable battery powered speakers using a PAM8403 and a PAM8610. They are very efficient "Class D" amplifiers and can be run on high volume for hours and hours on one set of AA batteries (1.3ah).

However, I would like more bass! So I have tried this TDA2030A "Class AB" board to see how it compares. The TDA2030A is almost identical to the TDA2030. The former have a slightly higher max wattage rating.

This amplifier can be built on to boards that can handle up to 22V although 36V is achievable in some applications. I was limited to 16V by the capacitors that were installed on my pre built board, purchased from ebay (fluxworkshop).

TDA2030A & TDA2030 Amplifier Observations - Current

This is perhaps the TDA2030A amps most troubling characteristic. It requires 3.5A of current (max current), this means that with anything other than top end AA batteries such as "Eneloop" you will not be able to run this on AA batteries. They would also drain quickly even if you could!

The limiting factor it appears with the use of AA cells is the battery holder box. After testing one of the springs had melted and slumped.. I have read elsewhere that the cheap AA battery holders are only good up to about 1.5A.

So . .  you will need a power supply from the mains. . .or lithium high drain cells or an SLA Battery. Again the battery holder for the lithium cells will have to be good quality.

By comparison the PAM8403 and a PAM8610 draw about 1.0A of current which is ideal for use with AA batteries and cheap holders.

I tried the following batteries:

1. 6 x AA 1.3ah Uniross Batteries in Holders - Not Good
2. 5 x 4.5ah NiMh (Battery Pack from Silva Headtorch) - OK
3. 1 x 12V SLA (Actually LiPO4 but in SLA Type Package - Nominal current 7A) - Fine

TDA2030A & TDA2030 Amplifier Observations - Voltages 

To get good performance out of this amplifier you will need to run it higher than the minimum voltage of 6V, in fact even at 9V the output is distorted and low power. The sound is clean when at low volume (60db), but push past that level and the sound is terrible.

I have read else where that this chip sings better at 22 volts, but I can't try that. I can report that at 15V (SLA fresh off charge) it performs well. Running with no distortion at full volume (70- 75db).

TDA2030A & TDA2030 Amplifier Observations - Heatsink

The board I purchased came with a very small heatsink. It looked small to me, so I salvaged a heat sink from an ancient graphics card and used that. I also applied some thermal paste between the chip and the sink. 

A Larger Heatsink - Perhaps Not Required

The TDA2030A (or TDA2030) as I configured it does not generate very much heat, the heat sink as pictured above get slightly warm to the touch, so a small heatsink, such as the top picture in the post would probably be OK. 

TDA2030A & TDA2030 Amplifier Observations - How Loud

I would estimate 75db, specs say 85db. So specs say around 10 time more than I do! But this is running at 22V instead of 16V.

In comparison to PAM8403 the TDA2030A is louder, but PAM8610 running at 12V and 1A is far far louder. 

TDA2030A & TDA2030 Amplifier Observations - Sound Quality

The sound quality of this small "Class AB" amplifier is pretty good. It has better than the "Class D" Amplifiers that I have tried. 

I would describe the sound from this amplifier as richer, than the other class D offerings. There seems to be more depth to the sound, it is less flat than the Class D amps. 

I am sorry for the subjective nature of this appraisal, but that is the best I can do. 

TDA2030A & TDA2030 Amplifier Observations -  Pros & Cons

Con - If you were build and battery powered portable speaker with this it would like cost 3 x times that of a Class D build because of the battery. 

Pro - Slightly Better Sound Sound / Richness

TDA2030A & TDA2030 Amplifier Observations - Photos

Very Small Package

Large Battery in Webbing Pouch

Bag of Spanners! (Ugly)

Environmental Permit Applications