TDA2050Pro – Auditioning with Soliloquy-IIb

TDA2050Pro with Soliloquy-IIb

The TDA2050Pro is a no frills power amplifier module for active speakers. The power amplifier in use is a TDA2050 chip amp. The module includes it’s own power supply and balanced input for professional applications. All that’s needed to get it running is a power transformer.

Auditioning with the Soliloquy-IIb

As with the TDA2030A, the only time I heard this TDA2050 was in the mid 90s when it appeared in the market. For this audition, I hooked up the TDA2050Pro to the Soliloquy-IIb. This 2-way uses a Tang Band W5-1685 midwoofer with a Seas 27TBFC tweeter. My aim is to hear the bass performance of the TDA2050 driving the 5″ Tang Band. To simulate a real life application, like using active speakers in a restaurant, I ran a balanced line from my pc to the TDA2050Pro. This also serves to evaluate the performance of the balanced circuitry and to test for hum due to bad grounding.

The moment I played some music, it’s obvious the TDA2050 is up to the task. The clarity and dynamics are superb for background music. Bass is clearly heard. There’s no necessity for any bass eq with the Tang Band though using a W5-1685 for pipe in music is rather extravagant. 

To get some semblance of hifi quality, I wired in the Seas 27TBFC tweeter. To keep it simple, I used a 6.8uF capacitor in series. This will protect the tweeter by rolling off the low frequencies.

I must say the speaker sounds much better now. I can improve it further by having an inductor for the midwoofer but for the time being, it’s not necessary. As it stands, the music is good enough for background music. I’ve been listening to this combo for a few days playing background music while I’m working on my pc and I have no issues with the sound quality. It beats those ceiling speakers by a mile.

Conclusion

The TDA2050Pro does what it’s supposed to do without any complaints. In fact, it sounds the same as the more complicated TDA2030Pro. There’s no reason to use the TDA2030Pro unless one is driving 2 ohms load. I believe that’s where the current dumpers really come into play. As for the TDA2030A having lower THD, I honestly couldn’t tell. Like I said, they both sound the same to me.

If I’m not mistaken, the TDA2050Pro pcb can be used with the TDA2030A. Perhaps even the LM1875. I will need to run some test to verify whether it’s possible. Meanwhile, I’m more than pleased with this pcb. Simple to construct, yet up to professional standards. Even the op amp has it’s own 7812 and 7912 voltage regulators.

I like simplicity as long as it doesn’t compromise quality. And that is the TDA2050Pro.