For a project of mine, I needed a stereo amplifier. I had some old Sound Blaster ISA cards (and later got more, which are also now listed here), with different amplifiers:
| card name | model number | year | amplifier IC | Power output |
| Sound Blaster 16 | CT2290 | 1994 | TEA2025B | 2 x 2.4 W |
| Sound Blaster 16 Value | CT2779 | 1994 | TEA2025B | 2 x 2.4 W |
| Sound Blaster 16 | CT2940 | 1995 | TDA1517P | 2 x 6 W |
| Sound Blaster | CT4170 | 1997 | TDA1517P | 2 x 6 W |
| Sound Blaster Vibra 16 | CT4180 | 1997 | TDA1517P | 2 x 6 W |
I liked TDA1517P, because it had so few additional components.
The amplifier part (left) of Sound Blaster 16 CT2940, cut off with a diamond cutting wheel. Jump wires were soldered to route input from Line In, and wires were added for 12 V power input (shared ground with signal). Two pins of the TDA1517P amplifier were shorted to enable the chip. A voltage regulator was also removed, as it was not used by the amplifier.
Seems to work fine!
Oh my goodness, perfectly good OPL ISA interface board torn apart. What a shame :)
Comment by Jani — 2010-10-21 @ 22:01
Haha, oh well... I think these would be headed for shredding of some sort anyhow. :-)
Comment by Olli Niemitalo — 2010-10-22 @ 09:08
I was going to ask if you would snail-mail the unused card half to me, but I may already have a SB with YMF289. I think I'll leave my card intact, But I could salvage the YMF289 and control it with parallel port or microcontroller in some project.
Do you happen to have extra sound cards with OPL2 chips by the way? I think I have enough OPL3 chips already..
Comment by Jani — 2010-10-22 @ 16:26
Drop me an e-mail with your address. I can mutilate the card further and send you the section that interests you. I have an Adlib, but if you want it then you have to give a really good reason... :) I'm thinking I'd some day measure the impulse response of its output. For that authentic sound you know!
Comment by Olli Niemitalo — 2010-10-22 @ 21:53
fuckin asshole! destroy some crappy ESS or Crystal soundcards but not the classic soundblasters!! Q_Q
they're getting harder and harder to find..
Comment by adasdd — 2011-02-24 @ 01:19
Ouch, one of the more desirable Sound Blaster 16's with the combo of Vibra 16 Pro CT2502 and discreet OPL3-L. I just paid a decent chunk of cash for one!
Comment by Jope — 2013-01-06 @ 14:35
Geez, someone just sold an Adlib for 200 USD on eBay. I got to hold on to mine with a death grip!
Comment by Olli Niemitalo — 2013-01-06 @ 14:41