3-Channel Amp Recommendation?

[Dougey_Jones]

I currently have a Pass Labs X5 and two PS Audio Trio A100's which utilize the B&O Ice Power 200ASC modules in a dual mono config. If I wanted to try something more transparent than these for the front three channels of my Home Theater and L/R of my stereo setup what would some good options be under $2k?

Expecting people to say the Audiophonics and Buckeye branded PuriFi ET400 based 3-channel units, is there anything else I should be considering? I don't like the reliability of the Topping amps at all and probably won't consider them. The Pass Labs amp, despite having an undeniable tube like 3D quality when warmed up is also a little noisy, despite a full recap. The massive toroidal transformer itself can be heard from a couple of feet away, and it drives my OCD brain nuts. The PS Audio units are quiet but uninspiring, couldn't really say why. They sound good for movies but don't do anything for me musically.

What say you?

 

[Matias]

Don't forget Apollon and Nord, also great options.

For the price of selling those Pass amps I would definitely buy a nice Apollon like this one below, based on Purifi 7040 modules.

Purifi 1ET7040SA Multichannel Amplifier (3-5 Channel) | Apollon Audio Hypex Purifi Premium Amplifiers

apollonaudio.com

They have a reputation of taking long to ship, but totally worth it.

 

[Count Arthur]

Also Nord: https://nordacoustics.co.uk/product-category/hypex-ncxxxmp-multichannel/

I think it comes down to where you are based and whether you want an attractive case, or are happy with something fairly utilitarian.

 

[Radar]

I have a Audiophonics HPA-S400ET and a HPA-T400ET. They are both very good amplifiers. However I have a restart problem with the HPA-T400ET. Basically if you restart too soon when it is warm it trips out. You just have to wait a bit before restarting. I have worked out the reason for this. Unlike the HPA-S400ET it doesn't use the Amplifier ON signal from the power supply, which provides a second delay for the buffer amplifiers to stabilize before the Purifi modules turn on. In the HPA-T400ET the Purifi modules turn on when power is supplied, meaning any DC offset in the Buffer trips the Purifi module and then the supply.

 

[Dougey_Jones]

I have a Audiophonics HPA-S400ET and a HPA-T400ET. They are both very good amplifiers. However I have a restart problem with the HPA-T400ET. Basically if you restart too soon when it is warm it trips out. You just have to wait a bit before restarting. I have worked out the reason for this. Unlike the HPA-S400ET it doesn't use the Amplifier ON signal from the power supply, which provides a second delay for the buffer amplifiers to stabilize before the Purifi modules turn on. In the HPA-T400ET the Purifi modules turn on when power is supplied, meaning any DC offset in the Buffer trips the Purifi module and then the supply.

That sounds like an annoying problem that would potentially drive me crazy. With my ICE powered amps I just leave them on 24/7 because they’re class D and never get hot..

Is that not the case with Hypex amps? Or not advisable?

 

[Dougey_Jones]

Why is Apollon significantly more money for the same products that Nord sells? Austrian assembly that much better than British?

 

[Radar]

Usually I would not turn my Amp off and then on, but I was having problems with my Denon and was using the trigger feature when I found out about the Amp trip problem. If you don't restart it, or just wait a bit before restart there is no problem. It only happens after it warms up, but once tripped you have to wait 1 minute for the supply time out to be removed.

 

[DoesNotExist]

For your budget, I would give a look to NCx500 based 3 channel Nord Amplifier like this
https://nordacoustics.co.uk/product/nord-one-ncx5003ch-3-channel-power-amplifier/
Or the previous version NC500, 3 channel. With 10% discount
https://nordacoustics.co.uk/product/nord-one-nc500-3ch-power-amplifier/

 

[Dougey_Jones]

For your budget, I would give a look to NCx500 based 3 channel Nord Amplifier like this
https://nordacoustics.co.uk/product/nord-one-ncx5003ch-3-channel-power-amplifier/
Or the previous version NC500, 3 channel. With 10% discount
https://nordacoustics.co.uk/product/nord-one-nc500-3ch-power-amplifier/

Isn’t the NCx500 a better performer than the NC500? I was browsing those today. Any commentary on the quality differences between PuriFi 400 and NCx500?

 

[Radar]

The Audiophonics HPA-T400ET is a Purufi based Amp. I haven't got a Hypex amp, but the HPA-T400ET uses a Hypex SMPS1200 power supply.

 

[DoesNotExist]

Isn’t the NCx500 a better performer than the NC500? I was browsing those today. Any commentary on the quality differences between PuriFi 400 and NCx500?

Ncx500 Is the evolution version of nc500. I personally doubt that a audible difference could be observed. It depends on you if the 250 GBP price difference is worth

Same for Purifi ET400 / Hypex NCx500. For me, both are more or less in the same league