There is no import duty if importing in to the US. I've purchased 5 amplifiers from Audiophonics and have never been charged import duty.
Michael
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Audiophonics HPA-S400ET Review (Stereo Amplifier)
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There is no import duty if importing in to the US. I've purchased 5 amplifiers from Audiophonics and have never been charged import duty.
Michael
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If there is no U.S. dealer and you purchased directly from France, then *you* are the importer and the onus is on *you* to report the purchase to the government and pay the tax.
You talking about 1kHz SINAD, right. Look at high frequency distortion and Purifi or any class D are still miles behind the best linear amplifiers. Long way to run, still.
AudioSceptic
Major Contributor
It depends on the country of origin and what you are buying. These amplifiers show a France country of origin and there is no duty. I did need to fill out an importer identity form but TNT / FedEx take care of all paperwork after that. If there is duty owed FedEx will charge you for it. I have paid duty on Chinese products from Audiophonics.
See attached for a purchase of two Hypex amplifiers showing no duty.
Michael
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In this case you are lucky guys over there... I don't know how much audiophonics or boxem charge for the shipping to the US, but at the current usd/eur exchange rate, off the 20% French vat, and no import duties these can be a very good deal indeed...
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This sure looks good , nice result . 
Was a bit suspicious of thier amp offerings before, as they also have editions with “special op amps” , this is imho preying on weak audiophile minds or not knowing what you are doing ?
Other series integrators design thier interface boards and auxiliary circuits as good as they know how and then stick to it.
Not offering any pick and mix of special magic parts ? As you actually can’t change the sound of an already transparent machine.
Was a bit suspicious of thier amp offerings before, as they also have editions with “special op amps” , this is imho preying on weak audiophile minds or not knowing what you are doing ?
Other series integrators design thier interface boards and auxiliary circuits as good as they know how and then stick to it.
Not offering any pick and mix of special magic parts ? As you actually can’t change the sound of an already transparent machine.
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OK, I stand corrected—you did what you needed to do!
Audiophonics is 100% an excellent seller. And I tell you being a customer for the last 8 years or so. But again: seller.
You might know they also sell xxxx€ power cables and tons of audiophile snake oil tweaks. I consider Sparkos Edition to be one of these. No pun intended: they have a business to run and know 100% what they are doing.
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Indeed, all of the NC252MP amplifiers I've purchased from Audiophonics have come in under $500/ea including shipping with exchange rates about 10% higher than they are now.
Michael
I think Bruno feels left out.I am so glad that I bought this amplifier!! Most Audio related content on the internet centers around stuff that's easily available in the US. So imagine my enormous grin when a Dutch and Danish engineered module is absolutely shining in a package beautifully put together by the French. (Pardon my French but that just gets my EU dick hard.) No fluff, no snake-oil, just the carefully designed necessities. I knew when I hooked it up for the first time that this would be my last amplifier.
That's one of the issues here. There is mostly "charts" for SINAD at either 2V/4V or 1Khz/5W/4Ω only (I jest somewhat
).But you just may check any THD+N VS Frequency graphs from decent AB amps measured here. Even the "terrible" Hegel H95 or CA CXA81 do have better THD/frequency independence than this amp (yet a much more elevated noise floor).
Re: that last line about bypass mode. The Pre90 I'm using seems capable of this. Does anyone make one without an input buffer?
What about this chart which compares this amp with one of the best Class AB amps.That's one of the issues here. There is mostly "charts" for SINAD at either 2V/4V or 1Khz/5W/4Ω only (I jest somewhat
But you just may check any THD+N VS Frequency graphs from decent AB amps measured here. Even the "terrible" Hegel H95 or CA CXA81 do have better THD/frequency independence than this amp (yet a much more elevated noise floor).
Apollon is €1590+VAT compared to this Audiophonics €1242+VAT - that's 28%, so not quite that bad. (Although there is the cheaper Audiophonics in a smaller case.)
2.5 times is right for the Vera.
But you could then argue that Audiophonics have room in the market to add an external switch for a small additional price and still be much better value than the others...
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That's one of the issues here. There is mostly "charts" for SINAD at either 2V/4V or 1Khz/5W/4Ω only (I jest somewhat
The charts are here, of course. THD+N is below 0.003% (-90dB) at 20kHz for 16-133W/4ohm.
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