AUDIOPHONICS MPA-S250NC Amp Review

[Progger]

I would pick the Yamaha A-S301, it has a digital input for TV, variable loudness, is very nice in silver and well done.

The R-S202D is an unknown as far as sound quality goes, Amir has one for measurements, but it will take month to come to the front of the queue. I know it's the "worst" in terms of build quality. The front plate looks like metal, but is plastic, and the silver is not the same silver as the A-S301 and the other Yamahas.

Also consider the Yamaha R-N803D, it has room correction, a measurement microphone, builtin streamer. A very high value device.

If you only care about sound quality and price, look at the R-S700, it has the same power supply and power amp as the A-S701/R-N803D and can be had for little money used.

You find all of the Yamaha amps with detailed pictures in this thread:

Inside Yamaha amps

Anyone interested in looking inside Yamaha amps? I have a bunch in my collection, most of them need repair, all of them have to be opened eventually for dusting. I'll start with some pictures i made inside a A-S1000 that i bought for 500€ in mint condition. This one weighs 25kg, it's a serious...

audiosciencereview.com

I would pick the Yamaha A-S301, it has a digital input for TV, variable loudness, is very nice in silver and well done.

The R-S202D is an unknown as far as sound quality goes, Amir has one for measurements, but it will take month to come to the front of the queue. I know it's the "worst" in terms of build quality. The front plate looks like metal, but is plastic, and the silver is not the same silver as the A-S301 and the other Yamahas.

Also consider the Yamaha R-N803D, it has room correction, a measurement microphone, builtin streamer. A very high value device.

If you only care about sound quality and price, look at the R-S700, it has the same power supply and power amp as the A-S701/R-N803D and can be had for little money used.

You find all of the Yamaha amps with detailed pictures in this thread:

Inside Yamaha amps

Anyone interested in looking inside Yamaha amps? I have a bunch in my collection, most of them need repair, all of them have to be opened eventually for dusting. I'll start with some pictures i made inside a A-S1000 that i bought for 500€ in mint condition. This one weighs 25kg, it's a serious...

audiosciencereview.com

If I push my budget, maybe AS-301 and RS 700. I am grateful. As far as I understand, I will also need a DAC for these devices. Unfortunately, it becomes difficult to purchase these devices in Turkey due to exchange rate differences and taxes. For this reason, should I buy Fosi v3+mini dsp 2x4 HD and continue on my way? I can't help but wonder if there is a big difference between AS 301 and RS700. Unfortunately, I don't have a chance to test it.

 

[TonyJZX]

yeah i think people in places with poor currency will recoil at 450 euros or $450 usd

i mean thats just the way it is

and this is where the chinese come in

i get that this is a great amp... no one disputes that but if you can get away with a fosi v3 in the 'developing world' lets just say then save your money

 

[JeremyFife]

If I push my budget, maybe AS-301 and RS 700. I am grateful. As far as I understand, I will also need a DAC for these devices. Unfortunately, it becomes difficult to purchase these devices in Turkey due to exchange rate differences and taxes. For this reason, should I buy Fosi v3+mini dsp 2x4 HD and continue on my way? I can't help but wonder if there is a big difference between AS 301 and RS700. Unfortunately, I don't have a chance to test it.

Fyi, the Yamaha AS-301 has a built in DAC (digital input is the clue), it has everything you need. Not familiar with the RS700.

 

[Progger]

yeah i think people in places with poor currency will recoil at 450 euros or $450 usd

i mean thats just the way it is

and this is where the chinese come in

i get that this is a great amp... no one disputes that but if you can get away with a fosi v3 in the 'developing world' lets just say then save your money

Which amplifier are you talking about? Fosi v3? What I'm really curious about is whether it is worth paying the difference in money for an amplifier like the Yamaha AS 301 (vs. Fosi v3+dac).

 

[TheBatsEar]

If I push my budget, maybe AS-301 and RS 700. I am grateful. As far as I understand, I will also need a DAC for these devices.

The A-S301 has two digital inputs, coax and optical. Optical is on most TVs. There is no reason to use an external DAC. The R-S700 doesn't, you need an external DAC or use devices that have analog output. Some TVs have RCA line-out, but optical is more common.

I had both, the Fosi V3 and the A-S301. They are different kinds of devices and i would always recommend the A-S301, simply because it has so much more features. These may not be needed today, but maybe tomorrow or the day after. You buy a A-S301 to use it for decades.

 

[Progger]

The A-S301 has two digital inputs, coax and optical. Optical is on most TVs. There is no reason to use an external DAC. The R-S700 doesn't, you need an external DAC or use devices that have analog output. Some TVs have RCA line-out, but optical is more common.

I had both, the Fosi V3 and the A-S301. They are different kinds of devices and i would always recommend the A-S301, simply because it has so much more features. These may not be needed today, but maybe tomorrow or the day after. You buy a A-S301 to use it for decades.

This was the answer I was looking for, thank you very much. samsung 55q60r television. The digital audio output appears to be optical.

 

[AltoVariago]

This was the answer I was looking for, thank you very much. samsung 55q60r television. The digital audio output appears to be optical.

To use the optical output is very inconvenient as you will have to set the volume with the amp remote. The optimal solution is the hdmi-arc output that has the volume controlled by tv remote.

 

[Progger]

The A-S301 has two digital inputs, coax and optical. Optical is on most TVs. There is no reason to use an external DAC. The R-S700 doesn't, you need an external DAC or use devices that have analog output. Some TVs have RCA line-out, but optical is more common.

I had both, the Fosi V3 and the A-S301. They are different kinds of devices and i would always recommend the A-S301, simply because it has so much more features. These may not be needed today, but maybe tomorrow or the day after. You buy a A-S301 to use it for decades.

Additionally, I started researching between the two with the Denon PMA 600NE model.

 

[TheBatsEar]

Additionally, I started researching between the two with the Denon PMA 600NE model.

Yamaha looks better, has more power and variable loudness.
Denon has more digital inputs and adds bluetooth.
That are the differences that i see.

Anyway, this isn't about the Audiophonics anymore, feel free to start another dedicated thread to explore the options you have, for example to add bluetooth to the Yamaha or what variable loudness could add to the experience.
Last tip, try Hifishark and it's filters to find cheap used devices in your area, maybe you get lucky.

 

[Progger]

Yamaha looks better, has more power and variable loudness.
Denon has more digital inputs and adds bluetooth.
That are the differences that i see.

Anyway, this isn't about the Audiophonics anymore, feel free to start another dedicated thread to explore the options you have, for example to add bluetooth to the Yamaha or what variable loudness could add to the experience.
Last tip, try Hifishark and it's filters to find cheap used devices in your area, maybe you get lucky.

Yes, I have made the topic busy enough. thank you very much again

 

[VintageFlanker]

New case/chassis for the NC252MP at @Audiophonics

AUDIOPHONICS AP300-S250NC Power Amplifier Ncore NC252MP

The Audiophonics AP300-S250NC is a stereo amplifier based on a Hypex Ncore NC252MP amplifier module. It is ideal for providing a significant power reserve (2x250W @ 4Ω) without sacrificing sound reproduction quality.

www.audiophonics.fr

The new AP300-S250NC is 50€ more expensive than the MPA-S250NC, but should have better thermals and, more importantly, both RCA and XLR (not one or the other).

 

[OldManMatt]

I really like this chassis/case

 

[CrustyToad]

@VintageFlanker you are quick, was just checking this out earlier today

I like the chassis and the wide and shallow form factor more than the narrow and long one

Great to have both RCA & XLR.

What I still miss is auto power on when sensing a signal like DACs and BoXem have

 

[VintageFlanker]

What I still miss is auto power on when sensing a signal like DACs and BoXem have

This + clipping indicator of BoXem are no-brainers to me.

 

[Acerun]

@VintageFlanker you are quick, was just checking this out earlier today

I like the chassis and the wide and shallow form factor more than the narrow and long one

Great to have both RCA & XLR.

What I still miss is auto power on when sensing a signal like DACs and BoXem have

I guess that's different than a 12 volt trigger

 

[Kimbrough Xu]

New case/chassis for the NC252MP at @Audiophonics

AUDIOPHONICS AP300-S250NC Power Amplifier Ncore NC252MP

The Audiophonics AP300-S250NC is a stereo amplifier based on a Hypex Ncore NC252MP amplifier module. It is ideal for providing a significant power reserve (2x250W @ 4Ω) without sacrificing sound reproduction quality.

www.audiophonics.fr

View attachment 321537View attachment 321538View attachment 321539View attachment 321540
The new AP300-S250NC is 50€ more expensive than the MPA-S250NC, but should have better thermals and, more importantly, both RCA and XLR (not one or the other).

Looks nice.

 

[CrustyToad]

I guess that's different than a 12 volt trigger

Yes. Auto on would just turn the amp on when it senses a signal on the inputs and switch it off after some time without signal. Of you use an always on headless rpi as a source you never have to power anything on or off ever again

 

[tsfreo]

New case/chassis for the NC252MP at @Audiophonics

AUDIOPHONICS AP300-S250NC Power Amplifier Ncore NC252MP

The Audiophonics AP300-S250NC is a stereo amplifier based on a Hypex Ncore NC252MP amplifier module. It is ideal for providing a significant power reserve (2x250W @ 4Ω) without sacrificing sound reproduction quality.

www.audiophonics.fr

View attachment 321537View attachment 321538View attachment 321539View attachment 321540
The new AP300-S250NC is 50€ more expensive than the MPA-S250NC, but should have better thermals and, more importantly, both RCA and XLR (not one or the other).

Anyone care to highlight for me whether the following matters for someone who plans to feed this via XLR from a Rotel pre (RC-1572 mk2). I don't think it matters for me, but thought I'd check here.
From Audiophonics description with the amp:
"This amplifier does not have a decoupling capacitor, so it lets the DC component of the signal through. Make sure your source has no DC component present at the output. The DC protection of the module switches on at 12VDC which is very permissive."

 

[Karmacoma]

Anyone care to highlight for me whether the following matters for someone who plans to feed this via XLR from a Rotel pre (RC-1572 mk2). I don't think it matters for me, but thought I'd check here.
From Audiophonics description with the amp:
"This amplifier does not have a decoupling capacitor, so it lets the DC component of the signal through. Make sure your source has no DC component present at the output. The DC protection of the module switches on at 12VDC which is very permissive."

It doesn't matter.
When in doubt don't hesitate to contact them, they answer very fast and give accurate answers, one of the best customer experience i got in the hifi world when in need of informations or need to return some gear.

 

[tsfreo]

It doesn't matter.
When in doubt don't hesitate to contact them, they answer very fast and give accurate answers, one of the best customer experience i got in the hifi world when in need of informations or need to return some gear.

Cool. Thanks.
I have bought a different amp from Audiophonics before and had a great experience.