Any traditionally 'good' Amps in a budget (£500-700) range - based on FTC discussion

[JeremyFife]

Hi,
I don't generally like the 'please recommend a ...' threads as I really should do my own research first.
I'm a bit stuck and confused now though.

My Topping PA5 (repaired and working well) will die at some point and I will want a replacement: something that is a power Amp or behaves like one.

This should be my last Amp, but it can't be expensive - many reasons. Below £1000, happy to consider used.

My speakers are easy to drive, and I will definitely replace them - although that might wait until I get a better room! Replacements might be the new AsciLab brand so a bit more difficult (low sensitivity, drops below 4Ohm).
I don't listen loud: 80dB at 3m but I never want to worry about clipping, ever.

Recent discussions here on meeting FTC requirements, measurements by @pma and @amirm , comments by many experienced members has set me thinking.

I'm not interested in headline numbers, as long as I don't hear noise. I want enough power to handle any peaks my music may throw out (from electronic, jazz, rock, classical... just music really)
Thermal management seems to be key.

Finding a short list of robust, powerful enough 'traditionally good ' amps is proving difficult. I was burned with the PA5 (my fault for early adoption)

Hypex Ncore sounds like the obvious choice. Vintage options, like the NAD 2200, are appealing but I'm concerned that they are already old (risk of component failure)

Any thoughts - what is out there?

Thanks

 

[MoreWatts]

Buckeye Hypex NC502MP stereo amp gives you 350 watts per channel into 8 ohms for $695.

I think the European assemblers for this would be Apollon or VTV or even Nord? Purifi or Hypex NCoreX modules would be a little more efficient/cooler with slightly higher SINADs, but are ~50% more expensive (although still only ~$1000 ), and the Purifi would be slightly less powerful at ~230 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

These use high power Class D modules, and are not based on chip-amps.

 

[JeremyFife]

Buckeye Hypex NC502MP stereo amp gives you 350 watts per channel into 8 ohms for $695.

I think the European assemblers for this would be Apollon or VTV or even Nord? Purifi or Hypex NCoreX modules would be a little more efficient with slightly higher SINADs, but are ~50% more expensive, and the Purifi would be slightly less powerful at ~230 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

These use high power Class D modules, and are not based on chip-amps.

Thanks, I'm hoping to uncover alternatives to Hypex.
I accept that they have the measurements I'm looking for and, if the construction and thermal management is good, should be what I'm seeking.

Are there safe (not at risk of ancient capacitors giving up) alternatives?
I've read enough about Yamaha here to consider them - but it's usually the integrated amps that get mentioned.

 

[Everett T]

Thanks, I'm hoping to uncover alternatives to Hypex.
I accept that they have the measurements I'm looking for and, if the construction and thermal management is good, should be what I'm seeking.

Are there safe (not at risk of ancient capacitors giving up) alternatives?
I've read enough about Yamaha here to consider them - but it's usually the integrated amps that get mentioned.

I'm not sure what you're expecting to find outside of Purifi and Hypex, without spending 3x your budget. Currently TI has offerings that are acceptable but not near the those two, Bruno's work has made things different in the last 15 years.

 

[Oddball]

D class is out there as suggested. How long will older AB class alternatives last is a difficult question. I have a bunch of AB class amps and they are not showing any signs of stress after 15 years. I have no idea how much longer the can last thought. Since I had them from the start, I would hope 10 or more years.

Parts do give up but it has to do with hours and intensity of use, as well as the temperature of the the room and ventilation that was provided to that extent. Buying into used AB with high specs will be bear some risk. New D class are cheap and will hopefully last a lifetime.

 

[JeremyFife]

Just interested in knowing if there are options

 

[ZolaIII]

From "traditional" take a look at Yamaha offering that you can reach or a second hand not old and used much higher tier one. As amp only unbalanced A-S 700 is probably a best value of those. You won't use it to drive subs or huge floor standers with those nor are most home speakers reali made for peaks over 110 dB. I am not against SoM amp's but either pick something you will be able to service (SoM or PSU in trash and new one in) or aim for a brand with already built up reputation (ATI, NAD, some Italians and so on).

 

[Timcognito]

Nice look, a real classic, wide range of loading tolerance, several here in the US Ebay $800-1000

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/yamaha/ca-1000.shtml

 

[Oddball]

If I was buying amp now would be D class. I would not really care about the stats. Old amps with 85 dB SINAD were passable so anything above that in D class would be as well. If difficult to dive speakers that is different discussion.

 

[Timcognito]

Yamaha A-1 Vintage Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Yamaha A-1 vintage integrated amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member. He tells me that it has been serviced and restored a couple of years ago. The Yamaha A-1 came out in 1977 during a competition to produce the best spec audio products...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[ban25]

If looking for an integrated, you could consider a Rotel A12MKII, it will fit inside your budget new at $999. If you can stretch a little bit, you could consider a Rotel RB-1582MKII used or potentially a RB-1552MKII new.

Objectively not as good as the HypeX/Purifi options in terms of rated power and THD+N, but solid fit & finish and won't break the bank relative to competing options that are 2-10x the price.

 

[JeremyFife]

Yamaha A-1 Vintage Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Yamaha A-1 vintage integrated amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member. He tells me that it has been serviced and restored a couple of years ago. The Yamaha A-1 came out in 1977 during a competition to produce the best spec audio products...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Cool, thanks - caveats in the review about the age of the DUT but I like the look of this. Too risky (age) though

 

[vicenzo_del_paris]

Buckeye Hypex NC502MP stereo amp gives you 350 watts per channel into 8 ohms for $695.

I think the European assemblers for this would be Apollon or VTV or even Nord? Purifi or Hypex NCoreX modules would be a little more efficient/cooler with slightly higher SINADs, but are ~50% more expensive (although still only ~$1000 ), and the Purifi would be slightly less powerful at ~230 watts per channel into 8 ohms.

These use high power Class D modules, and are not based on chip-amps.

Regarding European hypex/purifi assemblers, don't forget @boXem who puts lots of care in thermal design and assembly quality

 

[pma]

Regarding European hypex/purity assemblers, don't forget @boXem who puts lots of care in thermal design and assembly quality

I concur. (Purifi, not purity)

 

[JeremyFife]

I'd be worried about a "purity" assembler ... some great music is *dirty*

 

[vicenzo_del_paris]

I concur. (Purifi, not purity)

Fixed - god damned keyboard auto correction

 

[Marc v E]

Audiophonics purifi based amp was reviewed here: great build and measurements. They probably have some more affordable hypex based amps too.

Iot hypex based amp was reviewed on ASR too: https://internetofmusic.nl/

 

[Marc v E]

Thanks, I'm hoping to uncover alternatives to Hypex.
I accept that they have the measurements I'm looking for and, if the construction and thermal management is good, should be what I'm seeking.

Are there safe (not at risk of ancient capacitors giving up) alternatives?
I've read enough about Yamaha here to consider them - but it's usually the integrated amps that get mentioned.

Ah I see you look for alternatives. In that case, I would consider an avr like the Denon x3800h for the added eq capability.

Edit: seeing that you want to use it to power ascilab speakers, iirc they go down to 2 ohm. Go for hypex.

 

[miero]

For people with AC230V/50Hz, there is the following power amplifier 100W@4Ω, which is a little over specified budget, but still below £1000:
- https://www.customworks.cz/amplifiers/hypa-10 (complete amplifier)
- https://www.customworks.cz/zesilovace/hypa10 (amplifier module)
- https://www.customworks.cz/zesilovace/softstarty/softstart (soft start module)
- https://www.customworks.cz/zesilovace/ochrany-reproduktoru (speaker protection module)

The manufacturer is a small company of 2-3 people from Czechia. They also sell parts of these amps as DIY kits, so I assume the buyer can also ask for schematics of the amplifier parts, so there is a high repairability in the future.