Apollon NCx500ST Stereo Amplifier Review

[Apollon Audio]

236 € …. That’s a hefty shipping fee … does that include Tariffs ?
If not , that’s an expensive amp considering the price of a NCx500 from Buckeye - which I would assume sounds identical.

Bk

For this amp the express shipping costs are around 100 Euro.

 

[Gyosa1]

For this amp the express shipping costs are around 100 Euro.

What’s a guess as to what the Tariff would be ?

Thanks

Bk

 

[J84]

Just want to add that there are still a few days left to buy https://apollonaudio.com/product/hypex-ncx500-ncorex-st-stereo-amplifier/ (and other AMPs) from Apollon with 10% using XMAS25 code

Hi what's the difference btw the output connection apollon pure and neutrik? Like which one did AMR test? Which is better?

Also what's the difference btw the sonic imagery and the sparkos labs?

 

[lordhumungous]

Very happy with my Apollon amp.

 

[daniboun]

Hi what's the difference btw the output connection apollon pure and neutrik? Like which one did AMR test? Which is better?

Also what's the difference btw the sonic imagery and the sparkos labs?

Theoretically and in terms of measurements, there's no difference... Amir has already debunked the OP amps myth. As for the options = pure marketing

 

[Dougey_Jones]

Theoretically and in terms of measurements, there's no difference... Amir has already debunked the OP amps myth. As for the options = pure marketing

Yep, there’s no difference, and I’m the person who’s amps were tested for Amir’s review.

Still love the amps, both perform and look like they’re brand new. Planning on buying more Apollon gear when I eventually upgrade to a MiniDSP Tide16 for HT.

 

[J84]

Theoretically and in terms of measurements, there's no difference... Amir has already debunked the OP amps myth. As for the options = pure marketing

Thanks

 

[jareinertson]

I received my Apollon amp yesterday, their implementation of the Hypex NCx500 ST NCOREx Stereo Amp. No owner's manual nor power cord (I need 117VAC, US). It's probably OK since connecting to it is similar to other amps. I am using a 14 gauge cord that's good for up to 15 amps. But it is a bit strange.


I bought it as the backup for the ML #27, which is 30+ years old. The Apollon will fill this role nicely and for a fraction of the cost of a class A or A/B amp with a similar drive, $1.2K vs ??? Amir's findings are so good, I had to give it a try.


I listened to this amp today with my SP-6 preamp and Revel f108 speakers (full range). I sit about 2m from the speakers. I normally listen about 85-90 dB at listening position. I've measured the voltage on the speakers in real time. I found the max power I'm calling for is around 10 watts. Not much. Comparison amp is my old and trusty ML #27 with new blue can capacitors in the PS.


Here's my impressions after only an hour of critical listening... The Apollon sounds airier than the ML, but there's no sibilance or accentuated highs. It doesn't have the same bass impact. But male voices were very clear and human-sounding. It's a good break from the darker ML sound. I'm running boh amps at the same gain, which is about 26dB. More listening definitely needed as the differences are quite small and may moderate after longer listening. I am assuming that there's no "break-in" involvbed. My overall impression is that this is a very clear and clean amp with a quite neutral presentation, but not cold and clinical.


I did have to pay an additional $140 for the new US tariff. This is a big concern as a lot of gear is more expensive than the Apollon amp. Speakers for example.

Thanks for the comparison as an ML #27 owner. I’m an ML #29 owner (fully serviced and recapped as well) and try to keep in touch with possible replacements just in case. Nice to hear your experience as a listener of gear of this era. Cheers!

 

[LesterHiggins]

I just noticed something interesting about the Apollon website. They use the same photo for the NC122MP, NC252MP, and NC502MP amps. I have the Cambridge Audio MXW70 with an NC122MP module and when I checked out the Apollon page to compare, at first I thought maybe Cambridge Audio implemented a budget version. Then I got the hunch Apollon might be embellishing a bit, and sure enough, all 3 pages show the NC502MP module with the dual toroidal transformers. Of course it's just a mistake and only coincidence that the biggest and most robust module is the one that got repeated. Simple mistake, they promise, I'm sure.

 

[daniboun]

Of course it's just a mistake and only coincidence that the biggest and most robust module is the one that got repeated. Simple mistake, they promise, I'm sure

Agree
This is a comment I've already sent to Apollon customer service... It seems like they're deliberately not updating the photos. It's a bit of a shame considering their reputation

 

[LesterHiggins]

Agree
This is a comment I've already sent to Apollon customer service... It seems like they're deliberately not updating the photos. It's a bit of a shame considering their reputation

Cool, glad to hear you did that. It's not the worst thing I've ever seen by a long a shot, I don't think it's even intentionally misleading, at worst it's just ambivalently lazy, LOL. Everybody stop panicking now.