Ascend Acoustics Sierra LX Review

[Hemi-Demon]

Thank you. I was already familiar with both of those reviews, but I wish Amir had reviewed the 2 channel model Buckeye amp (though I don't know if it would measure any different than the 6 channel?)

Buckeye NC252MP Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Buckeye NC252MP balanced stereo class D amplifier. It was kindly drop shipped to me by a member and costs US $575. The amp is almost the size of a loaf of bread and literally weighs nearly as much! Amazing how far amplification technology has...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Rick63]

Buckeye NC252MP Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Buckeye NC252MP balanced stereo class D amplifier. It was kindly drop shipped to me by a member and costs US $575. The amp is almost the size of a loaf of bread and literally weighs nearly as much! Amazing how far amplification technology has...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Thank you. Is there a V2 because the ones on their website have different binding posts and orientation than the one Amir reviewed?

And this alone is a deal breaker for me unless there is a revised model without power on popping.

Edit: Oh I see that's a different amp 252 vs 502. Is there a power on/off pop with the 502?

 

[Matias]

Thank you. Is there a V2 because the ones on their website have different binding posts and orientation than the one Amir reviewed?

And this alone is a deal breaker for me unless there is a revised model without turn on popping.

Edit: Oh I see that's a different amp 252 vs 502. Is there a power on/off pop with the 502)

View attachment 519802View attachment 519805

Apparently the website has the updated binding posts. I would not worry about these pops turning the amp on or off.

Edit: pure speculation on my side, but since Hypex is refreshing the MP series with NCOREx tech, it was not even announced but I would expect a refreshed NCx502MP in a year or two.

Mains Powered NCOREx® Family

www.hypex.nl

 

[Rick63]

I'm just finishing up my first CD with these and I can tell already that they like power. I doubt the little Mission amp will be enough to do these beauties justice.

Oh, and I haven't been able to stop smiling while listening so far, that's a great sign!

 

[Rick63]

Apparently the website has the updated binding posts. I would not worry about these pops turning the amp on or off.

Edit: pure speculation on my side, but since Hypex is refreshing the MP series with NCOREx tech, it was not even announced but I would expect a refreshed NCx502MP in a year or two.

Mains Powered NCOREx® Family

www.hypex.nl

But aren't those different models because one is a 252 and the other is a 502?

 

[Matias]

But aren't those different models because one is a 252 and the other is a 502?

Yes, different boards between 252 and 502.

 

[Rick63]

Yes, different boards between 252 and 502.

Any reason they would measure differently?

The Fosi V3s are doing a very good job driving them. My upstairs neighbor isn't home right now so I'm fortunate to have my first listening session when I can listen louder than normal (about 75db average) - sounds great!

 

[Matias]

If you are happy with your amp, keep them and don't worry about upgrading!

 

[Rick63]

If you are happy with your amp, keep them and don't worry about upgrading!

I just have longterm reliability concerns with the Fosi amps so I'm going to get something different soon and keep the V3s as backups. I'm not in a hurry so I'll unless I find a killer deal I'll enjoy getting used to the new speakers with the V3s.

Plus like I said in another thread - I'm single and have nobody to answer to so I buy what I want, when I want.

 

[PristineSound]

I just have longterm reliability concerns with the Fosi amps so I'm going to get something different soon and keep the V3s as backups. I'm not in a hurry so I'll unless I find a killer deal I'll enjoy getting used to the new speakers with the V3s.

Plus like I said in another thread - I'm single and have nobody to answer to so I buy what I want, when I want.

If reliability is a concern for you, I would avoid any and all Chinese branded amplifiers for at least another decade or so to be on the safe side. Of all HiFi electronics, amplifiers are the hardest to get right and the hardest to make reliable due to the high current and voltage nature of an amplifier.

I do have one Chinese branded amplifier, the SMSL DA-9 and I am on the second unit after the first unit had some start up bugs. Even the second unit has occasional bugs. Luckily it's only QA issues rather than reliability and QC issues at this point.

 

[tineared]

Any reason they would measure differently?

The Fosi V3s are doing a very good job driving them. My upstairs neighbor isn't home right now so I'm fortunate to have my first listening session when I can listen louder than normal (about 75db average) - sounds great!

The NC502MPs are the old NC Hypex amp modules with 350w @ 8 Ohms
The NCx252 are the new NCx modules which measure better and are more efficient, but those particular modules are "only" 150w@8Ohms.
I believe the perfect match for your new speakers would be the Buckeye Purify ET6525 2-channel (230w@8Ohms), but it's a bit pricey at $1200.
My clichéd advice is that it's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. YMMV

 

[kharan]

I don't know why everyone is seemingly super enthusiastic about the NcoreX MP modules, Hypex own specs and measurements show a very minor increase in performance if at all.

 

[Matias]

I don't know why everyone is seemingly super enthusiastic about the NcoreX MP modules, Hypex own specs and measurements show a very minor increase in performance if at all.

Incremental indeed.

Hypex Announces New and Improved NCOREx Class-D Amplifier Technology

NCx252MP is almost identical to NC252MP as far as I can see. Same power, same output noise. Just a reduction of distortion at the knee for mids and lows, but interestingly almost the same for highs. I can already hear the veils being lifted, the foot tapping, the childhood memories being...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Mort]

I don't know why everyone is seemingly super enthusiastic about the NcoreX MP modules, Hypex own specs and measurements show a very minor increase in performance if at all.

What else do we do here if not incremental performance chase?

 

[PristineSound]

I just have longterm reliability concerns with the Fosi amps so I'm going to get something different soon and keep the V3s as backups. I'm not in a hurry so I'll unless I find a killer deal I'll enjoy getting used to the new speakers with the V3s.

Plus like I said in another thread - I'm single and have nobody to answer to so I buy what I want, when I want.

Another thing to consider. With the exception of pursuing engineering excellence or having OCD, any amplifier with a THD+N of .1% or lower that is load invariant, will more than suffice and has inaudible difference.

Which means, almost any modern solid state amplifier made in the last 5 decades will meet your needs provided it has sufficient power. The amplifier problem has long been solved, so is any electronics for that matter, we are now in the era of nothing left to solve, so we are (a) finding problems to solve, (b) pursuing textbook perfection or (c) just showing off.

 

[Rick63]

Still grinning from ear to ear with 4 selections in. And it has already been established that I  will still need my sub for some music, so I'll be hanging onto it.

 

[Mark609]

I just have longterm reliability concerns with the Fosi amps so I'm going to get something different soon and keep the V3s as backups. I'm not in a hurry so I'll unless I find a killer deal I'll enjoy getting used to the new speakers with the V3s.

Plus like I said in another thread - I'm single and have nobody to answer to so I buy what I want, when I want.

I gave you some ideas and comments about the Fosi amps "in the other thread". https://forum.ascendacoustics.com/h...tronics/6518-introducing-the-sierra-lx/page83

 

[kharan]

What else do we do here if not incremental performance chase?

It depends on the practical application. if you get very low noise at the output of a DAC, it can be important if the next stage is a high gain amplifier, or if you room correction device only accepts analog.

But for a medium gain power amp, it's unexciting to say the least, it's already the last stage of the signal chain.

 

[MarkS]

What else do we do here if not incremental performance chase?

Some of us only care about chasing audible performance increments ...

 

[Rick63]

I gave you some ideas and comments about the Fosi amps "in the other thread". https://forum.ascendacoustics.com/h...tronics/6518-introducing-the-sierra-lx/page83

Thank you. I've been looking at it and I read Amir's review. I'd like to keep the price under $1k, but I'll keep that one in mind as I like it's measurements and looks.

Must haves for me are XLR inputs and auto power on and/or 12v trigger.