Audiophonics HPA-S400ET Review (Stereo Amplifier)

[nemesis.ie]

The mono version has a trigger input. I don't think my Stereo ones do.

They sell a €30 IEC pass through box with a trigger input (I have 3 or 4 of them) that work perfectly.

The power button itself is either on or off physically. On the mono, with the trigger, you leave it in the off position to control it via the trigger, if you have the button on, it's permanently on.

Search - Audiophonics

Search page

www.audiophonics.fr

AFAIK 12V triggers need to stay at 12V all the time for an on state, once they go low, the device goes off.

Edit: The large case stereo version has trigger in/out, the small case one has neither.

 

[Caliban]

The mono version has a trigger input. I don't think my Stereo ones do.

They sell a €30 IEC pass through box with a trigger input (I have 3 or 4 of them) that work perfectly.

The power button itself is either on or off physically. On the mono, with the trigger, you leave it in the off position to control it via the trigger, if you have the button on, it's permanently on.

Search - Audiophonics

Search page

www.audiophonics.fr

AFAIK 12V triggers need to stay at 12V all the time for an on state, once they go low, the device goes off.

Edit: The large case stereo version has trigger in/out, the small case one has neither.

Thank you for swift response, case closed !

 

[juliangst]

Just out of curiousity: Are there any audible differences between this Purifi amp and a hypex amp like the NC502?
The audiophonics hypex amp costs a lot less than the purifi so I'm not sure if it's worth the extra money.
The LA90 would be another alternative in that price range but I'm not sure if it has enough power for 85db efficient speakers.

 

[Svensson]

Just out of curiousity: Are there any audible differences between this Purifi amp and a hypex amp like the NC502?
The audiophonics hypex amp costs a lot less than the purifi so I'm not sure if it's worth the extra money.
The LA90 would be another alternative in that price range but I'm not sure if it has enough power for 85db efficient speakers.

I did not try the NC502, but I did try Topping PA5 vs Purifi HPA-S400ET for 2 weeks. No difference noticable with AB testing when matching for same db at different db levels until much higher db over 85-95db. Even then with strictest possible AB testing, only then, possibly, very smallest advantage for Purifi. So small, it may not be real except in my my mind. I kept Purifi, but only because it might be or should be better. Speakers are Arundal 1723THX.

 

[juliangst]

I did not try the NC502, but I did try Topping PA5 vs Purifi HPA-S400ET for 2 weeks. No difference noticable with AB testing when matching for same db at different db levels until much higher db over 85-95db. Even then with strictest possible AB testing, only then, possibly, very smallest advantage for Purifi. So small, it may not be real except in my my mind. I kept Purifi, but only because it might be or should be better. Speakers are Arundal 1723THX.

Isn’t the Purifi 1000€ more? I wouldn’t keep for that much money if the only difference is on paper

 

[Svensson]

Isn’t the Purifi 1000€ more? I wouldn’t keep for that much money if the only difference is on paper

I agree. Topping was £369 and Purifi was £1100 (not VAT added to costs). Purifi was £730 more in absolute terms or 3x more than Topping in relative terms. In retrospect, I maybe should have kept Topping. The Topping 125W at 4ohm closely matched Purifi 400W at 4ohm too with db produced at same pre-amp settings. Only advantage required higher db listening and when AB testing. I am lucky and can afford to keep Purifi for the marginal (if any) advantage..

 

[mdunjic]

How one can choose gain without need to open the box and mess with jumpers?

 

[Caliban]

How one can choose gain without need to open the box and mess with jumpers?

Not possible. If that is a must, maybe this NAD amplfier is a better choice for you ?
However - I have owned its predecessor M22.2, it sounded REALLY good, but NAD QC is not really top of the line..
I returned two before I finally got what I had paid for.

M23 - NAD Electronics

Building on NAD’s long tradition of identifying and developing cutting-edge amplification technology, the M23 HybridDigital Stereo Power Amplifier features Purifi Audio’s Eigentakt™ design, a once-in-a-decade innovation that virtually eliminates harmonic and intermodulation distortion. Noise is...

nadelectronics.com

 

[mdunjic]

Not possible. If that is a must, maybe this NAD amplfier is a better choice for you ?
However - I have owned its predecessor M22.2, it sounded REALLY good, but NAD QC is not really top of the line..
I returned two before I finally got what I had paid for.

M23 - NAD Electronics

Building on NAD’s long tradition of identifying and developing cutting-edge amplification technology, the M23 HybridDigital Stereo Power Amplifier features Purifi Audio’s Eigentakt™ design, a once-in-a-decade innovation that virtually eliminates harmonic and intermodulation distortion. Noise is...

nadelectronics.com

Thanks, not a must. Just wondering what's default gain setting out of the box

 

[Caliban]

Thanks, not a must. Just wondering what's default gain setting out of the box

I understand, I think that information can be found elsewhere in this thread.

 

[Svensson]

Thanks, not a must. Just wondering what's default gain setting out of the box

@mdunjic I have copied and pasted what you seek below. The link takes you to the pictures and descriptions. I am using pre-amp with 4.2v output so removed 1 jumper from each card. If your pre-amp outputs 2v, then I would leave as it is.


To suit all uses we opted for 3 gain settings, adjustable by jumper on the interface card:

• Gain of + 7.2dB, for a total of 20dB - Maximum power reached with a signal of ~ 4.2V RMS
• Gain of + 12.5dB, for a total of 25.3dB (default) - Maximum power reached with a signal of ~ 2.2V RMS
• Bypass: in this case the signal passes directly from the inputs to the modules, allowing the lowest possible gain of 12.8dB. This mode can be interesting when using a powerful preamplifier, capable of driving a load of 2 to 4kOhm and reaching a voltage of ~ 10V RMS

 

[nemesis.ie]

@mdunjic If you ask the very helpful pre-sales people and put a note on your order, they can preset the jumpers for you.

I managed to get most of mine pre-set for bypass, which works beautifully with an Altitude 32 - finally silent tweeter bliss.

 

[mdunjic]

I understand, I think that information can be found elsewhere in this thread.

Fair enough, I just thought, if someone already knows, it could save me hours of reading previous posts ... thanks

 

[mdunjic]

@mdunjic If you ask the very helpful pre-sales people and put a note on your order, they can preset the jumpers for you.

I managed to get most of mine pre-set for bypass, which works beautifully with an Altitude 32 - finally silent tweeter bliss.

Yes that's my plan for sure

 

[Satyadhara]

@mdunjic If you ask the very helpful pre-sales people and put a note on your order, they can preset the jumpers for you.

I managed to get most of mine pre-set for bypass, which works beautifully with an Altitude 32 - finally silent tweeter bliss.

That's what I did as well, they pre-set the amp in bypass mode to use with my RME ADI-2 FS. I even got a white instead of a blue LED, as wished!

 

[oivavoi]

Thanks, @amirm. Excellent price/performance ratio, for sure!

But we unsurprisingly get what is expected performance from a close-to-reference design : 1ET400A + SMPS1200 + transparent buffer board (which is good). Minor differences are due to either production variation or Gain settings. Personally, I would spend a bit more for BoXem Arthur 4215 (for form factor, auto off/on and overall build quality) but none would "sound" any better than the other.

For those who don't know, there's also a cheaper version, with the exact same components in a smaller case:View attachment 194315View attachment 194320

AUDIOPHONICS LPA-S400ET Class D Stereo Amplifier Purifi 2x400W 4 Ohm - Audiophonics

We are proud to offer you the Audiophonics LPA-S400ET, a Class D stereo power amplifier based on two Purifi 1ET400A modules. This ready-built and ready-to-use version is for audiophiles who want to equip themselves with a foolproof amplification

www.audiophonics.fr

Following up on this post from many months ago. Wondering about these two purifi offerings from Audiophonics, where the only difference is size and casing. Is there any possibility that performance will be different between them, due to signal leakage, worse shielding, etc? I have no idea if these terms are accurate, but you probably understand my point. Hope some of the resident experts can chime in!

 

[VintageFlanker]

Is there any possibility that performance will be different between them, due to signal leakage, worse shielding, etc? I

There is. But nothing that could be audible so far.

 

[C. Cook]

has anyone had any issues with heat buildup? the smaller amp in their line really has those boards packed into the chassis with no visible heat sinking other than whatever the modules themselves can dissipate through the metal plate that screws to the floor of the case. got into a quite contentious conversation on VTV's alleged lack of heat sinking when I mentioned that mine w/ Hypex NC1200s was running hot at first. TMK Purifi doesn't run significantly cooler than Hypex, but only based on subjective anecdotal experience (have a Nord w/ the Purif modules in my office as well).

 

[Chromatischism]

has anyone had any issues with heat buildup? the smaller amp in their line really has those boards packed into the chassis with no visible heat sinking other than whatever the modules themselves can dissipate through the metal plate that screws to the floor of the case. got into a quite contentious conversation on VTV's alleged lack of heat sinking when I mentioned that mine w/ Hypex NC1200s was running hot at first. TMK Purifi doesn't run significantly cooler than Hypex, but only based on subjective anecdotal experience (have a Nord w/ the Purif modules in my office as well).

What were the temperatures of the components?

 

[C. Cook]

What were the temperatures of the components?

So I never got the chance to measure the interior amp or SMPS boards, but at one point the top of the chassis hit about 140-150F IIRC? I was using an infrared thermometer and took a few photos. Since then it hasn't gotten as hot, so I just kinda dropped the issue.