Audiophonics HPA-S400ET Review (Stereo Amplifier)

[Satyadhara]

Not for the whole amp but Purifi claims < 10 mV for the module <https://purifi-audio.com/eigentakt/>.

Thanks!

 

[cybernaut667]

(Pardon my French but that just gets my EU dick hard.)

And pardon my off topic but did you guys know that the 12 stars represent the 12 Greek Gods of Olympus? There will always be 12 stars even if new countries join (or leave..) the EU . Great amp BTW

 

[mctron]

You better never measure on an analyzer one of these power strips who work with rheostats.
Even in the same electric line with power outlets they can cause havoc.

Are we talking about the same thing? This is what I am referring to: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P1QJXQ/

 

[C. Cook]

Living in the US, I was nervous to purchase the Audiphonics amp (France) - shipping costs, Duty, damage, etc. The case and with large heatsinks was a real motivator/ differentiator. None of those worries materialized.

Now that I’ve had this amp for three months of virtual daily use, I can assure you the amp runs cool, sounds completely transparent and really packs a punch.

To be honest, in the back of my mind, I’d lusted after a Benchmark but can state with complete certainty that I now have no interest. I can’t imagine how the Audiophonics (or any of the Purifi based amps) would be anything but an endgame amp for 99% of Audio Science aficionados.

Agree. I can't tell any difference in sound quality between the first Hypex OEM-DIY amp I built myself, the NC1200s or the Purifi amps. The NC1200s pack a huge punch and are awesome for home theater and bass (don't even need a sub w/ my main speakers). Haven't tried the Nord Purifi amp in my living room yet. I have no desire to buy the Benchmark with my personal listening habits.

That said, could someone please post another pic or link me back to a previous one where the heatsinks are clearly visible? Note, if it's the one from Amir's review I obviously can see the two heat sinks on opposing sides, but I thought we were talking about the little tiny model with no visibly apparent ones.

 

[JohnnyNG]

By the way, I now also use the Topping PRE and the DAC 90SE, which were so excellently reviewed here; also very cheap devices that are incredibly good.

I have a Pre90 as well as a D90. May I ask what you have the gain set to on your Audiophonics monos and what volume you typically wind up at on the Pre?

 

[cicastol]

I have a Pre90 as well as a D90. May I ask what you have the gain set to on your Audiophonics monos and what volume you typically wind up at on the Pre?

I have the A90 as pre on med gain, Audiophonics no gain with buffer but direct on Purifi modules (13dB)

 

[AudioSceptic]

Agree. I can't tell any difference in sound quality between the first Hypex OEM-DIY amp I built myself, the NC1200s or the Purifi amps. The NC1200s pack a huge punch and are awesome for home theater and bass (don't even need a sub w/ my main speakers). Haven't tried the Nord Purifi amp in my living room yet. I have no desire to buy the Benchmark with my personal listening habits.

That said, could someone please post another pic or link me back to a previous one where the heatsinks are clearly visible? Note, if it's the one from Amir's review I obviously can see the two heat sinks on opposing sides, but I thought we were talking about the little tiny model with no visibly apparent ones.

You mean this <https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...eo-amplifier-purifi-2x400w-4-ohm-p-14557.html> or this <https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...-d-amplifier-purifi-1x400w-4-ohm-p-14951.html>?
I think these just use the case as a heatsink. Do they need any more, especially the mono version?

The wide version tested by Amir has heatsinks but I doubt that they make any real difference.

 

[Sokel]

Are we talking about the same thing? This is what I am referring to: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P1QJXQ/

If it has some kind of rheostat in it can interfere a lot,but no one can know unless we see the guts.

 

[C. Cook]

You mean this <https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...eo-amplifier-purifi-2x400w-4-ohm-p-14557.html> or this <https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...-d-amplifier-purifi-1x400w-4-ohm-p-14951.html>?
I think these just use the case as a heatsink. Do they need any more, especially the mono version?

The wide version tested by Amir has heatsinks but I doubt that they make any real difference.

Yessir. The first link is the one I was referring to. That's an incredibly small form factor with the only heat sinking being whatever is built into the modules and how they are coupled with the chassis.

I can't comment on whether the large looking ones on the unit Amir reviewed make any difference because my own Nord built Purifi-based amp runs pretty cool. In fact it usually runs hotter when idle than when playing music. It's in my home office so I don't play it super loud, so maybe that's why. The VTV built NC1200 amp in the living room (and several NC500 OEM/DIY amps I've assembled) tend to run pretty hot, but that's only happened when playing loud or letting sit idle for long periods of time in the cabinet.

If I had some better measurement equipment (i.e., a decent thermometer for FLIR) I'd probably do detailed measurements. Tried one of the apps for a relatively new Samsung phone and it was garbage, as expected.

 

[AudioSceptic]

Yessir. The first link is the one I was referring to. That's an incredibly small form factor with the only heat sinking being whatever is built into the modules and how they are coupled with the chassis.

I can't comment on whether the large looking ones on the unit Amir reviewed make any difference because my own Nord built Purifi-based amp runs pretty cool. In fact it usually runs hotter when idle than when playing music. It's in my home office so I don't play it super loud, so maybe that's why. The VTV built NC1200 amp in the living room (and several NC500 OEM/DIY amps I've assembled) tend to run pretty hot, but that's only happened when playing loud or letting sit idle for long periods of time in the cabinet.

If I had some better measurement equipment (i.e., a decent thermometer for FLIR) I'd probably do detailed measurements. Tried one of the apps for a relatively new Samsung phone and it was garbage, as expected.

My view is that Audiophonics seems to be a competent outfit and they would have looked for any heat issues as they don't want a lot of returns under warranty.

 

[UNICRON-WMD]

Hi all, my first time posting. I should be getting my Audiophonics HPA-S400ET Monday. I will be using my Rotel A12 as a preamp. The preouts are 1 V / 470 Ohms.

So I should use it in default signal of ~ 2.2V RMS?

Thanks in advance,
WMD

 

[reddavin]

What bit is needed for the HPA-S400ET case screws? 2 channel version. Looks like 2mm hex.

 

[Grael]

What bit is needed for the HPA-S400ET case screws? 2 channel version. Looks like 2mm hex.

Yes, 2mm hex

 

[reddavin]

Yes, 2mm hex

Thanks. I opened the case to check the jumpers. Most of the screws were extremely tight. The last one was very tough. My Allen wrench couldn’t grab it. Used the closest SAE wrench and got it. They do set Gain+ by default. Configuration 2.

 

[TheWalkman]

I wonder what the trigger consumption is for a master/slave power strip? To work it would need to be above standby but below normal usage. Standby usage seems to vary a lot, so that makes it tricky.

FWIW, in standby mode, my Kilowatt is showing an idle power consumption of 16.8 Watts for my Audiophonics amp.

 

[Caliban]

FWIW, in standby mode, my Kilowatt is showing an idle power consumption of 16.8 Watts for my Audiophonics amp.

boXem have done a better job in that aspect with their counterpart 4215/E2, they state a standby consumption below 0.5 Watts.
Something to think about now when the price for electricity is rising incredibly (at least in Europe)

boXem | audio - Arthur 4215/E2

2 channels 425 W HiFi power amplifier, Purifi Eigentakt technology. Designed and proudly built in Luxembourg.

boxem-audio.eu

 

[KMO]

boXem have done a better job in that aspect with their 4215/E2, they state a standby consumption below 0.5 Watts.

Idle is not standby.

 

[Caliban]

Idle is not standby.

"FWIW, in standby mode"..

 

[KMO]

"FWIW, in standby mode"..

"idle power consumption"

How to confuse people...

And I immediately assumed we're talking idle, not standby, because 16.8 watts is a bit on the high side even for idle. If that's supposed to be standby, I'd say it's faulty.

 

[nemesis.ie]

Indeed, my mix of 4ch, 2ch and 1ch all pull around 8W in *IDLE* per channel - so a 2ch one is indeed around 16W. i.e. powered on with no signal - in standby it's massively less.
Per their web site the trigger modules use 0.36W ... not sure if that is when energised (quite likely) or not. So when the unit is "untriggered" it could be even less. "operating current" says 33mA which is under 0.5W ...

So no @Caliban I don't see evidence of Boxem having done better here. I also use an Audiphonics trigger modules to control a strip with 5 amp channels connected (2000W max (which never happens) and is under the strip's rating) so that's <1/2W standby for 5 channels.

The OP's comment has to be read more carfully "standby in idle" i.e. on but without a signal "standing by for a signal" rather than "powered down standby".

For context an Emotiva A/B amp pulls 30W/ch in idle with a linear PSU and 20W for their SMPS models (monoblocks).

AUDIOPHONICS Trigger 12V 110V/230V Slave Power Supply Device - Audiophonics

The Audiophonics Trigger 12V is the simple and effective solution for turning on and off any appliance connected to 110V or 230V AC mains with an IEC female mains input

www.audiophonics.fr

I suspect this actually used 0 at standby.