Audiophonics HPA-S400ET Review (Stereo Amplifier)

[staticV3]

Hi !

Do you have pops when switching on and off ? And if so, do you have any solutions ?
My speakers are on high output, so the noise is quite noticeable (but not very loud either).

Here's a possible solution: https://neurochrome.com/products/guardian-86

 

[ComasSky]

Thanks !

I dont know if i want spend 24O$ only to remove pop ...

 

[wyup]

In other way ... Why Hypex since the beginning recommends a switching power supply?

Because the input buffer/preamp circuit power supply quality is more important/sensitive to noise than that of the power module itself.

As a proof and for the same reason, Neurochrome offers a preamp power supply for both Purifi and Hypex input buffers:

Preamp Power Supply

The Preamp Power Supply powers preamplifiers, headphone amps, phono stages, and buffers. It provides ±12V at up to 650mA with an ultra-low noise floor for the best sound quality.

neurochrome.com

Ideally I guess it would be optimal to feed the power modules with a toroidal transformer based linear power supply, but these are large and bulky and defeat the class D SMPS minimal space and efficiency approach. I have seen setups like this in diyaudio.com.

I only respond to your question and show an approach. Feel free to disregard.

 

[mike70]

Feel free to disregard.

i don't have the knowledge to agree / disagree ... but surely the SOTA results on hypex / purifi modules with switching power supplies tells me that toroidal transformers aren't a critical requirement in this kind of amplifier.

 

[ComasSky]

Still have some serious pop on start / shutdown of my HPA ... even without sources on XLR / RCA ..

 

[Nick_L]

Still have some serious pop on start / shutdown of my HPA ... even without sources on XLR / RCA ..

Do you start/shut down your streamer or your power amp? For me this looks like a problem with your audio source..

 

[ComasSky]

Do you start/shut down your streamer or your power amp? For me this looks like a problem with your audio source..

In this video, i shut off and power on my source (Atoll ST300, 3k€) with trigger use.
But it does the same without source (no RCA, no XLR connected).

 

[Nick_L]

Sorry to hear ComasSky,
my new LPA-S400ET is very silent when I switch it on or off.
I would contact Audiophonics again for support.

 

[AweLoi]

Do the HPA-S400ET have any type of protection circuit? The NAD M23 do have one but of course it cost a lot more.

 

[pogo]

What kind of protection circuit do you mean?

 

[Salt]

SMPS as well as Purify Amp modules do have their security protection in their own, as far as I'm informed.
What's Your request in detail?

 

[AweLoi]

SMPS as well as Purify Amp modules do have their security protection in their own, as far as I'm informed.
What's Your request in detail?

I'm not sure what type of protection circuit is common but my Classé CA-2100 have some protection circuits that have saved my speakers on a couple of occations. Amp goes into protection mode. I also know that many brands have these kind of circuits to protect your gear. Not sure what exactly they do though. But for instance to protect your speaker drivers from blowing if something goes wrong electrically. If there is some anomaly in the signal. But I don't really know how they work more than that they exist and have saved my speakers.

 

[nemesis.ie]

1ET400A Amplifier Module

purifi-audio.com

As mentioned by @Salt, you can see protection mentioned on the module spec page linked above and if you look at the pictures on the Audiophonics site, it looks like they pop in the same module and connect the SMPS via their own buffer board. I see no reason the 1ET400 module's protection would be bypassed.

If you are still concerned, maybe email or PM them?

 

[AweLoi]

1ET400A Amplifier Module

purifi-audio.com

As mentioned by @Salt, you can see protection mentioned on the module spec page linked above and if you look at the pictures on the Audiophonics site, it looks like they pop in the same module and connect the SMPS via their own buffer board. I see no reason the 1ET400 module's protection would be bypassed.

If you are still concerned, maybe email or PM them?

Good idea!

NAD M23 have a protection mode. I don't know if they have designied their own or use Purifis built in. I will email Purifi and Audiophonics.

 

[AweLoi]

1ET400A Amplifier Module

purifi-audio.com

As mentioned by @Salt, you can see protection mentioned on the module spec page linked above and if you look at the pictures on the Audiophonics site, it looks like they pop in the same module and connect the SMPS via their own buffer board. I see no reason the 1ET400 module's protection would be bypassed.

If you are still concerned, maybe email or PM them?

I looked at the data sheet in the link you provided. The Purifi module seem to have quite extensive built in protection already matching the protection my Classé provides according to the manual. All good! Thanks for the help. I think I will sell my Classé and buy this instead.

 

[pogo]

NAD has taken additional measures and therefore the purifis deliver more power, especially at 2 ohms, and this is controlled in the NAD implementation.

 

[nemesis.ie]

I have 17 channels of Audiophonics amps and love them.

The bypass mode (optional) is brilliant; it was the only thing that managed to remove twitter hiss with my AMT speakers and Altitude at the time.

Expensive relatively, but also amazing value compared to other brands.

Off-topic: I've since also bought a TOPPING PA7 PLUS Amplifier Class D Balanced 2x245W 4 Ohm Black from Audiphonics and it does the same (no hiss) using the volume control but of course is not an all-in one and "only" has 245W/channel and gets rather toasty. I use it for the centre surround channel bi-amped. It's not much cheaper per channel, but I may use it for an office/bedroom system at some point.

 

[nemesis.ie]

As an aside to this chat, I was looking at Audiphonics page and they seem to have redesigned the buffer board and some other things, what I noticed:

The LED is now SMT rather than the 4mm discrete.
The jumpers are now externally accessible from the bottom of the case and there is a new one to enable turning off the LED!

A company that listens to their customers.

Maybe it's time for @amirm to review the new mono model: https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/power-amplifiers/audiophonics-ap300-m400et-power-amplifier-class-d-mono-purifi-1et400a-1x400w-4-ohm-p-18444.html

I think I'll grab one for the centre and move the current mono to the centre surround.

Edit: added picture and I also see an additional gain setting!

 

[nemesis.ie]

NAD has taken additional measures and therefore the purifis deliver more power, especially at 2 ohms, and this is controlled in the NAD implementation.

Whether this is useful/worth the money will of course depend on the use case/user. How much more power?

 

[pogo]

For a short time absolute around 800W into 2ohm and 500W into 1ohm.