AUDIOPHONICS LPA-S400ET

[Fontie]

Good morning!

Long time lurker, first thread! I was wondering if anybody has experienced the

AUDIOPHONICS LPA-S400ET​

which appears to be a slimmed down version of its bigger brother, same modules in a smaller box.

Any info greatly appreciated!

 

[Asymptote]

Good morning!

Long time lurker, first thread! I was wondering if anybody has experienced the

AUDIOPHONICS LPA-S400ET​

which appears to be a slimmed down version of its bigger brother, same modules in a smaller box.

Any info greatly appreciated!

Hi Fontie,

Sorry, I might be a bit late, however: -
I bought one of these about June 2022 after seeing the brilliant video for the HPA version. I am not sure, but I think the only difference is the lack of trigger output on the LPA which I don't want.

This has been by far the best purchase I have ever made in hifi. The REW measurement using Dirac Mini-Dsp2x4 is flat from about 23Hz to 20,000. I have adjusted it to a 8dB boosted Harman Curve and after I measured it in REW again it was very consistent with the curve I wanted.

The sound is wonderful.
Sprightly power, with full punchy dynamics. Timing is perfect. I crossed over my Kef LS50 Metas at 48 Hz so the sub is only contributing in the very low range.
Bass is tight, accurately resonant and totally independent location wise.
Mid range again, is beautiful,

sibilance very well controlled on for example some Paul Simon and Jennifer Warnes songs.
Tops are clear and precisely subtle. All blend perfectly.

The speakers just aren't there and the sound stage is large high, low and wide with good depth. My friends have commented that for the first time they now understand what a holographic sound is. i keep looking round to see where an instrument is coming from.

In short - I am amazed at how much this amp improved my system.

Hello and thanks to Amir and all who make this such a great site.
Asymptote




Can I ever get to the point??

 

[tsfreo]

Hi Fontie,

Sorry, I might be a bit late, however: -
I bought one of these about June 2022 after seeing the brilliant video for the HPA version. I am not sure, but I think the only difference is the lack of trigger output on the LPA which I don't want.

This has been by far the best purchase I have ever made in hifi. The REW measurement using Dirac Mini-Dsp2x4 is flat from about 23Hz to 20,000. I have adjusted it to a 8dB boosted Harman Curve and after I measured it in REW again it was very consistent with the curve I wanted.

The sound is wonderful.
Sprightly power, with full punchy dynamics. Timing is perfect. I crossed over my Kef LS50 Metas at 48 Hz so the sub is only contributing in the very low range.
Bass is tight, accurately resonant and totally independent location wise.
Mid range again, is beautiful,

sibilance very well controlled on for example some Paul Simon and Jennifer Warnes songs.
Tops are clear and precisely subtle. All blend perfectly.

The speakers just aren't there and the sound stage is large high, low and wide with good depth. My friends have commented that for the first time they now understand what a holographic sound is. i keep looking round to see where an instrument is coming from.

In short - I am amazed at how much this amp improved my system.

Hello and thanks to Amir and all who make this such a great site.
Asymptote




Can I ever get to the point??

I know this is an old thread but I want to check with members to see if someone can explain this - with the various Audiophonics Hypex amps - like the two mentioned in this thread - there are slim unit LPA and bigger unit HPA versions. I can see that the HPA versions seem to use two modules and power supplies and have a bigger case that may be preferred atheistically - is that essentially the difference.
The HPA versions cost a couple of hundred Euro more, for what seems to be essentially the same power outputs as the LPA versions.
So, could someone highlight the attraction of the HPA version? Is there is a performance difference with the separate power supplies?
I'm weighing up the HPA-S500NC vs the LPA-S500NC - with an unbalanced preamp (a NAD C368 using its preouts for now...) - for my Wharfedale Lintons. Maybe overkill, but I like the idea of headroom and an amp that could run future more demanding speakers if that should happen.

​

 

[ommadusk]

I know this is an old thread but I want to check with members to see if someone can explain this - with the various Audiophonics Hypex amps - like the two mentioned in this thread - there are slim unit LPA and bigger unit HPA versions. I can see that the HPA versions seem to use two modules and power supplies and have a bigger case that may be preferred atheistically - is that essentially the difference.
The HPA versions cost a couple of hundred Euro more, for what seems to be essentially the same power outputs as the LPA versions.
So, could someone highlight the attraction of the HPA version? Is there is a performance difference with the separate power supplies?
I'm weighing up the HPA-S500NC vs the LPA-S500NC - with an unbalanced preamp (a NAD C368 using its preouts for now...) - for my Wharfedale Lintons. Maybe overkill, but I like the idea of headroom and an amp that could run future more demanding speakers if that should happen.

​

12v trigger, a different shaped case, and perhaps the heatsink.

 

[tsfreo]

12v trigger, a different shaped case, and perhaps the heatsink.

Hmmm. Doesn't seem like all that much for the extra coin.

 

[ommadusk]

It depends. The HPA is a really substantial case so it's not cheap and some people may want the heatsink and 12v trigger.

 

[Fontie]

Hmmm. Doesn't seem like all that much for the extra coin.

agreed, i ended up buying the slim version...

 

[tsfreo]

It depends. The HPA is a really substantial case so it's not cheap and some people may want the heatsink and 12v trigger.

Fair enough. I'll have a think about my use case.

 

[usa_satriani]

Hello ,

Do you know if the op amps are easily changeable?
They sell sparkos op amps for 80€ with everything included on dip8 circuit.

SPARKOS LABS SS3602 AOP Discret Double DIP8 (Unité) - Audiophonics

SparkoS Labs a crée une gamme d'AOP discrets montés sur DIP8 optimisés pour fournir d'excellentes performances audio. Ils vous permettront de remplacer des AOP moins performants ou tout simplement d'obtenir une sonorité différente.

www.audiophonics.fr

 

[keiron99]

I know this is an old thread but I want to check with members to see if someone can explain this - with the various Audiophonics Hypex amps - like the two mentioned in this thread - there are slim unit LPA and bigger unit HPA versions. I can see that the HPA versions seem to use two modules and power supplies and have a bigger case that may be preferred atheistically - is that essentially the difference.
The HPA versions cost a couple of hundred Euro more, for what seems to be essentially the same power outputs as the LPA versions.
So, could someone highlight the attraction of the HPA version? Is there is a performance difference with the separate power supplies?
I'm weighing up the HPA-S500NC vs the LPA-S500NC - with an unbalanced preamp (a NAD C368 using its preouts for now...) - for my Wharfedale Lintons. Maybe overkill, but I like the idea of headroom and an amp that could run future more demanding speakers if that should happen.

​

Digging this one up because I'm in a similar position looking at the LPA S600NCX and HPA S600NCX.

Did you establish whether there are any differences other than the case and 12v trigger?

Did you make a decision?

 

[tsfreo]

Digging this one up because I'm in a similar position looking at the LPA S600NCX and HPA S600NCX.

Did you establish whether there are any differences other than the case and 12v trigger?

Did you make a decision?

No practical difference as far as I can tell - aside from I think the larger case had twin 12v triggers and some built in heat sinking. I bought the smaller case (LPA-S500NC), so no heat sink but heat generation has not been a concern at all for me. Very happy user.
If I bought another I might stump up for the larger case and bit of extra functionality next time. But only as some kind of future proofing really and because the first time around I had not bought from Audiophonics before, but I now have lots of confidence in them.
The smaller case has been just fine and has its own benefits in terms of fitting in a small space.

 

[mike70]

Anybody have the packaging size of the LPA-S400ET?
Any trouble with heat? (thinking in the bigger enclosure model)

Thanks.

 

[Mschn]

May I throw in a somewhat off-topic question?
2 x 400 W and 2 x 600 W seems like over-kill for listening to music in a 3.5 x 5.5 m living room in a flat (with neighbors). The 2 x 250 W MPA-250NC should be powerful enough? Or is it a matter of Purifi being superior to Ncore?

/Martin

 

[tsfreo]

May I throw in a somewhat off-topic question?
2 x 400 W and 2 x 600 W seems like over-kill for listening to music in a 3.5 x 5.5 m living room in a flat (with neighbors). The 2 x 250 W MPA-250NC should be powerful enough? Or is it a matter of Purifi being superior to Ncore?

/Martin

All the usual caveats apply about the sensitivity of your speakers and your usual listening levels etc. That said, I expect most would call your space a small room and I'd say the 250NC is heaps. Purifi is state of the art, Ncore is great. You will not hear a difference.

 

[usa_satriani]

Anybody have the packaging size of the LPA-S400ET?
Any trouble with heat? (thinking in the bigger enclosure model)

Thanks.

Dimensions (hors connectiques)19 x 35.9 x 7.8cm

I have two of them in by pass mode as I use them on tri amplified speakers.
I use a few percentage of the power but they don't get warm.
It is more about the idle power anyway.
I would buy this unit again and again without a doubt. What contributes to the dynamics is the very low ground noise.

 

[tsfreo]

Anybody have the packaging size of the LPA-S400ET?
Any trouble with heat? (thinking in the bigger enclosure model)

Thanks.

I've got a LPA case and have had zero heat issues.

 

[mike70]

Dimensions (hors connectiques)19 x 35.9 x 7.8cm

I have two of them in by pass mode as I use them on tri amplified speakers.
I use a few percentage of the power but they don't get warm.
It is more about the idle power anyway.
I would buy this unit again and again without a doubt. What contributes to the dynamics is the very low ground noise.

Ok, but I mean the final box delivered to your house ... to know if I can get it onboard or I need to pay extra baggage in a flight