AUDIOPHONICS MPA-S250NC Amp Review

[sbronf]

ok thanks I found it. but so the only way to put this amplifier on standby is via the trigger? is the front button on/off? Thank you

 

[Karmacoma]

ok thanks I found it. but so the only way to put this amplifier on standby is via the trigger? is the front button on/off? Thank you

I'm not sure but i believe the trigger and the front button work the same, there's a main O/I switch on the back of the amp.

 

[DrSpan]

If I'm not mistaken, audiophonics is selling a 12V trigger you could use on gear which have none.

Thank you.
I have seen this. It costs 50-60 euros. I have at least 4 maybe even more than that, 12v wallmarts i am not using.
The trigger by Audiophonics
1) does more than i need like for an example has Line In which i am not needing but would be paying for
2) costs quite a chunk compared to spending 2 euros getting a 3.5mm mono cable and using one of my wallmarts.
It is such a simple function after all

 

[Corvuscorone]

Thank you.
I have seen this. It costs 50-60 euros. I have at least 4 maybe even more than that, 12v wallmarts i am not using.
The trigger by Audiophonics
1) does more than i need like for an example has Line In which i am not needing but would be paying for
2) costs quite a chunk compared to spending 2 euros getting a 3.5mm mono cable and using one of my wallmarts.
It is such a simple function after all

You can get 3.5mm (line in) trigger cables from AliExpress under 5 euros. I just ordered short one for using as a trigger.

 

[DrSpan]

You can get 3.5mm (line in) trigger cables from AliExpress under 5 euros. I just ordered short one for using as a trigger.

Before I go into this aftermarket solution I have to be sure that i Know the polarity

 

[Karmacoma]

Thank you.
I have seen this. It costs 50-60 euros. I have at least 4 maybe even more than that, 12v wallmarts i am not using.
The trigger by Audiophonics
1) does more than i need like for an example has Line In which i am not needing but would be paying for
2) costs quite a chunk compared to spending 2 euros getting a 3.5mm mono cable and using one of my wallmarts.
It is such a simple function after all

Audiophonics has all sorts of trigger cables and systems, starting at 1,90€. Just type ''trigger'' in the search bar. You're welcome.

 

[Corvuscorone]

Audiophonics has all sorts of trigger cables and systems, starting at 1,90€. Just type ''trigger'' in the search bar. You're welcome.

But the postage costs are €4.48 in France and €7.22 to Finland, for example. Delivery is of course faster. If you don't want to save a few euros, you should of course prefer a European operator.

 

[Fahzz]

Anybody else have failures with this amp? I had two within 18 months.

 

[Chromatischism]

Going on 4 years now on my amp.

 

[DrSpan]

Audiophonics has all sorts of trigger cables and systems, starting at 1,90€. Just type ''trigger'' in the search bar. You're welcome.

If i am not mistaking a Trigger cable is a simple mono 3.5mm Jack cable.
I have more than one laying around. I don`t want to order another one. Even if i ordered one i would have to know the polarity in order to connect it to one
of my power supplies.
That said, today i found out that polarity of the trigger for this amp should be in the front tip of the 3.5mm jack so basically in other words center pin

 

[Fralle87]

My unit is buzzing from the amp. Not extremely loud but loud enough that I can hear it standing in front of the amp. According to Audiophinics it is the EMI FILTER inside the power supply and is perfectly normal. Do all units sound like this or can you get lucky and find a quiet unit? Is there anything you can do to fix it?

 

[fadetoblackbs]

My unit is buzzing from the amp. Not extremely loud but loud enough that I can hear it standing in front of the amp. According to Audiophinics it is the EMI FILTER inside the power supply and is perfectly normal. Do all units sound like this or can you get lucky and find a quiet unit? Is there anything you can do to fix it?

If your amp and the source device have ground lugs, try connecting both lugs with a cable to prevent a ground loop hum. That helped in my case after the kind hint of a member here.

 

[Fralle87]

Anybody else have failures with this amp? I had two within 18 months.

What kind of failure?

 

[Fralle87]

If your amp and the source device have ground lugs, try connecting both lugs with a cable to prevent a ground loop hum. That helped in my case after the kind hint of a member here.

Hmmm. There is no ground lug on this amp though. The ground lug on the preamp is already connected to my turntables.

 

[Fahzz]

What kind of failure?

Per Audiophonics, after some back and forth:

"We have found the fault on your amplifier, a ceramic capacitor in the Power ON circuit have been remplaced."

They fixed it and sent it back, and the same problem recurred several weeks later. After some more back and forth, I have elected not to waste anymore time on the amplifier. See my posts in this thread for more information:

Opinions / experience with Audiophonics.fr?

My Audiophonics S250NC stopped working properly, still under warranty. I contacted their customer service. At first they doubted that it was an amplifier problem, and asked me to ship it to them in France at my expense. Since I'm in the US, shipping cost would have been a couple of hundred...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Fralle87]

I am sorry to hear that. I recently bought it and my left and right channels where reversed. Audiophinics did not help me at all and actually told me to open it up myself and switch the connectors inside. It is actually going against pretty much every regulation you can go against. I hope my unit will last longer, but I am never doing business with them again.

Posted about this issue here:

AUDIOPHONICS MPA-S250NC left and right channel reversed

So I just got this and to make left and right separation I actually have to put the left hand speakers into the right hand output of the amp. I am guessing this is not normal behavior and that my amp must be faulty right? Already tried another preamp to see if the fault was there but same result.

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Corvuscorone]

My unit is buzzing from the amp. Not extremely loud but loud enough that I can hear it standing in front of the amp. According to Audiophinics it is the EMI FILTER inside the power supply and is perfectly normal. Do all units sound like this or can you get lucky and find a quiet unit? Is there anything you can do to fix it?

I have had this amplifier (rca model) for two years without any problems and I bought it used from a private seller.

 

[Fralle87]

I have had this amplifier (rca model) for two years without any problems and I bought it used from a private seller.

No buzzing sound at all?

 

[Fralle87]

I have had this amplifier (rca model) for two years without any problems and I bought it used from a private seller.

Not even if you put your ear close to the unit?

 

[Karmacoma]

Not even if you put your ear close to the unit?

I'm surprised, mine is dead silent. I got the balanced version if that matters.