AUDIOPHONICS MPA-S250NC Amp Review

[gorman]

Not supplied on purchase in print, nor available as PDF download or whatever.

Yeah, I have the amp in its box. No manual with it.
Well, I guess tomorrow I'll find out. I hopenit behaves in a logical and useful way, turning it both on and off.

 

[Ropeburn]

It does indeed behave logically and in a highly useful and practical way, however that isn't documented anywhere except on the Audiophonics product page for the MPA-S125NC.

That trigger behaviour description is missing from the MPA-S250NC pages, which are the exact same things, just with double the power. As said, Audiophonics really need to improve their information game. A simple 4-page manual could easily solve all this. Infact I'm annoyed at how hard it was to figure this out, just because I wanted to help a complete stranger (you) on the internet. The device itself is fine, and the trigger implementation is very nice and practical, but the documentation really sucks because it barely exists at all.

 

[gorman]

Infact I'm annoyed at how hard it was to figure this out, just because I wanted to help a complete stranger (you) on the internet

Thanks for that. Connected everything today, it works as I hoped, turning on and off with the AVR.

 

[mikro makro]

I made the rookie mistake and bought this amp because the great measuring results and user reviews/comments. I already sold it after a week because i couldn't stand it's harsh, brittle, absolutely cheap, plastic sounding highs and overall lifeless sound. My ears still bleeding. Yes, it's highly recommended if you want your piano sound like a casio preset and prefer your analog synths sound like free vst instruments recorded in 44.1/16bit. Worst amplifier ever. On the pro side: basses were tight as hell, but the rest is a nightmare tbh.

 

[Ropeburn]

I did the rookie mistake and bought this amp because the great measuring results and user reviews/comments. I already sold it after a week because i couldn't stand it's harsh, brittle, absolutely cheap, plastic sounding highs and overall lifeless sound. My ears still bleeding. Yes, it's highly recommended if you want your piano sound like a casio preset and prefer your analog synths sound like free vst instruments recorded in 44.1/16bit. Worst amplifier ever. On the pro side: basses were tight as hell, but the rest is a nightmare tbh.

Great comedy! Thanks, I needed a laugh today.

 

[Karmacoma]

I made the rookie mistake and bought this amp because the great measuring results and user reviews/comments. I already sold it after a week because i couldn't stand it's harsh, brittle, absolutely cheap, plastic sounding highs and overall lifeless sound. My ears still bleeding. Yes, it's highly recommended if you want your piano sound like a casio preset and prefer your analog synths sound like free vst instruments recorded in 44.1/16bit. Worst amplifier ever. On the pro side: basses were tight as hell, but the rest is a nightmare tbh.

I totally agree. Mine made me lose my hairs and made my food taste bad, not to speak of the mould that started appear in my listening room. Contrary to you, I didn't have the heart to sell this scam to another poor soul and spread the curse, I had to sacrifice it, I hanged it in my backyard at full moon.

 

[mikro makro]

Lesson has been learned. Always believe the "haters". One dude told in this thread the amp is not really better than his cheap chinese one from aliexpress. Probably the only valid opinion here. I'm a bit angry for myself because i sold my much better sounding diy a/b amplifier for this one and couldn't get back. Bummer.

 

[Fralle87]

I do not feel as strongly against this as some of you. But I am not close to in love with it either and I am definitely starting to regret selling my way more expensive integrated and jumped aboard on this hype train.

 

[Karmacoma]

I do not feel as strongly against this as some of you. But I am not close to in love with it either and I am definitely starting to regret selling my way more expensive integrated and jumped aboard on this hype train.

In other words, you're pretty neutral.

 

[Fralle87]

In other words, you're pretty neutral.

Haha! Yeah, pretty much.

 

[R.J.]

I made the rookie mistake and bought this amp because the great measuring results and user reviews/comments. I already sold it after a week because i couldn't stand it's harsh, brittle, absolutely cheap, plastic sounding highs and overall lifeless sound. My ears still bleeding. Yes, it's highly recommended if you want your piano sound like a casio preset and prefer your analog synths sound like free vst instruments recorded in 44.1/16bit. Worst amplifier ever. On the pro side: basses were tight as hell, but the rest is a nightmare tbh.

Please could someone delete the above bullshit post?

I am very sorry for saying this, but you are in the wrong forum . This is an AUDIO SCIENCE FORUM, emphasis on SCIENCE, and not the PSEUDO SUBJECTIVE AUDIO LISTENING FORUM.

 

[mikro makro]

A lot of subjective opinions told everywhere in this forum. This is mine and i'm just tryin to save a few people to make mistakes to fall into hypes and purchase amplifiers based purely on measurements or equally subjective, but positive opinions only.

Alright, S.C.I.E.N.C.E /on

 

[Karmacoma]

A lot of subjective opinions told everywhere in this forum. This is mine and i'm just tryin to save a few people to make mistakes to fall into hypes and purchase amplifiers based purely on measurements or equally subjective, but positive opinions only.

Alright, S.C.I.E.N.C.E /on

Once again, I totally agree. We can even have opinions on opinions.

 

[jeffaegrim]

yeah, so let’s remember that all competently designed amplifiers sound the same when driven within their power limits

 

[Foxxy]

yeah, so let’s remember that all competently designed amplifiers sound the same when driven within their power limits

No HiFi amp is deigned with neutral sound, they all have their characteristic.
Ask Bruno Putzey, the founder and lead engineer of Hypex. He said he has a total of 36 different measurments through which he can replicate the sound of every stereo amp ever made. That's a lot of measurements.

That said, what I learned, high end amplification is ruthless. Suddenly none of your speakers flaws is glossed over. And what was smooth is suddenly ultra high res but not as pleasant sounding as before. To which the only answer is better speakers.

 

[mike70]

A lot of subjective opinions told everywhere in this forum. This is mine and i'm just tryin to save a few people to make mistakes to fall into hypes and purchase amplifiers based purely on measurements or equally subjective, but positive opinions only.

Alright, S.C.I.E.N.C.E /on

It's easy, i believe you ... if you made a blind listening with levelled gains.

If not, you can write 10 pages of your subjective impressions ... and I won't believe you. Easy. Simple.

 

[Foxxy]

Is this still recommended with it failing Amir's 2 Ohm Capacitive test?
I have been planning to get it for some time but now I'm weary.

 

[Ropeburn]

Is this still recommended with it failing Amir's 2 Ohm Capacitive test?
I have been planning to get it for some time but now I'm weary.

It's not an issue if your speakers don't drop to 2 Ohm. Mine drop to 3, and I can crank it up to my heart's content without a problem. Serious full party blast with the room shaking.

Amir's test also only showed it goes into protection at 2 Ohm at some point before reaching full power. Which means it's fine up until that (undisclosed) point even at 2 Ohm.

 

[TonyJZX]

Lesson has been learned. Always believe the "haters". One dude told in this thread the amp is not really better than his cheap chinese one from aliexpress.

i think this says more about the state of affairs for class D amps *as a whole* rather than the MPA-S250 being 'exceptional'...

i do not expect an amp cased in a high labor market country to be significantly better than a Fosi V3 or A70 or whatever... they already set such a high bar at such a low cost.

 

[KL....]

Yeah, I just bought it with a trigger cable. But it's the LED once it's on that I hate. I will heavily cover it with Light Dims.

Easyer to place a piece of Painters tape over the LED and the Painters tape does not seem to leave a residue when peeled off.. I do this if I need to, usually blue Painters tape.