AUDIOPHONICS MPA-S250NC Amp Review

[testp]

hey, i just got and hooked up audiophonics mpa-s250ncx mp, i opened it up as well, but even before, i noticed that if i attach the power cord, it is making a slight "switching noise" is the best i can think it is, even when hooked up in my system now, it is present. of course this is only at my ear being close to it, or at best like 35cm / 1 feet away, i can hear it. now i'm not complaining or anything just curious, do others hear it too with nc-series in quiet room?

EDIT: my previous class d was with a power supply hidden away somwhere, so didn't noticed this before

 

[Acerun]

hey, i just got and hooked up audiophonics mpa-s250ncx mp, i opened it up as well, but even before, i noticed that if i attach the power cord, it is making a slight "switching noise" is the best i can think it is, even when hooked up in my system now, it is present. of course this is only at my ear being close to it, or at best like 35cm / 1 feet away, i can hear it. now i'm not complaining or anything just curious, do others hear it too with nc-series in quiet room?

EDIT: my previous class d was with a power supply hidden away somwhere, so didn't noticed this before

Yes I had the same issue. Returned it and bought a different brand Purifi amp which has no issues/noise.

 

[testp]

Yes I had the same issue. Returned it and bought a different brand Purifi amp which has no issues/noise.

luckily this isn't an issue for me, but it's good to know, this is generic for these then.

 

[daftcombo]

Same here but if you cover the grills it shouldn't be audible.

 

[testp]

Same here but if you cover the grills it shouldn't be audible.

i do get some heat dissipation from there
another idea would be to add some deafening pads inside, at the bottom sides i guess (always make sure to empty the power reserves from caps before).

i did already add a pot for the front light, that thing was a flashlight.

 

[Nc26]

I ordered the AP300-S250NCX.

AUDIOPHONICS AP300-S250NCX Amplificateur de Puissance NcoreX NCx252MP

Le Audiophonics AP300-S250NCX est un amplificateur stéréo basé sur un module d'amplification Hypex NcoreX NCx252MP. Il est idéal pour disposer d'une réserve de puissance conséquente (2x250W @ 4Ω) sans sacrifier la qualité de restitution sonore.

www.audiophonics.fr

The form factor is a bit nicer, even though the one I tested is also good. It’s a real plus to have the XLR inputs as well.
It seems the NcoreX module performs slightly better, but is that actually audible?
In any case, it’s great to find this kind of price-to-performance ratio without too many compromises, apart from maybe the aesthetics.
For now, it's out of stock at Audiophonics. Just have to be patient—I can't wait!

It will be good to test à NCoreX base amplifier

 

[Nc26]

J'ai reçu le cousin du produit testé : Ap300-s250ncx.

Est-il normal d'entendre un souffle dans les tweeters? Cela s'entend à moins de 10cm.
J'ai débranché la source, le bruit est toujours là. Donc c'est interne à l'amplificateur.

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I received the cousin of the product I tested: the Ap300-s250ncx. Is it normal to hear a hiss in the tweeters? It's audible from less than 10cm away. I unplugged the source, but the noise is still there. So it's internal to the amplifier.

My speakers : Davis Acoustics Ariane 7.

 

[testp]

J'ai reçu le cousin du produit testé : Ap300-s250ncx.

Est-il normal d'entendre un souffle dans les tweeters? Cela s'entend à moins de 10cm.
J'ai débranché la source, le bruit est toujours là. Donc c'est interne à l'amplificateur.

mhmh i hear you, but don't understand you. google translate does help..

what speakers do you have, mine are lower sensibility but no hiss at all. mpa-s252ncx xlr

 

[tokyo_blues]

Hi everyone, would this be a good match for a pair of Wharfedale Super Lintons or KLH Model 5?

My Pre is a Benchmark DAC I with XLR outputs. Main source is a SMSL P200 CD player.

Thanks!

 

[Bryguy]

Hi everyone, would this be a good match for a pair of Wharfedale Super Lintons or KLH Model 5?

My Pre is a Benchmark DAC I with XLR outputs. Main source is a SMSL P200 CD player.

Thanks!

Yes

 

[AudioSceptic]

Yes

Probably more power than the speakers need but that's no bad thing.

 

[jools]

I had the same amp with smaller speakers and put a passive volume control in between the DAC and amp, set to limit the max volume. With that you can't accidentally turn it up too much, it doesn't matter if the DAC suddenly jumps to full volume (Benchmark probably wouldn't ever do anything so badly behaved) and you use a sensible range on the DAC volume control. It will have cost a little bit of SINAD but nothing I could hear.

 

[AudioSceptic]

I had the same amp with smaller speakers and put a passive volume control in between the DAC and amp, set to limit the max volume. With that you can't accidentally turn it up too much, it doesn't matter if the DAC suddenly jumps to full volume (Benchmark probably wouldn't ever do anything so badly behaved) and you use a sensible range on the DAC volume control. It will have cost a little bit of SINAD but nothing I could hear.

I don't see why the Benchmark would need an extra volume control. It's a top brand built to high standards.

 

[tokyo_blues]

Yes

Ok thanks. What's a good quality build with durable connectors etc? I was considering the Audiophonics.fr but someone elsewhere recommended a Dutch build that seems better built..

 

[Ropeburn]

Ok thanks. What's a good quality build with durable connectors etc? I was considering the Audiophonics.fr but someone elsewhere recommended a Dutch build that seems better built..

The Audiophonics ones are solid alu boxes with clean wiring and unusually good binding posts for the price range. Nothing to worry about there, comes down to taste really.

 

[tokyo_blues]

The Audiophonics ones are solid alu boxes with clean wiring and unusually good binding posts for the price range. Nothing to worry about there, comes down to taste really.

Is this the one you mean? There is another one which is shaped more like a traditional amp

EDIT - they're the same thing, only minor differences in available inputs

 

[testp]

Is this the one you mean? There is another one which is shaped more like a traditional amp

EDIT - they're the same thing, only minor differences in available inputs

This is the one i have, i really like the form factor, and quality is top-notch

 

[Bryguy]

Probably more power than the speakers need but that's no bad thing.

Clean power is cheap enough. Better safe than sorry

 

[AudioSceptic]

The Audiophonics ones are solid alu boxes with clean wiring and unusually good binding posts for the price range. Nothing to worry about there, comes down to taste really.

Indeed, more than good enough. Amir said in this review "The enclosure is absolutely adorable! While it is fair bit deep, the other two dimensions are quite small. Combined with the low weight of the unit, you feel like buying a dozen to spread around the house and two to take on the road with you! The power button feels quite nice. The rear terminals exude quality and would rival and beat what you find on many expensive amplifiers:"

 

[Fahzz]

I laughed when I took mine out of the box- it's so light.