boXem A 4216/E2 Stereo Amplifier Review

[Rja4000]

Thanks for this review !
Always nice to see an excellent (and powerful) amplifier measured.

In Europe, you have to add VAT to the price, so rather around 1400€...

Excellent value for the price, anyway.

 

[Billy Budapest]

I would rather own Boxem amp than Buckeye after owning both.
Wasn't trying to say don't buy Boxem. Just trying to understand if tariffs would kick in. And how much?

Don’t forget having to pay customs duties as well. At least VAT won’t be charged for U.S. buyers.

 

[RogerSmith]

Amazing measurements, there are many highly priced so called 'high-end' DACs around that measure worse in THD and other specs than this amp.

 

[capslock]

While those results are perfectly fine and the measured distortion should be totally inaudible, I am a bit amazed to see -119 dB HD3. Weren't the new modules supposed to be a step up from the already excellent 1ET400A? Can this be an implementation issue, such as a binding post or a cable running too close to something?

In fact, the original 1ET400 was nearly 10 dB lower in HD3 and in general sported fewer peaks, especially below 1 kHz. Yes, the newer amp has a lower noise level, but many of those peaks would have pushed through the higher noise floor of the old unit:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?attachments/purifi-1et400a-class-d-amplifier-module-audio-measurements-png.28852/

 

[Marc v E]

This is a superbly engineered product.
Well done @boXem

@amirm there is one graph that puzzles me. Why is the crosstalk suddenly lower a high frequencies ?

 

[amirm]

@amirm there is one graph that puzzles me. Why is the crosstalk suddenly lower a high frequencies ?

It is the other way around. It gets worse as frequencies go down (a bit) indicating another method of coupling (likely inductive). It could be a complex mechanism such as cross coupling through power supply.

 

[amirm]

While those results are perfectly fine and the measured distortion should be totally inaudible, I am a bit amazed to see -119 dB HD3.

HD3 is aggravated by any cabling issues. I tightened all my connections but it still may have contributed some to this. At 8 ohm (not shown) it was much lower indicating such.

 

[Ajax]

I would rather own Boxem amp than Buckeye after owning both.
Wasn't trying to say don't buy Boxem. Just trying to understand if tariffs would kick in. And how much?

Interesting statement, why the preference for Boxem?

Reason I am asking is that until very recently I owned a Buckeye 252MP, and was very impressed with it's performance when using it with a Benchmark DAC2 as a pre amp, until it was taken out by a lighning strike. I am about to pull the trigger on a Buckeye Hypex NCx500 stereo, which will be out of sight so I don't need the up-market case. I also like the extra power of the NCx500 vs the Purifi, however, both amps exhibit SOTA performance for a very reasonable price, especially when compared to what is promoted by the HIFI magazine lobby.

I think we can all agree that we have reach the same stage with Amps as with DACs, i.e. their measured (objective) performace is no longer a concern and we are now back to features and personal (subjective) preferences. We've gone full circle .

 

[capslock]

HD3 is aggravated by any cabling issues. I tightened all my connections but it still may have contributed some to this. At 8 ohm (not shown) it was much lower indicating such.

Yes, maybe that is the problem. Pity we don't have any IMD plots on the original Purifi revew to compare. I just came across this graph of harmonics in the old review:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?attachments/purifi-1et400a-class-d-amplifier-module-thd-audio-measurements-png.28859/

It places HD3 for 4 R %W at -120 dB which is not what the FFT spectra show.

Another question: the current review has the noise floor creeping up from -150 dB at 500 Hz to -142 dB at 20 Hz while the older review is pretty flat (-142 to -140 db). This is even more pronounced in the 3e A5 review, where it goes from -143 dB at 500 to -130 dB at 20.

Is this in the DUTs or due to analyzer settings?

 

[amirm]

Is this in the DUTs or due to analyzer settings?

The settings are always the same. These amps have different buffers I think so that likely contributes that noise differential. There is sometimes ground loops that interact with the analyzer but I don't think that is the cause.

As a practical matter, it is hard to go down to this level of accuracy in analyzing such high power devices.

 

[Sokel]

It seems that the standard 5W THD+N at 1kHz doesn't do justice to this amp as it gets better and better when asked for serious power.
Amazing FTC-like results too along with very good results when asked to drive difficult loads, it probably puts it in the big-boi tier.

That absolutely does it.

Thanks Amir!

 

[JeremyFife]

Looks like a very good implementation of a very good amp: "proper".

Thanks Amirm, and boXem

 

[Deleted member 88178]

@amirm Apologies if this question is dumb, but I am really curious: Is the soccer panther below, equal or above the golf panther in the ASR rating scale?

 

[MCH]

@amirm Apologies if this question is dumb, but I am really curious: Is the soccer panther below, equal or above the golf panther in the ASR rating scale?

I believe it is the european version.

Congrats @boXem looking forward to having an excuse to buy one!

 

[Mike_Trueman]

I like this Brand very much. Maybe i will add a this power amp later to my NAD.

I live in belgium which is close to Luxembourg.

Designed and proudly built in Luxembourg
The boXem A 4216/E2 was designed and is assembled at Schifflange, Luxembourg, at the heart of Europe.

 

[StuartC]

If I didn't have active speakers, I would be buying this.

 

[MCH]

I like this Brand very much. Maybe i will add a this power amp later to my NAD.

I live in belgium which is close to Luxembourg.

Designed and proudly built in Luxembourg
The boXem A 4216/E2 was designed and is assembled at Schifflange, Luxembourg, at the heart of Europe.
View attachment 468793
View attachment 468792

those internals dont match Amir's pictures, do they?

 

[Sokel]

those internals dont match Amir's pictures, do they?

I believe it's mounted upside-down.

 

[Mike_Trueman]

Maybe the connections layout changed. It is a picture from their website.

 

[MCH]

Maybe the connections layout changed. It is a picture from their website.

seems just a different speaker connectors option