Buckeye Amps: Hypex NCx500 Official Thread

[LSUGopher]

As @MicroAudio posted, even if you left the 3ch NCx500 in idle indefinitely, it does not get that hot. In fact when I tested one of the rack builds in my own setup, the AC Infinity Aircom would never come on while sitting idle, even though the thermal probe was placed right next to the SMPS and the temp for triggering on was set to 84F.

That is great news. Mine will be on 12V trigger so it won't be idling all the time, so it may run even cooler than what you saw. Thanks for the additional information.

I have the NCX500 3 channels amplifier running for over 3 months by now, 24/7.

It never became hot to the level that makes it hot to touch.

Can post some thermal images if needed.

Thanks

If you can post thermal images that would be a great data point to have in this thread for all potential owners.

 

[MicroAudio]

That is great news. Mine will be on 12V trigger so it won't be idling all the time, so it may run even cooler than what you saw. Thanks for the additional information.



If you can post thermal images that would be a great data point to have in this thread for all potential owners.

I will get some thermal images soon for the entire amplifier from the outside.

Thanks.

 

[MicroAudio]

Buckeye NCX500 3 channels amplifier in idle running 24/7

 

[LSUGopher]

Buckeye NCX500 3 channels amplifier in idle running 24/7

View attachment 364205

Thanks for the excellent picture. I appreciate the spot temps and the temperature legend. The front panel seems to be ~15 Deg C warmer than ambient, with the top around ~10 Deg C warmer than ambient.

 

[scotchrocks]

I've had my 3 channel NCx500 installed for a few weeks now, and it has been excellent so far. I've always had issues with clarity and harshness at higher volumes when I ran my KEF R700/R600 LCR setup through my AVR's amps (Marantz SR7012). The theater seating position is pretty far back (13-14 ft or so), so I don't think the AVR had the juice to keep up with the lower impedance and sensitivity of the speakers.

With the NCx500 powering them, I can keep pushing the volume and the speakers don't seem to struggle. Even when audio levels are set higher than before, I have much less listening fatigue, probably due to less distortion. Things just sound far cleaner, particularly in the treble and upper midrange compared to the SR7012. The sound improvement over the AVR is significant enough that I'm delaying my original plans to upgrade the LCR to KEF R11/R6 Meta. I even ended up getting an NC502MP for the Atmos speakers and surrounds as well. This is definitely overkill, but it'll give me flexibility when I upgrade the AVR and speakers.

Other than the sound, the build quality is great, and I don't mind the simplicity of the case design. Heat hasn't been an issue, as it does get a bit warm but not hot when passively cooled. Regardless, I added a near-silent Noctua fan blowing on it, and with active cooling, it feels barely warm. Overall, I don't think I'll need to buy another amp for my theater setup again.

 

[Chesapeake HT]

@Buckeye Amps , any updates on one of your 3-channel NCx500 amps with the MA supply being tested by @amirm ?

 

[Buckeye Amps]

@Buckeye Amps , any updates on one of your 3-channel NCx500 amps with the MA supply being tested by @amirm ?

Once I have unspoken for inventory of the SMPS on hand (all pending orders filled) I'll work on getting one to Amir.

 

[gby]

It will be, yes. But no timeframe/ETA. It is part of something that will be tested and implemented as we slowly work on incorporating Micro Audio SMPS' to more of our products in place of many of the Hypex SMPS' options.

Hi Dylan, any update on updating the Hypex NCx500 triple amplifiers to properly implement standby mode and lower standby current?

 

[Buckeye Amps]

Hi Dylan, any update on updating the Hypex NCx500 triple amplifiers to properly implement standby mode and lower standby current?

Once I have the next batch of SMPS' in hand in a few weeks I'll have an update.

 

[Buckeye Amps]

With the new standby firmware for the Micro Audio SMPS, standby wattage is 0.5W

 

[dfiler]

That's great news. Efficiency with minimal heat generation is what I like most about these amps. I spent all my money on the theater and still don't have air conditioning.

My backorder can gladly wait if it means getting the new firmware.

 

[gby]

Yes, it is good to hear that plans to solve the standby power are working out. 0.5W counts as low enough to ignore.

Any thoughts on when/how current owners can do an update?

 

[Buckeye Amps]

Yes, it is good to hear that plans to solve the standby power are working out. 0.5W counts as low enough to ignore.

Any thoughts on when/how current owners can do an update?

They would need to be shipped back for the firmware update

 

[dfiler]

I received one of the new batches of the three channel ncx. It’s a box that amplifies as it should so not much to comment on there.

What did surprise me is the amount of light within the case. It looks kinda cool, illuminating and allowing you to see the interior if viewed from above.

The light isn’t directly visible when viewed straight-on from the couch. In completely dark scenes it cast very faint lines through the ventilation slits upward onto the ceiling. They aren’t visible when looking at the screen and I only notice if shifting gaze to the ceiling. I’ve since moved the case into my media stand and no light is visible through the slotted doors of the stand.

Strangely, to me this is a feature. The amp is stealth but if someone wants to check it out, opening the stand’s door and looking at it from above provides something interesting to look at. You can see the illuminated internals through the ventilation slits.

I unequivocally recommend this amp to anyone wanting significant power with no audible distortion!

 

[Buckeye Amps]

I cannot take credit for the lights. That is part of the design of the Hypex NCx500 module.

 

[Descartes]

I received one of the new batches of the three channel ncx. It’s a box that amplifies as it should so not much to comment on there.

What did surprise me is the amount of light within the case. It looks kinda cool, illuminating and allowing you to see the interior if viewed from above.

The light isn’t directly visible when viewed straight-on from the couch. In completely dark scenes it cast very faint lines through the ventilation slits upward onto the ceiling. They aren’t visible when looking at the screen and I only notice if shifting gaze to the ceiling. I’ve since moved the case into my media stand and no light is visible through the slotted doors of the stand.

Strangely, to me this is a feature. The amp is stealth but if someone wants to check it out, opening the stand’s door and looking at it from above provides something interesting to look at. You can see the illuminated internals through the ventilation slits.

I unequivocally recommend this amp to anyone wanting significant power with no audible distortion!

Pictures please

 

[Julf]

I cannot take credit for the lights. That is part of the design of the Hypex NCx500 module.

As far as I understand, it uses several LEDs as pretty stable voltage drops.

 

[RickS]

Pictures please

See here…

Hypex NCx500 Class D Amplifier Review

Seriously, those 'preamps' are hardly anything more than obscure products. Their sales would be insignificant and their installed base, even less significant. They are not, nor ever will be mainstream HiFi preamplifiers. Probably sold 10 thousand between all of them. Let's get real. The...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[dfiler]

Pictures please

The photos don’t show but you can see the internals if viewed from above. In the second photo, the amp is in the middle of the media stand. There is no sign of the internal lights from outside the stand. The blue light on the right of the stand is a status led on another amp.

 

[airs]

Just ordered a 3 channel ncx500 from Dylan - can’t wait to get it! Planning to use it for LCR (F208s + c426be) and move my nc400 diy monoblocks to rear channel duty. In the meantime I’m trying to learn about using A1 Evo to calibrate my x4800h as I would rather not spend the $700 on Dirac!