Buckeye NC252MP Stereo Amplifier Review

[thegeton]

That doesn't make things any better. 122 W at 4 ohms is not even half the performance that the manufacturer advertises:

View attachment 315609
You recommend products from manufacturers who deceive their customers (to put it mildly). Very questionable. I would think about it.

Peak, not RMS, to respond mildly.

 

[musicforcities]

No, you might just need to consider the NC502MP version of this amplifier from Buckeye, which provides twice the power. Twice the power, of course, means only a 3 dB gain in power output and therefore maximum listening level. I judge the 502 to provide 330 Watts into the 6 ohms at which my Revel F12's are nominally rated, reported at the knee of the distortion graph (meaning--better than 1% distortion--more like a hundredth of that).

It's about $175 more expensive than the amp being tested in this thread. The only reason to purchase it would be in case one wants the additional power to drive inefficient speakers to high listening levels.

But headroom is poorly specified. My former B&K Reference 125.2 amplifier, a class A/B design, is excellent. It's distortion level is higher at rated power (by a factor of about 10--probably not significant), and it lists a "headroom" specification of 1.2 dB, whatever that means. Assuming that means the ability to fill waveforms requiring higher voltage than would be implied by the continuous power rating for some brief period of time, that would mean a "peak" power rating of maybe 180 wpc. I'm assuming that means a power output at something more like 1% (-40 dB) for a brief period. That amp would be distortion-limited, not power-supply limited as is the case for amps powered by regulated switching power supplies. That assumption has never been measured that I've been able to find, so assumption it remains. In any case, the amplifier reviewed in this thread provides more power, and the 502 version much more power, even taking the "continuous" power output with the assumption of no headroom.

Rick "not seeing much that's more powerful at just about any price" Denney

Yea, I know the headroom stats are usually marketing. And yes, 50w is more than enough most or all of the time for many rooms and speakers. I guess I was thinking of larger rooms, nominal 8ohm speakers and older mid priced old A/B like NAD that have quite high peak wattages for short bursts.

Such things seem handy for classical or other music with large dynamic range and smaller speakers of not-high sensitivity. I always figured it’s Better to have the watts on hand for rather than clip for half a second and stress the drivers. Though it’s likely not an issue anyway with the wattage of the soa d-class.

But of course class d is the future.

 

[Head_Unit]

..A lot of amps go into a cabinet or closet, never to be seen again.

Is it true they mate and have offspring with those socks that go missing in the dryer?

 

[musicforcities]

Every time I read a comment about its ugliness or that the top of the case bows up, my heart swells with antiaudiophillic pride.

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I hear you but come on man, a little bit of style is ok. I mean Schiit manages better looking cases that are also very simple to make and inexpensive.

If the wrap around part was silver anodized aluminum, and the front panel kept black but recessed even 1/4 inch more this would not look like an electrical box from Home Depot. Or keep the wrap around part black and make the front silver aluminum…anything.

 

[DonH56]

I prefer basic black. Matches my other amps, and since this one sits on top of the console (no room below), I do not want it standing out.

 

[Descartes]

I hear you but come on man, a little bit of style is ok. I mean Schiit manages better looking cases that are also very simple to make and inexpensive.

If the wrap around part was silver anodized aluminum, and the front panel kept black but recessed even 1/4 inch more this would not look like an electrical box from Home Depot. Or keep the wrap around part black and make the front silver aluminum…anything.

Look at some of the other class D manufacturers their amplifiers look really cool
- Appolon
- Nord Acoustic
- VTV
- Monoprice

 

[Buckeye Amps]

I hear you but come on man, a little bit of style is ok. I mean Schiit manages better looking cases that are also very simple to make and inexpensive.

If the wrap around part was silver anodized aluminum, and the front panel kept black but recessed even 1/4 inch more this would not look like an electrical box from Home Depot. Or keep the wrap around part black and make the front silver aluminum…anything.

I always feel a little bit like an old curmudgeon (get off my lawn) every time I repeat that if looks are that important to a prospective customer then there are other options on the market.

Based on the increase in sales this year compared to last it seems to not matter to my target audience, either.

I don’t say that to sound cocky or dismissive. But cosmetics are clearly only a negative to a small minority since Day 1 and it would be somewhat foolish for me to think I can appease everyone, let alone try.

 

[Deleted member 48726]

I always feel a little bit like an old curmudgeon (get off my lawn) every time I repeat that if looks are that important to a prospective customer then there are other options on the market.

Based on the increase in sales this year compared to last it seems to not matter to my target audience, either.

I don’t say that to sound cocky or dismissive. But cosmetics are clearly only a negative to a small minority since Day 1 and it would be somewhat foolish for me to think I can appease everyone, let alone try.

How would you know what you've missed?

I don't ask that to sound cocky..

 

[Buckeye Amps]

How would you know what you've missed?

I don't ask that to sound cocky..

The increase was substantial enough that I can reasonably infer.

 

[Deleted member 48726]

The increase was substantial enough that I can reasonably infer.

I don't think you can and don't see how you could.
But I can see why you would tell yourself that it doesn't matter.

 

[Power Pop 23]

The increase was substantial enough that I can reasonably infer.

Dylan,

Thank you for selling performant loudspeaker amplifiers at a price I can afford.

 

[Multicore]

I hear you but come on man, a little bit of style is ok. I mean Schiit manages better looking cases that are also very simple to make and inexpensive.

If the wrap around part was silver anodized aluminum, and the front panel kept black but recessed even 1/4 inch more this would not look like an electrical box from Home Depot. Or keep the wrap around part black and make the front silver aluminum…anything.

If you want a Hypex amp in a shiit case, petition shiit to make it.

 

[Multicore]

I don't think you can and don't see how you could.
But I can see why you would tell yourself that it doesn't matter.

I'm confused what you're saying. What is that you think Dylan is telling himself doesn't matter?

 

[Deleted member 48726]

I'm confused what you're saying. What is that you think Dylan is telling himself doesn't matter?

The design, obviously?

 

[Multicore]

The design, obviously?

Not obvious to me. I understood him to say that the case design does matter to his market segment and he's sticking with it.

 

[Ajax]

I don't think you can and don't see how you could.
But I can see why you would tell yourself that it doesn't matter.

You sound like a total tosser.

How about starting up a business - warning it takes courage.

 

[jools]

Some people like a visually attractive design. Some don't care and would rather keep the price down. And some actively prefer a design with no visual impact. It's great that all these are available.

 

[Deleted member 48726]

Not obvious to me. I understood him to say that the case design does matter to his market segment and he's sticking with it.

Given the bland look the amp is critisized for by some, he comments that it doesn't matter as his sales has gone up.

I comment that he couldn't possibly know how it would've been, had it had a different design.

 

[Sokel]

Amp cases are about a couple of things:

- Safety
- Heat dissipation (can easily be calculated)
- EMI/RFI interference protection

Visuals come after all that but a good craftsmanship would dictate small tolerances,possibly adaptation to some universal dimension proportions (like φ),even color,durable connectors bolted ON the (sturdy) case and NOT on the PCB only,etc.

Thing is that we see some very appealing ones around but usually come from far east or are custom made even from stuff which their cost is dirt low,so there are ways.
Logistics are higher of course so one must adapt by the wallet.

(I don't believe for a moment that someone wouldn't choose the nicer case if there was a choise at the same cost).

 

[Power Pop 23]

I am not familiar with calculating heat dissipation. It appears from the interior dimensions at the link below that select models of Buckeye Amps could fit in a McIntosh Labs LB200 'Light Box'

McIntosh LB200

LED-backlit light box for McIntosh audio systems

www.crutchfield.com