Buckeye Nc502mp Review (6 Channel Amplifer)

[RickS]

Rick, isn't the Trinnov a Hypex amp? From their product page:

"Like its big brother the Amplitude8, the Amplitude8m is designed to deliver spectacular performance in a luxury home theater but at a fraction of the price. Using the Hypex N-Core Class D output module, each of the eight channels can deliver up to 300 watts RMS at 4Ω."

Actually, (thought) I used the Amplitude 16 and it is ICEPower. So is Hypex. Thanks for catching my mistake. Fortunately the principle still applies. I had a Class AB amp shown but deleted to keep the post simpler.

P.S. Apologies again as did use the Amplitude 8m.

 

[RickS]

To exemplify that the principle still applies, here is a Class AB amp that Amir tested…

 

[Sokel]

To exemplify that the principle still applies, here is a Class AB amp that Amir tested…

View attachment 411744

It's usually this what the AB is famous about:

(link)
(this one is no cheap of course)

 

[livinon2wheels]

One could make the argument that class AB generates more distortion in the low bass region and class d in the upper frequencies. I am considering that class D has probably matured enough that class AB is likely on its last legs except perhaps for diehard tube enthusiasts. (I wonder if anyone has ever done a class d amp with tubes or if such a thing is even possible?) I bet within a decade there will be very few class AB amps manufactured.

I have a couple of cheap (under a $100) class d amps in service, one is an FX-audio brand that was used by my wife as a keyboard amplifier before the house burned, the keyboard didnt survive but the little amp did. Currently on my desktop connected to my Macbook Air via headphone jack for background music and watching videos. IF pushed it doesnt sound good at all but at lower levels its good enough for that application. Definitely far from hi resolution and most likely pretty high distortion at anything approaching loud levels. Its got a 24 volt supply so I am guessing its likely about 10-15 watts maxed out. Just as an experiment yesterday, I turned it up to the maximum clean level I could get out of it and let it cook for an hour and the case never got above ambient temperature which is probably what I should have expected with such low power capability.

 

[RickS]

It's usually this what the AB is famous about:

View attachment 411747
(link)
(this one is no cheap of course)

Yes, is not cheap but does represent the pinnacle of Class AB and some might infer other Class AB amps are similar. As I mentioned, prefer to stick to individual measures whenever possible. This particular test is fairly recent addition and so Amir’s older reviews do not have it. As more of his Class AB reviews are older, is harder to compare. Getting back to more affordable Class AB amps…

Also want to be careful about chasing numbers as in many cases, the distortion is still quite low in many of these amps. Even the best speakers have much more harmonic distortion across the audio spectrum and also get even uglier when pushed harder.

 

[Sokel]

Yes, is not cheap but does represent the pinnacle of Class AB and some might infer other Class AB amps are similar. As I mentioned, prefer to stick to individual measures whenever possible. This particular test is fairly recent addition and so Amir’s older reviews do not have it. As more of his Class AB reviews are older, is harder to compare. Getting back to more affordable Class AB amps…

View attachment 412309

Also want to be careful about chasing numbers as in many cases, the distortion is still quite low in many of these amps. Even the best speakers have much more harmonic distortion across the audio spectrum and also get even uglier when pushed harder.

Agree about speakers.
AB done right can be really good allover and even affordable if one does not want much power.Look at the SINAD champions for example,both cheap and class AB.

As for the pinnacle of class AB's (for me) is still the Halcro Eclipse which is insane all over but even more expensive (fun fact,it comes from non-audio people,they make the world's best metal detectors,at least prior to this design)

 

[EJ3]

Yes, is not cheap but does represent the pinnacle of Class AB and some might infer other Class AB amps are similar. As I mentioned, prefer to stick to individual measures whenever possible. This particular test is fairly recent addition and so Amir’s older reviews do not have it. As more of his Class AB reviews are older, is harder to compare. Getting back to more affordable Class AB amps…

View attachment 412309

Also want to be careful about chasing numbers as in many cases, the distortion is still quite low in many of these amps. Even the best speakers have much more harmonic distortion across the audio spectrum and also get even uglier when pushed harder.

This may (or may not) be relevant her (but I'm pointing it out in case it might be). I had this issue in an APT/Holman Preamp of mine that Amirm tested. It turned out to be a Volume pot adjustment for both channels to be tracking the same & an unknown to be missing resistor in the circuit for the peaking above 10K.