Currently using a Ice power 1200as2 amp. might try a Nord One nc500 amp. is that step back?

[gentlejax]

I have a mike menerva 1200as2 ice power amp , 600 x 2 I believe. I wasnt that pleased with the power output until I realized my Wiim Ultra wasnt giving it enough juice. so I got a beehringer DI box and upped the voltage to the amp and now its plenty strong as i expected.

but a local audio guy offered to sell me a Nord One dual mono hypex amp. I know its older chip modules but wondered if sound would be any improvement. I always liked the looks of the Nord but as it is I hardly use my systsem even though I just bought some older Polk LSiM 707 monster towers.

should I pass on the NORD?

 

[DWPress]

I have a 120AS2 and feed it a slightly higher voltage as well to give full power but only use it for my woofers. There won't be any audible difference between the two amps but if there are other features the Hypex amp has it might be worth exploring beyond the dual mono - Icepower has good crosstalk measurements though.

 

[gentlejax]

im hoping some with the nc500 amp would chime in. I built a couple hypex amps but cant recall which module they were.

figure someone would have oppinion on wether the hypex or ice had better sound in the full range. I need to look for reviews.

 

[DVDdoug]

You need to know/compare the gain or sensitivity of the amplifiers. That is, how much input voltage it needs for full-power. If there's not enough gain, or you don't feed it a high enough signal you won't get full power.

Amir's review shows 2V RMS out of the Wiim Ultra... I'm not sure if he's showing the maximum befire clipping, or if that's just his reference level. That's above both consumer and pro line level so most amplifiers should work with it.

Consumer equipment isn't calibrated so it's a rather "loose standard", and there is often a volume control and there are quiet songs and loud songs, etc., but most line-outputs have enough signal and most line-inputs have enough gain that everything usually works together. Sometimes pro amplifiers (usually with balanced XLR inputs) are expecting a hotter "pro" signal and you can't get full power when connected to a consumer device.[/b]

 

[gentlejax]

You need to know/compare the gain or sensitivity of the amplifiers. That is, how much input voltage it needs for full-power. If there's not enough gain, or you don't feed it a high enough signal you won't get full power.

Amir's review shows 2V RMS out of the Wiim Ultra... I'm not sure if he's showing the maximum befire clipping, or if that's just his reference level. That's above both consumer and pro line level so most amplifiers should work with it.

Consumer equipment isn't calibrated so it's a rather "loose standard", and there is often a volume control and there are quiet songs and loud songs, etc., but most line-outputs have enough signal and most line-inputs have enough gain that everything usually works together. Sometimes pro amplifiers (usually with balanced XLR inputs) are expecting a hotter "pro" signal and you can't get full power when connected to a consumer device.[/b]

not sure why you replied with all that but it might help someone else.

already read where another member had same issue as me with the Wiim and a 1200AS2 amp. so I did the same thing he did and solved that issue. not relevant to the question of buying the Nord. except the added piece may or may not be needed. I dont know the voltage requirement of the nc500. but that was not the reason for considering buying the Nord.

I considered it because it was fairly cheap offer for the Nord One which I know was around $1K when released.

 

[DWPress]

@DVDdoug the A1200AS2 has 25.6dB of voltage gain but it needs more than 2V (or even 4) to achieve full output power. There's a thread here on ASR regarding this quirk with the amp. Most of the Hypex amps are around 25dB gain so probably not much difference there but the Hypex requires typical input voltage for full signal.

 

[gentlejax]

@DVDdoug the A1200AS2 has 25.6dB of voltage gain but it needs more than 2V (or even 4) to achieve full output power. There's a thread here on ASR regarding this quirk with the amp. Most of the Hypex amps are around 25dB gain so probably not much difference there but the Hypex requires typical input voltage for full signal.

im probably not going to get the Nord unless I find a person who wants the Minerva Purepower 1200as2. fairly similar in power. ive resolved the gain issue so really no benefit and I can only run one or the other so money better not wasted .