Did you audition nc500 vs nc500mp or nc502"

[8T_BoCO]

RE: NC502MP
The Buckeye Audio implementation of the above arrived a few days ago.

So far, it is very transparent into my 4 ohm 90 dB efficient towers, meaning that I can't say it sounds like anything, which is great.
No glare or harshness in mids or highs, though it doesn't quite have the lowest octave slam of my other class D: ICEpower (ICEedge) 1200AS2 (2x700w @ 4ohm), but it costs 33% less. One would have to own very challenging speakers to run out of power with the hypex.
And it's dead quiet in the same system the ICEedge generated a tiny amount of noise in, so I'll call that simply a better power supply implementation.

 

[mdunjic]

Hi

Just to clarify the 2 different Hypex products.

The NC500 module is a mono single channel power amplifier only. It requires the addition of an audio input buffer amplifier and power supply by the manufacturer. Performance can vary dependant on the quality of these two additional items.

The NC502MP module is an integrated 2 channel unit that has built in power supply and input buffers. There are no 500mp or 500nc modules, they are the same thing, the NC502MP. Im afraid your CPU analogy is not the case The NC500 and NC502MP are simply different products aimed at different markets.

Both the NC500 and NC502MP are based on the same fundamental ncore technology. The NC500, if implemented properly, should technically outperform the NC502MP. What difference you will hear, if any, is impossible to say. Too many variables involved.

There is also NC500MP mono version. I have 2 monoblock amplifiers from Audiophonics, based on NC500MP => https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...ifier-class-d-ncore-1x500w-4-ohm-p-14319.html

I was Quad Hi-Fi "current dumping" amplification design lover for the last 30 years ... still love amazing midrange sound of those amps. However, although very sceptical about class D, mainly based on Amir's reviews of the modern Hypex and Purify class D designs, I got intrigued and decided to try it and switch to cool running fairly cheap (400 EUR per piece) Hypex based Audiophonics monoblocks. All I can say is that these little monoblock puppies definitely deliver the goods to my ears, beyond my every expectation ! So effortless !

They even measure better than my Quad 909, although having same rated power per channel
Hypex NC500MP (mono)
1x 135W @ 8Ω 10Hz-20kHz THD = 0.006%
1x 250W @ 4Ω 10Hz-20kHz THD = 0.006%

Quad 909 (stereo)
2x 135W @ 8Ω 10Hz-20kHz THD = 0.01%
2x 250W @ 4Ω 10Hz-20kHz THD = 0.01%

I do believe that with great DAC (like SMSL SU-9n) and fully transparent pre-amp (like Benchmark LA4) that I am using in my rig, there should be no noticeable listenable difference between any amps based either on NC500OEM, NC500MP or NC502MP or even Quad 909 for that matter. Yes OEM measures slightly better and can be further tweaked, compared to fully integrated "MP" Hypex modules ... but at this level of ruler flat linearity and measured ultra low THD across normal audio spectrum, in all of them, differences should not be noticeable while listening. Power amps based on any of these Hypex modules are going to be fully linear 20Hz - 20KHz, with amazingly low distortion at normal listening levels and your room and speakers are probably going to add 1000x more distortion than any of these electronics in the chain. So whether you use any Hypex or Purify modules, as long as you have enough power for driving your speakers, it really shouldn't matter much in real life usage, except on Amir's bench.

Just my two cents.

 

[mdunjic]

I think he also meant NC500MP, the single channel module that includes buffer and power supply.

Answering the initial question, I don't know as I have not heard them side by side yet. But NC500OEM may be the most different one as it may use different buffer opamps and regulators from various manufacturers. Also NC500OEM is more powerful with 700W in 4 ohms.

NC500MP datasheet shows similar power levels as the stereo version NC502MP module, but the latter power x THD looks cleaner, so I would not bother with the monos.

Having said that, I have an NC500OEM based amp in my first system and have an NC502MP based amp in my second system.

I have combo of Audiophonics nc502mp based stereo power amp + 2 x Audiophonics nc500mp based mono blocks … for bi-amping my floor-standing speakers … nc502mp and nc500mp are absolutely compatible in terms of input sensitivity and overal gain and can easily and nicely be combined either in biamping 2ch system (to gain additional headroom and avoid clipping) or even better in multi-ch home theatre installations

 

[Matias]

I have combo of Audiophonics nc502mp based stereo power amp + 2 x Audiophonics nc500mp based mono blocks … for bi-amping my floor-standing speakers … nc502mp and nc500mp are absolutely compatible in terms of input sensitivity and overal gain and can easily and nicely be combined either in biamping 2ch system (to gain headroom and avoid clipping) or in multi-ch home theatre installations

Did you notice any difference between monos and stereo when using NC502MP versus 2 x NC500MP in your system? Meaning the crosstalk, that is, stereo separation / soundstage width?

 

[mdunjic]

NC500OEM
View attachment 76781

NC502MP
View attachment 76782

Both in 4 ohms.

NC500OEM starts on the left with a lower noise floor, and even when the distortion peaks at 20W, it is still at 0.001%, lower than the NC502MP at 20W. The "knee" before clipping is at about 500W for NC500OEM and 400W for NC502MP, both around 0.002-0.003%.

So overall NC500OEM has lower noise floor, lower distortion and higher power.

Exactly, however, imo, those bench measurement differences may not be audible in real life

 

[mdunjic]

Did you notice any difference between monos and stereo when using NC502MP versus 2 x NC500MP in your system? Meaning the crosstalk, that is, stereo separation / soundstage width?

Yep, I tried them separately and tbh didn’t notice any significant audible difference in any config, at least in my room and to my ears. Also compared each with my old Quad 909 feed-forward class A+AB power amp … no noticeable difference either. Just lot cooler running.

These Hypex based power amps are so affordable that I purchased them both and played to compare (for a total of max 1800$, including Canadian import duty tax/fee). Good fun … in the end I decided to keep and use them all for biamping my speakers lol … nc500mp based monos driving bass drivers and nc502mp based stereo driving midrange + tweeters … plenty of available clean power for each channel, and so effortless and relaxed … I don’t even think about clipping anymore lol