How Much Improvement by Upgrading Amp?

[Tomino]

Update, for the benefit of anyone who might be considering a similar move. I upgraded with the following:

• A 2-channel, 500W, Hypex nc502mp class D amplifier from Buckeye Amps
• An SMSL dl100 DAC, to accommodate the balanced connectors on the amp
• A NEOHIPO ET30 switcher, to use the same speakers for music and TV, with different amplification

I haven't yet redone my room EQ, but as-is, the difference in bass performance is palpable. At normal listening levels, it now reaches the level where I feel it as well as hear it, but it's still well-controlled. This is easily noticeable on bass-heavy tracks like Billie Eilish's Xanny or Bad Guy, but also on classical tracks, like the recent recording of the Durufle requiem by the choir of Trinity College on Hyperion. The organ really pops.

The impact of reduced distortion/noise is harder for me to gauge. I haven't attempted A/B tests, and may never do so. But for example, I use the "Roxanne Tango" track on Moulin Rouge as a test track for separation of voices. I feel that with the new amp, the chorus that comes in at the crescendo of the song sounds like a chorus, not just an undifferentiated sound. Likewise, symphonic music has better separation and "soundstage."

So I'm very pleased with the upgrade, and very happy with my Buckeye Amp. Listening to "Waiting for Columbus" as I write this. Sounds better than ever.

 

[gchuva]

If you are on a budget, the older Hypex amps are just fine. If you want to brag about having the newest amp, that is something else.

I don't think there is an audible difference between a well build Ncore and a Purify amp in allmost any case.
The Ncore is about as good as an amp can get, significantly better than the older Hypex stuff. When, in maybe a years or so, the next generation Purify amp is anounced, it will get even harder to show any difference. Probaply they will use some newer transistors in the future. Better? No, just new.
The quantum leaps in amp building are a thing of the past. There will be new parts, new ideas etc. but no real audible improvements in the future. Remeber, there are still some A and A/B, even chip-amps, that sound no worse than the best D-amps.
It is just the restless soul of marketing, that, from time to time, some changes (optical?) are made, to make a product look new, "updated" and still SOTA. Even if no objective improvements to it's function are present. The car industry is a nice example for this, you will not find any new automobile that objectively brings you better, cheaper, safer or more environmentally friendly from point A to point B than a car from 2005 did. In fact the opposite may be true.

Back to amps, even one of the mentioned small 50-100$ offers with a TPA3255 should not sound worse in comparison, if you give them a 48V/10A power supply.
The undersized PS is the main problem of your AVR as well, so if you repeat that with a 3255, the result should be identical.

Are you saying that something like a Fosi Audio V3 mono will sound similar to a Purify? I am amp shopping myself and trying to make the right decision. Thanks

 

[Chrispy]

Are you saying that something like a Fosi Audio V3 mono will sound similar to a Purify? I am amp shopping myself and trying to make the right decision. Thanks

Better would be why would the amps sound different.....would comparisons be made within the comfort zone of each or ?

 

[gwing]

Are you saying that something like a Fosi Audio V3 mono will sound similar to a Purify? I am amp shopping myself and trying to make the right decision. Thanks

Both of those amps are hugely better than the human ear so there is zero chance you will be able to distinguish between them *provided* they are set to exactly output sound level and also that you are not driving them beyond their limits. However even the cheaper V3 monos have sufficiently high limits that they will drive any reasonable speaker to any reasonable sound level in any reasonable sized room so , amazingly, all amps of this quality are going to sound the same for most of us - technology really has marched on.

 

[Wolf11Man]

I bought some cheap D-amps and they surprised me by not sounding really good. Instruments where mashed up and there was no sound stage at all. These had OP-amps on sockets. Those where cheap fakes. Replacing them with an origional IC with the same (!) name from a TI supplier, the sound changed to completely, got transparent with nothing to criticize. Don't waste any money on overpriced OP-amps, just get a real 1$ NE5532 and you will be perfectly fine.
If you want to learn about D-amps, just try something like an Aiyyma A07 /A07max. Yours for 50$ someting from AliExpress. If you want to use the full potential, get a 48V 5-10A power supply. To get an idea about it's sound, any laptop supply with at least 18 Volt should do.