Hypex DIY Preamplifier Kit Review

[Reddoc]

€770 for the add-on board is a tough sell in today's market, where one can buy for example a WiiM Ultra twice and still have money left.

I really enjoy the Nilai power amps so i am interested in this one- is it for sale anywhere?
Where are you getting the details?
EDIT: Sorry, thanks. just found it at DIYClassD- must be new

 

[restorer-john]

€770 for the add-on board is a tough sell in today's market, where one can buy for example a WiiM Ultra twice and still have money left.

Got to agree with you. Hypex is taking the piss surely? I think they are in dreamland if they truly believe that will sell.

 

[G.T.]

It looks to me that Hypex is using these DIY platforms for testing/feedback their flagship products. DIY community is most capable for such tasks, plus these may serve as non-traditional advertisement etc, IF they are really good. If this is the case, such DIY products are win-win for the community. What do you think?

 

[Sokel]

€770 for the add-on board is a tough sell in today's market, where one can buy for example a WiiM Ultra twice and still have money left.

That's one way to see it,one the other hand the full built (with DAC,etc) can also be compared with higher quality full size stuff,like Denafrips Athena,etc.
(I would still go for the Athena + DAC though,I'm a sucker for nice PCBs)

 

[huba]

Hi @amirm

Have you considered a follow up test with the available DIY PreDIGin add-on? https://www.diyclassd.com/products/diy-components/accessories/diy-predigin-add-on

If I understand the description correctly, the DSP functionality is limited to a fusion amp setup. With an asking price of € 770, this package doesn't show an obvious added value if you don't have a fusion amp setup.

 

[d3de]

hello, looking for one preamplifier kit
contact me

 

[alexis]

Has anyone tried to connect a Raspberry Pi inside?

 

[d3de]

Bad New, it's a DIY preamplifier but can't do anything on the board, the microfit output aren't usable, and input too. I was chatting with Hypex technical service, but hard to find a solution.

 

[restorer-john]

Hi @amirm

Have you considered a follow up test with the available DIY PreDIGin add-on? https://www.diyclassd.com/products/diy-components/accessories/diy-predigin-add-on

If I understand the description correctly, the DSP functionality is limited to a fusion amp setup. With an asking price of € 770, this package doesn't show an obvious added value if you don't have a fusion amp setup.

Their specs are dodgy.

14dBu is not 4.1Vrms. It's 3.88V RMS
4.1V RMS is 14.5dbu.

 

[JSmith]

4.1V RMS is 14.5dbu.

Not to be too picky, but 14.47dBu, if we're sticking with 2 decimal places.


JSmith

 

[Shanghai2004]

Has anyone tried to connect a Raspberry Pi inside?

Yes, works fine. Used RPI 4 board. Of course WiFi is no go inside metal case, but Ethernet cable works as expected. Not sure about the maximum power available to the Pi, tried a RPI 5 with M2 HAT, 1TB M2 disk and had some instability. Possibly that combo draws too much power.

 

[alexis]

Yes, works fine. Used RPI 4 board. Of course WiFi is no go inside metal case, but Ethernet cable works as expected. Not sure about the maximum power available to the Pi, tried a RPI 5 with M2 HAT, 1TB M2 disk and had some instability. Possibly that combo draws too much power.

What did you install on the RPI 4 board?

 

[Shanghai2004]

What did you install on the RPI 4 board?

Moode + external USB 500GB SSD

 

[alexis]

Moode + external USB 500GB SSD

Could you share what external USB 500GB SSD you installed? Thinking to do the same thing with RPI4 + an external USB 500G SSD. Is 500G the limit or power limitation?

 

[Shanghai2004]

Could you share what external USB 500GB SSD you installed? Thinking to do the same thing with RPI4 + an external USB 500G SSD. Is 500G the limit or power limitation?

SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 500GB, USB 3. Not sure if any higher capacity would work, but is likely to work as external SSD's are designed to stay within the USB 3.x power limit.

 

[hancor]

Raspberry Pi 5B v1.1 with M.2 NVMe Hat, Corsair PCIe Gen4 x 4 MP600 2TB M.2 SSD, currently test driving GentooPlayer mounted in the Hypex DIY Class D Preamplifier.
Has the DIY PreDIGin-addon card and matched up with two DIY Class D 500 W mono amplifiers. The stand offs for the Raspberry Pi and M.2 Pi Hat

just allow the lid to close with 3mm from the screws to spare. I can't close the lid right now as I'm waiting on the 90 degree connectors, but the Pi boots up and is discoverable on the network. Mono amps power on after preamplifier delay. It was relatively easy to load the firmware program for the preamplifier via the USB b connector and laptop, requiring only a reboot to activate the new firmware. The only thing I forgot to order was the US power plugs which come separately.

You don't need a math/physics degree to put this together, but I have one anyway. I felt like I was back in the digital lab of my youth way back in 1986. I'm 65 now so sometimes you need to keep busy and creative! Ha, ha, perhaps a 1000W will help with my declining hearing!! Well maybe its only selective spousal hearing when I ignored her budget requests and approval. A man's gotta have hobbies!

Cheers

Hans

 

[adryan]

Nice setup. Just wondering if you will experience boot problems because of low voltage

 

[EJ3]

Raspberry Pi 5B v1.1 with M.2 NVMe Hat, Corsair PCIe Gen4 x 4 MP600 2TB M.2 SSD, currently test driving GentooPlayer mounted in the Hypex DIY Class D Preamplifier.
Has the DIY PreDIGin-addon card and matched up with two DIY Class D 500 W mono amplifiers. The stand offs for the Raspberry Pi and M.2 Pi Hat View attachment 423899just allow the lid to close with 3mm from the screws to spare. I can't close the lid right now as I'm waiting on the 90 degree connectors, but the Pi boots up and is discoverable on the network. Mono amps power on after preamplifier delay. It was relatively easy to load the firmware program for the preamplifier via the USB b connector and laptop, requiring only a reboot to activate the new firmware. The only thing I forgot to order was the US power plugs which come separately.

You don't need a math/physics degree to put this together, but I have one anyway. I felt like I was back in the digital lab of my youth way back in 1986. I'm 65 now so sometimes you need to keep busy and creative! Ha, ha, perhaps a 1000W will help with my declining hearing!! Well maybe its only selective spousal hearing when I ignored her budget requests and approval. A man's gotta have hobbies!

Cheers

Hans

Selective hearing is how we are protected from the female of our species that babble on about things which are irrelevant to us unless they are yelling about it as we get older and don't want to be bothered all the time.

 

[hancor]

Selective hearing is how we are protected from the female of our species that babble on about things which are irrelevant to us unless they are yelling about it as we get older and don't want to be bothered all the time.

Of course Shakespeare noted in the 12th Night: If music be the food of love, then play on!

The 90 degree cables came so I'll post a few pics later, after my walk around the pond with the wife!

Below powered up with the lid off, and 90 degree connectors for the RJ45 Cat 8 cable (both ends), USB C to USB C only one 90 degree connector required.

Current temperature at idle now for about an hour 54C which is putatively optimal for the A76 Arm core CPU.

Above you can see why 90 degree connectors are required for the RJ45 Cat8 cable connector and the USB C connector in the pic above.

Hypex DIY Class D mono amplifiers powered up as advertised with Hypex DIY Class D Pre-Amplifier. I'll take the units upstairs in the living room later after I reorganize the 6 drawers full of CDs we had collected over the years.

Back in 1986, newly married I came back from the audio store with $450 worth of CDs, while still at university, but neglected to tell my wife. Eventually she found the bill, found out I had blown the food budget on CDs and exclaimed "What are we going to do, EAT CDs on rye bread!?!" And here we are 38 years later and still together!
God and music are pretty good relationship glue!

 

[hancor]

Nice setup. Just wondering if you will experience boot problems because of low voltage

Used the following cables and connectors for the Raspberry Pi 5B v1.1; so sticking with reasonably priced quality cables should keep you out of power troubles.
And of course the electronics caveat for all the DIY fans: Nicht mit de fingers gepoken in das blinken lights, ven ze power is on!

Amazon Basics USB-A to Mini USB 2.0 Fast Charging Cable, 480Mbps Transfer Speed with Gold-Plated Plugs, 3 Foot, Black $9.89 Cdn
Silkland USB C to USB C Cable 60W 3 Pack [6.6ft+3.3ft+1.6ft], PD QC 3.0, Type C Fast Charger USBC Cord Compatible for iPhone 16, Samsung S24/S23 Ultra, iPad Pro Air Mini, MacBook, Pixel $14.99 Cdn
3 of: TNP 3.5mm Mono Cable (3FT) - 12V Trigger, IR Infrared Sensor Receiver Extension Extender, 3.5mm 1/8" TS Monaural Mini Mono Audio Plug Jack Connector Male to Male Cable Wire Cord $13.99 Cdn
SinLoon 90 Degree Upward Angle Cat8 Ethernet Cable, High Speed 40Gbps 2000Mhz Network Cord, with Gold Plated Plug SFTP Wires CAT8 RJ45 Connector Gaming LAN Cable,for PC, Router 0.5M (Up to Up) $12.99 Cdn
Cable Matters Combo-Pack 40Gbps Right Angle USB C Adapter Kit with 240W PD (90 Degree USB C Adapter) in Black - Thunderbolt 4, USB4, Thunderbolt 3 Port Compatible with iPhone 15, 15 Pro Max, 15 Plus $11.99 Cdn

Cheers
Hans