Hypex nCore vs Class A amps

[Julf]

Since many posts before and after mine describe audible differences between amplifiers without refering to blind tests or measurements, there is no basis to describe this forum, or at least this discussion, as science-based.

6-year-old on playgound: "but... the others did it too!!"

 

[tmtomh]

Since many posts before and after mine describe audible differences between amplifiers without refering to blind tests or measurements, there is no basis to describe this forum, or at least this discussion, as science-based.

Seems to me where I've stumbled into is the usual cracker-barrel, where a couple of anal-retentive sociopaths with sometimes up to dozens of posts per day control the popular opinion, determine the spectrum of the discussion, and will try to prevent anything that doesn't conform to their pre-determined conclusion - which by the way always mirrors the consensus of the various specialist publications, or whatever supposedly scientific circle they follow.
All that of course aided by a like/dislike - circle-jerk system.

Since these cracker-barrels are always the same, and only the fassade changes, I am not at all surprised by the response.

Wow, only 2 comments at this forum and you're already calling people "anal-retentive sociopaths"?

 

[Liberal Democracy]

Since many posts before and after mine describe audible differences between amplifiers without refering to blind tests or measurements, there is no basis to describe this forum, or at least this discussion, as science-based.

Seems to me where I've stumbled into is the usual cracker-barrel, where a couple of anal-retentive sociopaths with sometimes up to dozens of posts per day control the popular opinion, determine the spectrum of the discussion, and will try to prevent anything that doesn't conform to their pre-determined conclusion - which by the way always mirrors the consensus of the various specialist publications, or whatever supposedly scientific circle they follow.
All that of course aided by a like/dislike - circle-jerk system.

Since these cracker-barrels are always the same, and only the fassade changes, I am not at all surprised by the response.

Your free to leave , no point wasting your time and ours .

Thanks for your insights all the same .

 

[scott wurcer]

Wow, only 2 comments at this forum and you're already calling people "anal-retentive sociopaths"?

Looks like a pre-determined conclusion to me.

 

[CDMC]

But... why?

Because it floats their boat, just like measurements floats ours.

 

[Julf]

Because it floats their boat, just like measurements floats ours.

Fair enough.

 

[meinhard57]

Clearly false. I have enjoyed (and suffered from) many, many single power tube amps, and I very much prefer my class D amps.

Agreed.

 

[Chromatischism]

I have ordered 2 of Audiophonics PA-S250NC (Hypex NC250MP) amps as I have a 4.0 setup (Nubert nuVero 140 in the front and nuVero 50 in the back)
I have replaced a Crown CT8150 amplifier that I previously had

I must say that it was definitely an "awwwwww" experience when I first listened to these beasts....the sound is totally amazing
It is as transparent as possible, it sounds as clean as I have never heard before
The words "dynamic range" and "stage" have a new definition now: Hypex
Space has opened up in all 3 dimensions but in a scale I still cannot believe
Also it is worth noting that I hear instruments/sounds that I have not heard before - and believe me it is not my imagination playing tricks with me...
Warning: If you are looking for "warm" sound and all that audiophile BS please do not buy these amps as the are fully linear; they will not add any coloration or distortion; they will produce exactly what is in the recording - and that is what a proper amplifier should exactly do!
I have asked Audiophonics to remove the RCA inputs and the input selector switch - which they did
I am extremely satisfied and I would very strongly recommend these amps to anybody looking for a dynamic, linear and transparent sound

If you mean this amplifier, I've been listening to one for the past week. First, a correction: It uses Hypex Ncore NC252MP.

I haven't done any fast-switching yet, but I can't yet hear any differences from my Denon X4500H. I do prefer its small case compared to many amps out there:

Powering my 4 ohm Buchardt S400's, it barely gets warm. Turns out, it is the same amp module chosen by Buchardt Audio for their passive speakers, so there is some comfort in that it should be a good pairing.

 

[Chromatischism]

True that there is some "cloudiness" or "granularity" in the treble on the NC500, esp if used at high power (for instance if you have low sensitivity speakers), a topic which Bruno Putzeys has recently addressed.

Do you have a source where I can read more about this?

 

[Xulonn]

Do you have a source where I can read more about this?

I too would like to read Bruno's writings on "cloudiness" and "granularity" from a tweeter while being driven at 400-500 watts. I didn't know that tweeters used that much power. Obviously, such artifacts, assuming they are audible in double blind testing and not jut some audiophile clown's subjective, unreliable sighted listening comparisons, would be the result of serious tweeter distortion. And such audible distortion would imply that there is a problem with the amplifier-tweeter interaction. (We can't "hear" an amplifier per se, but only the sound produced by a speaker.)

There have been a number of heated discussions here with @restorer-john and his opinion that a truly good amplifier - like many of the Japanese amplifiers and receivers from the glory days of the best Japanese Class AB monsters - should be able to supply rated power for sustained periods across the entire audio spectrum from 20Hz to 20kHz. I'm not an engineer, but if I remember correctly from posts by experts here at ASR, many Class-D amps cannot deliver "rated" power to those standards, but that's not required for listening to music - even at ear-splittting levels.

Indeed, many audio subjectivists consider Class-D amplifiers to be suitable for dedicated subwoofer duty only and not full-range amplification because of HF "issues". But I though that there was no real, repeatable and confirmed evidence to support that opinion.

 

[Julf]

Indeed, many audio subjectivists consider Class-D amplifiers to be suitable for dedicated subwoofer duty only and not full-range amplification because of HF "issues". But I though that there was no real, repeatable and confirmed evidence to support that opinion.

There isn't. It is one of the typical audiophile beliefs / old wives tales, just like "silver cables makes the sound brighter".

 

[maty]

...I haven't done any fast-switching yet, but I can't yet hear any differences from my Denon X4500H. I do prefer its small case compared to many amps out there:

View attachment 69271

Powering my 4 ohm Buchardt S400's, it barely gets warm.

I would appreciate it if you could take the test with recordings without electronic or computer instrumentation. For example, a small jazz group, an orchestral mass ...

With modern recordings, so poorly produced for the most part, I suppose it will be more difficult to see differences.

Try Hotel California (Eagles) too. Lots of studio production but great sound, from when they were weeks or months in the recording studio.

 

[mocenigo]

Do you have a source where I can read more about this?

it is quite easy to find them with google.

 

[mocenigo]

I too would like to read Bruno's writings on "cloudiness" and "granularity" from a tweeter while being driven at 400-500 watts. I didn't know that tweeters used that much power. Obviously, such artifacts, assuming they are audible in double blind testing and not jut some audiophile clown's subjective, unreliable sighted listening comparisons, would be the result of serious tweeter distortion. And such audible distortion would imply that there is a problem with the amplifier-tweeter interaction. (We can't "hear" an amplifier per se, but only the sound produced by a speaker.)

He commented here and on Audiophilestyle, easy to find. I said “esp at high power” but according to the white paper on the purifi site, it is a phenomenon that is mostly independent of the output power, so it can occur at low wattage as well. It is output coil hysteresis induced distortion.

 

[Objectivist01]

I just switched from my 3000€ flagship integrated Amp (Denon PMA-2500NE, 25Kg, Class AB) to 2 litlle Monoblocs, NC250MP based, paired with my ADI-2 DAC. (also, an Apollon AS1200 to come)

I noticed nothing what audiophiles are saying. I'm only enjoying very stable and clean power, with no distortion. It doesn't sound better or worse, just as good for a fraction of the price/weight/size. Period.

What are your speakers? Just curious, not to look for reasons why you “didn’t” hear a difference !

 

[VintageFlanker]

What are your speakers? Just curious, not to look for reasons why you “didn’t” hear a difference !

At the time I wrote this: main speakers were Monitor Audio Silver 10s (actually Silver 500). Then, I already had Triangle Comete EZ and Focal Aria 906 at the time.

 

[Koeitje]

I went from premium line Marantz PM-16 to NC400's, didn't make any difference on Revel M106's. 100% sure I could play louder on the NC400's, but the speakers (and my ears) can't handle that anyway .

 

[VintageFlanker]

Marantz PM-16 to NC400's, didn't make any difference on Revel M106's. 100% sure I could play louder on the NC400's,

I hope so! NC400s are, at least, twice as powerful as the PM-16.

 

[Koeitje]

I hope so! NC400s are, at least, twice as powerful as the PM-16.

Both go way above the average power handling of the drivers in my speakers .

 

[carlob]

It is output coil hysteresis induced distortion.

https://audioxpress.com/news/purifi-audio-unveils-investigation-about-hysteresis-distortion

https://purifi-audio.com/2020/04/28/this-thing-we-have-about-hysteresis-distortion/