Hypex NCx500 Class D Amplifier Review

[soerenssen]

Not sure the Apollon is cheaper than Nord as I also live in Europe, Nord price is without VAT you pay it in your country upon delivery, Apollon price is also without VAT and they add the VAT in the process of purchase which is the same. I am also considering 3 channel NCx500 amp purchase.

2x Apollon mono blocks with 19% VAT: 890*2*1.19=2118 Euro + shipping
2x Nord mono blocks (XLR only, incl.12V trigger) with 17.5% duty and 19.% VAT + 45 Euro shipping: 1523*1.19*1.175=2129 Euro

 

[Matias]

AFAIK VAT is only for country residents to pay. If you order Nord from outside the UK you don't pay VAT, only your local customs.

 

[bobopich]

2x Apollon mono blocks with 19% VAT: 890*2*1.19=2118 Euro + shipping
2x Nord mono blocks (XLR only, incl.12V trigger) with 17.5% duty and 19.% VAT + 45 Euro shipping: 1523*1.19*1.175=2129 Euro

You don’t have duty from UK only VAT

Nord One NCx500 3CH STD Standard 3 Channel Power Amplifier - Nord Acoustics Ltd

The Nord One 3CH 3 Channel NCx500 amplifier. Consisting of separate amp module's, PSU's and Nord connection input/output boards Designed for high end LCR

nordacoustics.co.uk

 

[Tom22]

AFAIK VAT is only for country residents to pay. If you order Nord from outside the UK you don't pay VAT, only your local customs.

In EU countries you pay your local VAT, so 19 % on top for Germany. Deutsche Post charges a small fee for the VAT collection on top. No further customs duties afaik.
The USD/EUR rate seems currently more attractive though, so I even had a look at Buckeye...

 

[soerenssen]

In EU countries you pay your local VAT, so 19 % on top for Germany. Deutsche Post charges a small fee for the VAT collection on top. No further customs duties afaik.
The USD/EUR rate seems currently more attractive though, so I even had a look at Buckeye...

The Buckeye mono block costs 684 Euro but ETA is end of September. And you have to send it back to the US it it has a problem (under warranty). What about custom fees from the US?

Nord updated calculation (XLR only, incl. 12V trigger, basic case): 757 + 19% VAT + 45 shipping = 945 Euro

 

[antcollinet]

The Buckeye mono block costs 684 Euro but ETA is end of September. And you have to send it back to the US it it has a problem (under warranty). What about custom fees from the US?

Nord updated calculation (XLR only, incl. 12V trigger, basic case): 757 + 19% VAT + 45 shipping = 945 Euro

Customs fees are charged by the country you import to (your own country) not by the exporting country.

 

[soerenssen]

You don’t have duty from UK only VAT

Nord One NCx500 3CH STD Standard 3 Channel Power Amplifier - Nord Acoustics Ltd

The Nord One 3CH 3 Channel NCx500 amplifier. Consisting of separate amp module's, PSU's and Nord connection input/output boards Designed for high end LCR

nordacoustics.co.uk

Around 2120 Euro incl. shipping and VAT from the UK for the 3-channel version is a good deal.
But, first I'd like to see what is inside and on the website I don't see any pictures about it. Also, I would need around 2-2.5m long speaker cables instead of 1m (compared to the monoblock-based setup). And if one of the amps is kaputt, I can still have proper stereo with the other two.

 

[soerenssen]

Customs fees are charged by the country you import to (your own country) not by the exporting country.

I meant "custom fees applied in Germany when ordering something from the US".

 

[antcollinet]

I meant "custom fees applied in Germany when ordering something from the US".

I think you'll have to look that up from your own authorities (Equivalent of HR revenue and customs in the UK)

 

[Tom22]

@soerenssen you are right, a return is obviously more expensive so you would have to be pretty sure about that.

There is only 19 % VAT if you import it to Germany. I will probably not order in the US but I just wanted to point out that it can be an option. 100 USD for intl. shipping seems not too much.

 

[grobalt]

AFAIK VAT is only for country residents to pay. If you order Nord from outside the UK you don't pay VAT, only your local customs.

wow , this is totally wrong. everyone has to pay the local VAT then importing from outside EU / other region and some products have custom fees additional. For example, Germany 19%, Norway 25%, Swiss 7.7% on top etc.
therefore undervaluing on purpose is highly illegal.

 

[bobopich]

Around 2120 Euro incl. shipping and VAT from the UK for the 3-channel version is a good deal.
But, first I'd like to see what is inside and on the website I don't see any pictures about it. Also, I would need around 2-2.5m long speaker cables instead of 1m (compared to the monoblock-based setup). And if one of the amps is kaputt, I can still have proper stereo with the other two.

Yes the same calcs for me except my VAT is 20% small difference but yet the best price for 3 mono channels, as per Nord specs this should be inside : https://nordacoustics.co.uk/product/nord-one-ncx5003ch-3-channel-power-amplifier/

 

[soerenssen]

Yes the same calcs for me except my VAT is 20% small difference but yet the best price for 3 mono channels, as per Nord specs this should be inside : https://nordacoustics.co.uk/product/nord-one-ncx5003ch-3-channel-power-amplifier/

I mean a photo of the internal layout would help.

 

[soerenssen]

wow , this is totally wrong. everyone has to pay the local VAT then importing from outside EU / other region and some products have custom fees additional. For example, Germany 19%, Norway 25%, Swiss 7.7% on top etc.
therefore undervaluing on purpose is highly illegal.

So, 19% VAT + 19% custom fees? I found 17.5% custom fees on zoll.de btw.

 

[SIY]

To get the warmth he means H2 must go to the -60dbr realm or higher.

Much more, and even then it won't sound "warm," it will sound "blurry." The inevitable high intermod will take away transparency. "Warmth" is achieved with a touch of EQ; tilt controls are great for that.

 

[grobalt]

So, 19% VAT + 19% custom fees? I found 17.5% custom fees on zoll.de btw.

19% VAT
Amplifier are Taric Code 8518

8518 90 - Microphones and stands therefor; loudspeakers, whether or…

Microphones and stands therefor; loudspeakers, whether or not mounted in their enclosures; headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers; audio-frequency electric amplifiers; electric sound amplifier sets

www.taricsupport.com

which is 0% for customs

 

[antcollinet]

So, 19% VAT + 19% custom fees? I found 17.5% custom fees on zoll.de btw.

For audio gear? In UK, all audio kit I have found listed is zero rated for customs duty. (rate of duty paid is normally different depending on the classification of the goods being imported)

 

[Redwine]

Much more, and even then it won't sound "warm," it will sound "blurry." The inevitable high intermod will take away transparency. "Warmth" is achieved with a touch of EQ; tilt controls are great for that.

Could you give an example on this, am using Roon with this function in DSP.

 

[SIY]

Could you give an example on this, am using Roon with this function in DSP.

Better yet, get @pkane ’s software which adds harmonics at a selected level and distribution and hear it for yourself.

 

[soerenssen]

For audio gear? In UK, all audio kit I have found listed is zero rated for customs duty. (rate of duty paid is normally different depending on the classification of the goods being imported)

Good to know, thanks! I never ordered audio gear from outside the EU, so no experience. But nevertheless good to know that I wouldn't have any unpleasant surprises.