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Hypex NCx500 Class D Amplifier Review

Rate this amplifier:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 3 0.6%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 7 1.4%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 58 11.8%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 425 86.2%

  • Total voters
    493
Operating a MosFET transistor as a switch, with low Rds On with an appropriate Toroid choke on the ass end, to turn it Analog again, is still more semantics arguments. The voltage swing notwithstanding the principle operation as a Switch. None of us are totally wrong. Capacitors excluded.
Right. A switch is not digital per se. Again, look at the definition of digital - "encoded numerically". One switch does not digital make.
 
Right. A switch is not digital per se. Again, look at the definition of digital - "encoded numerically". One switch does not digital make.
People get confused with PWM because it has square waves that are modulated and they don't realize that for digital to occur there must be digital math performed and in a class D amp none of this digital math is occurring.
 
The mostly Digital part is what makes the Analog good.
On and off isn't digital*. It's PWM - the signal is encoded in an analogue pulse width.

Just as your light dimmer isn't digital. Or even your light switch.

Or FM radio isn't digital.

ETC
 
Thank you all for the answers! Does it make sense to bridge the stereo version to drive a single speaker?
 
How many actual production class D amps are there with a digital feedback loop?
Axign based designs have this. Those amps are probably as close to a digital Class D amp as it gets.
 
How many actual production class D amps are there with a digital feedback loop?
The Axign controller, which A-to-D converts the amp output for feedback and performs error corrections in the digital domain, is used in many of Harman's products (the HK Citation streaming amp, and many of its powered speakers). The SMSL VMV A2A and its sister company Sabaj's A30a also uses Axign controllers.
 
The Axign controller, which A-to-D converts the amp output for feedback and performs error corrections in the digital domain, is used in many of Harman's products (the HK Citation streaming amp, and many of its powered speakers). The SMSL VMV A2A and its sister company Sabaj's A30a also uses Axign controllers.
Thanks! Interesting. Maybe I should resubscribe to AudioXpress (I gave up when they were mostly product promotion, and especially the MQA silliness, with a bunch of vintage tube DIY thrown in as filler). Hats off for managing to make the digital feedback loop low-latency and high bandwidth enough!

Yes, that is approaching being a "digital" amplifier, but they are still the exception.
 
A digital signal represents data as a sequence of discrete values. At any given time it can only take on, at most, one of a finite number of values. This contrasts with an analogue signal, which represents continuous values; at any given time it represents a real number within a continuous range of values. A class D amplifier works as in the later case, i.e. it handles continuous values.
Digital information can be stored on media, on hard drives, on CDs, on magnetic tapes, etc. It does not matter how it is stored. In principle, the information is always the same, i.e. binary numbers. In order to be read or intercepted, the digital information must be converted into a readable format, such as text, image or sound. Converted into an analogue format if we so which. In a class D amplifier, there is no conversion or amplification of a digital signal - it is analogue in and it is analogue out. No digital signal processing whatsoever takes place. No interpretation of digital binary numbers, no conversion, just an analogue signal being amplified.
 
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No, they call it Class-I.
 
Hello
Am about to buy an Ncx500 amp.
Buy not sure wich one.
What manufacturer is the best choice?

What model did you buy and why?
 
You can't go wrong with any of them. I got NC 400 kit, sound unheard, 8 years ago. the 500 is even better. However, the 400 is so good, I see no reason to upgrade. I even sold a Pass Class A amp after I got bruno Putzey's creation.
 
That's a Variable sine wave. Not singular. Like a singular switch to call ONE binary digit.
I wonder if we have a language issue here. Singular implies one wave, but not that that one wave would somehow be invariable.
 
Not if you get them from the ORIGINAL maker. Your opinion is not valid unless you have specifically experienced thermal issues, or can point to specific makers.. Which are likely from abusive use by less knowledgeable users rather than manufacturers making modular products from the inventors' inventory.

With super low Rds On specs of the Mosfet transistors in the output, heat sinking is only required by makers with above average paranoia concerning the customers described in prior sentence.

Your post was NOT Helpful at all to someone about to spend over a Grand in US, Canadian, or Euro cash.

To Home horn speaker owners, your product was rendered obsolete vis the Topping PA5 mk II.
That's from my amp's original manufacturer's data sheet


thermals.PNG

If that's not enough that's from NC500's data sheet:


Thermal 2.PNG

(I like my friend's 2m Blumenhofer horns admittedly but not everyone has the room or taste (that's my case),or,or... )

Edit: You have to also add PSU thermals to the above.
Calculating the needs is relatively easy after that (link)
 
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