Hypex NCx500 Class D Amplifier Review

[DonH56]

Really? It seems the best performance from the Eversolo (or other technically decent DACs) comes when its output is near the rated maximum.

View attachment 387494

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...lo-dmp-a8-balanced-streamer-dac-review.55826/

The max output is 4.4V on XLR. Of course that's not enough to get max output from a bufferless NCx500, but high enough for typical domestic listening levels and if there is a situation where it is not enough, you just have to turn on the buffer and you are done.

I do not know anything about the Eversolo. In general distortion falls for lower signal levels since the circuit (and devices) operate more in their linear range and feedback is ample. Noise, and in particular quantization noise for data converters (ADCs and DACs), rises relative to the signal with decreasing signal level and will mask the distortion. Any ADC or DAC will appear to have worse performance at lower signal levels due to quantization noise. My comment was based upon a desire to avoid clipping the output, which results in very large distortion from the source.

There are a number of articles here and elsewhere describing how data converters work, including quantization noise and such.

 

[YSDR]

My comment was based upon a desire to avoid clipping the output, which results in very large distortion from the source.

Thanks to the review here, you can see where is the output limit of the Eversolo A8, so you can set the volume control in its DSP so that it won't clip if you max out the volume with the remote controller. Done.

 

[DonH56]

Thanks to the review here, you can see where is the output limit of the Eversolo A8, so you can set the volume control in its DSP so that it won't clip if you max out the volume on the remote controller. Done.

Like I said, I don't know the Eversolo, or was too stupid to think of that, take your pick.

Is the DSP volume control analog or digital? Digital as in reducing the digital data values, not a digitally-controlled analog control. Hopefully analog, whether digitally controlled or not, otherwise you'll be reducing resolution and be back where you started. With the dynamic range of DACs these days I doubt it is any sort of audible issue, but reducing the numbers into the DAC core will slide back down that curve you don't like.

 

[YSDR]

but reducing the numbers into the DAC core will slide back down that curve you don't like.

That's one reason why you need a low gain amp until the SPL is enough. If the digital volume control is maxed out (0dBFS) and the SPL is still not enough, then you need a higher gain amp (or an analogue preamp with higher output).
BTW, modern DACs typically using 32-bit volume control, so you can reduce the volume in a wide range before bit-depth reducing becomes a problem. This is usually enough to not be noticed and the precision can be higher than an analogue volume control at low levels.
Anyway, the Eversolo A8 uses an analogue volume control.

 

[Julf]

BTW, modern DACs typically using 32-bit volume control, so you can reduce the volume in a wide range before bit-depth reducing becomes a problem. This is usually enough to not be noticed and the precision can be higher than an analogue volume control at low levels.

This. Can we please stop propagating the old "digital volume control reduces resolution" audiophile cliche?

 

[rsg]

Sounds awesome. How is it different?

The Buckeye 3-channel NCx500 is using the 2,000W SMPS from Micro Audio (SMPS2K-SN) that is 93% efficient. With losses, assuming 90% efficiency, you can get 600W per channel at the lowest impedances. For the price of $1550 USD delivered (for a US customer), this performance is excellent.

Similarly, boXem has their A 5519/N3 3-channel NCx500 using the Hypex SMPS3k which can deliver 3,000W with over 90% efficiency which can easily provide 600W per channel. For US customers it comes out to roughly $1950 USD delivered. This is also a great price for performance.

 

[cavedriver]

Coming back from an audio show dripping with $50,000 turntables, cable supports, and talk of "how are you maintaining the sync?", I have to visit threads like this and crank up my $600 Hypex amp to get away from all the stupidity.

 

[grobalt]

The Buckeye 3-channel NCx500 is using the 2,000W SMPS from Micro Audio (SMPS2K-SN) that is 93% efficient. With losses, assuming 90% efficiency, you can get 600W per channel at the lowest impedances. For the price of $1550 USD delivered (for a US customer), this performance is excellent.

Similarly, boXem has their A 5519/N3 3-channel NCx500 using the Hypex SMPS3k which can deliver 3,000W with over 90% efficiency which can easily provide 600W per channel. For US customers it comes out to roughly $1950 USD delivered. This is also a great price for performance.

absolutely not comparable. The SMPS3K should be renamed to SMPS1.0 .. continuous power output is just 1000w .. no active PFC etc .. I can beat the Microaudio SMPS for several minutes without any voltage drop or overheating. Idle standby is way lower .. i built 16 8-channel amps and a friend as well .. he used the hypex, i used the microaudio. i have less than half power on idle consumption as well as lower standby.

 

[rsg]

absolutely not comparable. The SMPS3K should be renamed to SMPS1.0 .. continuous power output is just 1000w .. no active PFC etc .. I can beat the Microaudio SMPS for several minutes without any voltage drop or overheating. Idle standby is way lower .. i built 16 8-channel amps and a friend as well .. he used the hypex, i used the microaudio. i have less than half power on idle consumption as well as lower standby.

I have first hand use of the Micro Audio SMPK2K-SN in the Buckeye and it’s excellent for the Revel F228Be & C208 LCR. The Hypex SMPS3K looks promising, so I was thinking to get one.

Respectfully, could you explain more about your experience?

 

[grobalt]

I have first hand use of the Micro Audio SMPK2K-SN in the Buckeye and it’s excellent for the Revel F228Be & C208 LCR. The Hypex SMPS3K looks promising, so I was thinking to get one.

Respectfully, could you explain more about your experience?

What shall i explain .. ask precisely ? .. i built enough to be happy and Microaudio is able to customize with comparable small quantities .. i asked for Mundorf Mlytic Caps - done .. Sparks Voltage regulator .. done .. Wago connectors ... done ...

 

[rsg]

What shall i explain .. ask precisely ? .. i built enough to be happy and Microaudio is able to customize with comparable small quantities .. i asked for Mundorf Mlytic Caps - done .. Sparks Voltage regulator .. done .. Wago connectors ... done ...
View attachment 405309

Comparison with the Hypex SMPS3k. Output power with all channels active, overheating, clipping, distortion and so on.
That's a nice build! You've got two power supplies, solid copper heat sink on each of the 8 channels with a backplane and a large cooling fan on the side. It must weigh close to 60 pounds.

 

[grobalt]

I measured only single SMPS .. but as both have independant power sockets ... 2200w @ 240V for 3 minutes 20hz sine wave torturing .. then i stopped. there was no heat buildup at that time ... pretty sure that would run way longer without any hassle, but as i don't plan to use them as welding power supply i stopped after 3 minutes. 20hz sine for that duration is far off any real world usecase. i did not measure distortion, sorry... my main goal was to build a silent amplifier as compression driver in home cinema and 15 speakers the idle noise sums up and now it is dead silent.

 

[1200W]

I don't know anything about these amps and how they work but I know my current Nord One NC500 MKII Dual Mono is the best amp I've owned.

My Nord One NC500 MKII Dual Mono Stereo Power Amplifier has Sonic Imagery 994, connected to a Music First Audio Passive Baby Reference V2 Pre-Amplifier, connected to a pair of Boeniche W11 speakers.

I'm thinking of upgrading to this latest module NCx500.

Do you think it is worth doing?

If it is worth doing, is there anything I should think about concerning my pre-amp for instance?

 

[Killingbeans]

Do you think it is worth doing?

To get rid of the FOMO, yes.

To get an audible upgrade... extremely doubtful.

 

[Matias]

I don't know anything about these amps and how they work but I know my current Nord One NC500 MKII Dual Mono is the best amp I've owned.

My Nord One NC500 MKII Dual Mono Stereo Power Amplifier has Sonic Imagery 994, connected to a Music First Audio Passive Baby Reference V2 Pre-Amplifier, connected to a pair of Boeniche W11 speakers.

I'm thinking of upgrading to this latest module NCx500.

Do you think it is worth doing?

If it is worth doing, is there anything I should think about concerning my pre-amp for instance?

The improvement is subtle. If everything else is optimized already, then it might be worth. Else money is better spent on acoustic treatment for example, or room correction etc.

 

[1200W]

The improvement is subtle. If everything else is optimized already, then it might be worth. Else money is better spent on acoustic treatment for example, or room correction etc.

My music room has GIK panels all round including the ceiling.
So you think it might be worth it?

 

[Killingbeans]

So you think it might be worth it?

Depends on what you value, and what you expect the upgrade to bring to the table.

Most likely it'll just bring the noise floor down from very low to extremely low. Your speakers aren't very sensitive/efficient, so I very much doubt you're having any issues with hiss, meaning an audible upgrade is also very unlikely to happen.

People tend to have great difficulty telling amplifiers apart, even "dirty" PA Class-D amps, when doing so without any other knowledge than the sound itself. As long as an amplifier isn't clipping, or have a high enough noise floor to give audible hiss from you speakers because of the gain structure of your system, it'll have to be really horrifically badly designed, either deliberately or from lack of diligence, in order to present anything remotely close to a "sound signature". At least that seems to be the recurring conclusion, when these things are being tested properly.

 

[1200W]

I am now the owner of a brand new Nord One SE NCx500DM MK II.
I was having so much updated on my old Nord amp that it made better sense to buy a brand new one.
This amp is quite a bit better than the NC500: Better separation, more detail and tighter bass.
Well worth the upgrade

 

[Julf]

This amp is quite a bit better than the NC500: Better separation, more detail and tighter bass.

If you say so...

 

[1200W]

If you say so...

I do