Hypex NCx500 Class D Amplifier Review

[Multicore]

That is pretty much what it is - power bandwidth. As in bandwidth at full amplitude.

Yeah, that's a useful term.

And it corresponds with what I think of as the experience of impressive dynamics in audio reproduction: full-range SPL.

 

[antcollinet]

I don't claim to know what other people mean with this word but, just for me, rate of change isn't quite enough. I think the word suggests some combination of the amount of change (e.g. in number of bits) and the rate of change. Without the amount then it's more like bandwidth.

Of course - but the maximum rate of change / dv/dt can only occur at the maximum frequency with the maximum amplitude. So dv/dt covers both.

 

[RexrothPigeon]

Thank you, @Sokel, this implys that the Recorded Music will not be the same as the Music Event, doesn't it?

reproducing a music event is the concern of the recording, mixing, and mastering people. reproducing the recording is the concern of the hi-fi people.

 

[Julf]

reproducing a music event is the concern of the recording, mixing, and mastering people. reproducing the recording is the concern of the hi-fi people.

This.

 

[YSDR]

This.

Agree, but the a problem that often arises is we won't know if it's the recording or our equipment or the room or our hearing is the problem when the sound is not to our liking (you know, when something sounds bad, causing distrasctrion from musical enjoyment).

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Agree, but the a problem that often arises is we won't know if it's the recording or our equipment or the room or our hearing is the problem when the sound is not to our liking (you know, when something sounds bad, causing distrasctrion from musical enjoyment).

In order of likelihood of problems:
1. Room
2. Loudspeakers
3. Power Amplifier
4. Preamplifier / DAC

Hearing is tricky : depends on age, health, exposure to noise, etc.

 

[YSDR]

In order of likelihood of problems:
1. Room
2. Loudspeakers
3. Power Amplifier
4. Preamplifier / DAC

Hearing is tricky : depends on age, health, exposure to noise, etc.

So recordings are not even in the picture in your opinion?

 

[MaxwellsEq]

So recordings are not even in the picture in your opinion?

It's academic, since you can't fix them at home, merely achieve "cosmetic" adjustments through EQ.

I was an electronic engineer working in audio studios. In my experience, the sound of recordings is often down to artistic decisions between bands, producers, labels etc. What CAN be captured on tape or in bits, has much wider dynamic range than what is released to the public. So trying to define "what sounds good" by listening to commercial releases is a waste of time.

 

[Chagall]

So recordings are not even in the picture in your opinion?

They are, but if the music you listen to is recorded badly, what can you do...maybe some per song EQ, but who has the time.. Sure, there are some albums with different mixes (the 2019 Beatles mixes, for example), but they’re few and far between.

 

[YSDR]

It's academic, since you can't fix them at home, merely achieve "cosmetic" adjustments through EQ.

Okay, but how do we know when the recording itself is the problem?

 

[RexrothPigeon]

Agree, but the a problem that often arises is we won't know if it's the recording or our equipment or the room or our hearing is the problem when the sound is not to our liking (you know, when something sounds bad, causing distrasctrion from musical enjoyment).

It's not particularly difficult to evaluate the hi-fi equipment, the room, and our hearing--we have a well established suite of measurement standards and tools. Evaluating the recording quality is a lot tougher, but also, we can't change it, so it's immaterial.

 

[1200W]

I don't understand how to read the measurements.
Was the damping factor for this amp measured?

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Okay, but how do we know when the recording itself is the problem?

By measuring everything in your listening gear. That way, objectively, you can be confident that it's the recording or your hearing.

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that bit-perfect streamers and modern DACs take nothing audible away from the music and add nothing audible to it. Current science has established this. Then let's say you have a sufficiently powerful, flat frequency, low noise and distortion amplifier which is unaffected by load. Then you have quality speakers that have good Spinorama results. Then you measure your room and find a resonance at 67Hz and one at 179Hz, which you minimise through linear phase parametric EQ. You listen to 7 tracks, 4 sound excellent, 3 sound so-so. You STILL can't know if the 3 so-so tracks are poorly recorded or if it's your hearing, or if they trigger a resonance in your room.

That's why testing with music is problematic. BUT, the sole point of the hobby is to enjoy music. So, you either put up with badly recorded, brilliant music, or you try and EQ it...

 

[Julf]

Was the damping factor for this amp measured?

The only reasonably modern solid state amps that have a damping factor low enough to make any difference are those with an artificially high output impedance (silly stuff like output transformers on solid state gear - yes, I am looking at you, Mackintosh!).

 

[1200W]

The only reasonably modern solid state amps that have a damping factor low enough to make any difference are those with an artificially high output impedance (silly stuff like output transformers on solid state gear - yes, I am looking at you, Mackintosh!).

I'm not sure what you mean.

 

[Sokel]

I am looking at you, Mackintosh!).

???

I wouldn't call that silly:

(link)

I mean, at all!

 

[Julf]

I'm not sure what you mean.

Once the damping factor is above 30 or so it makes no difference if it is higher.

???

I wouldn't call that silly:

View attachment 499528
(link)

I mean, at all!

Yes, that is THD. Look at frequency response with a load that varies with frequency.

 

[Sokel]

Yes, that is THD. Look at frequency response with a load that varies with frequency.

No, it's not THD, it's THD+N or SINAD the other way.

You mean this chart, down to 2 Ohm and with both (virtual) speaker loads?

(five measurements (loads), one on top of the other within 0.5dB or less, Erin says 0.1dB)

Did you notice the scale?
Also, did you check where it stops without roll-off?

 

[Julf]

No, it's not THD, it's THD+N or SINAD the other way.

It looks like it is dominated by THD.

You mean this chart, down to 2 Ohm and with both (virtual) speaker loads?

(five measurements (loads), one on top of the other within 0.5dB or less, Erin says 0.1dB)

Excellent. So which Mcintosh is this? Only some of them have output transformers.

I don't always agree with Paul McGowan, but he has an interesting take on McIntosh transformers.

 

[Sokel]

It looks like it is dominated by THD.

Excellent. So which Mcintosh is this? Only some of them have output transformers.

This one:

McIntosh MC611 Power Amplifier

The monoblock MC611 Quad Balanced Power Amplifier produces 600 Watts of power – enough to satisfy nearly any loudspeaker. A pair of MC611s can easily drive an impressive home stereo system, or add more of them to power a home theater.

www.mcintoshlabs.com

If you mean the famous Mc autoformers, yes, this one has them, hence the consistent power delivery.