Hypex Nilai500DIY Amplifier Review

[WillyPct]

. Black Friday -25% Hypex

Deux amplis Mono Nilai 500 : 1230€

Un Ampli stéréo Nilai 500 : 918€

https://www.hypexdirect.com/products/amplifier-kits/

 

[Russ_L]

There is an upgrade kit available:

Hypex Nilai Stereo to dual mono adapter kit

This Hypex Nilai Stereo to dual mono adapter kit allows you to upgrade your Hypex Nilai Stereo kit to full dual mono operation. If you don't already have a second PS500DIY power supply, you will need to purchase one separately.

kjfaudio.com

Also, the following thread has the information necessary to do the upgrade yourself:

Hypex Nilai stereo/mono kits cases

Hi dear members of ASR ! This is my first post here, to ask some informations to Hypex Nilai stereo/mono kits owners. Sorry for my poor english level, I'm french :-) I plan to buy a Hypex Nilai stereo kit and do some modifications on it (adding a second Nilai PSU to do a dual mono amp). But...

www.audiosciencereview.com

I upgraded mine. Here are some notes I generated at the time: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...lai-stereo-mono-kits-cases.48769/post-2055317

Thanks terryforsythe there was no indication on the Hypex website that this kit was available from a third party.

 

[terryforsythe]

Thanks terryforsythe there was no indication on the Hypex website that this kit was available from a third party.

FYI, my amp runs a little warmer with two power supplies. It definitely will not be an issue in an open cabinet, but may or may not be an issue in a closed cabinet, depending on how air tight is the cabinet and the size. That being said, it still runs quite a bit cooler than my old Adcom amplifier.

 

[Joker0]

Hi all

I just received my two new Nilai Monos and finished them up building.

Now i Switched the gain in the high mode.

But i just have an another big problem.

I have a continuous high noise coming out from both tweeters from my Quadral Aurum Vulkan 8 and that is frustrating.

I had the Marantz Cinema 30 and the two Nilais at the same Brennenstuhl protect line power plate to prevent.

I use normal SommerCable RCA to XLR ofc cables to connect them, because the Marantz only have RCA PreOuts.

Can you please help me?

Thanks a lot and best regards from Germany

 

[voodooless]

First, try to isolate the problem: what happens is the amp is not connected to the AVR? Still noise? What if you connect XLR + an - to ground? You can do this by simply shorting the RCA plug. Do you have a way to record the noise and post it here? Maybe with your phone? Do you have a picture of the built?

 

[ArturoKiwi]

Today I received the nilai500 stereo kit and after dinner I start mounting it.
I found more difficult the case than cabling the modules
Tonight I happy that it works, it is late night and I'll test it tomorrow

 

[ArturoKiwi]

I try the nilai500 in mid gain and I like it, so I tried it on low gain to try the best settings.
I think it is a little better, but for sure it is very low volume. I need to turn up the knob about 15db and it still is lower than before.
I have a Kef reference 205 with a sensitivity of 90db.

Which settings do you use? Low, medium or high?

 

[voodooless]

Which settings do you use? Low, medium or high?

Whichever lowest settings gives you the desired maximum output you need. Sound wise there will be no difference.

 

[Twelvebears]

I’ve just built a pair of these myself and I have to say that I’m very impressed. The build quality is good enough to look good and be robust, without being overdone to the point you feel the case is trying to show off.

The sound is really excellent and a significant improvement from my previous pair of Bel Canto REF1000 monos, which is probably not surprising given these use an ICEpower 1000ASP module which dates back to 2004. Basically it’s easy to hear how far Class D technology has progressed in the last two decades.

The only minor glitch I experienced when building the kits, was that one cable had somehow been terminated with a spade connector that was smaller than the tab it was supposed to fit, but because it was insulated and I couldn’t see it, it took me ages to work out when it wouldn’t fit.

 

[Matias]

The sound is really excellent and a significant improvement from my previous pair of Bel Canto REF1000 monos, which is probably not surprising given these use an ICEpower 1000ASP module which dates back to 2004. Basically it’s easy to hear how far Class D technology has progressed in the last two decades.

Indeed the 1000ASP is quite outdated compared to current SOTA class D.

 

[AndreaT]

I try the nilai500 in mid gain and I like it, so I tried it on low gain to try the best settings.
I think it is a little better, but for sure it is very low volume. I need to turn up the knob about 15db and it still is lower than before.
I have a Kef reference 205 with a sensitivity of 90db.

Which settings do you use? Low, medium or high?

Medium: Paradigm Studio 100v.3, peaks to 90 db with volume -20 and balanced output of Okto 8 Stereo DAC

 

[gfinlays]

The differences on measured performance between low, medium and high gain are small and well below the threshold of audibility. Choose the gain setting that's most practical for you.

I have 6 channels of Nilai 500 operating in medium and high gain to allow for DSP headroom and the +21 dBu output of my interface.

 

[terryforsythe]

The differences on measured performance between low, medium and high gain are small and well below the threshold of audibility.

I have mine set to high gain and I do not hear any noise.

But, Amir places the threshold of audibility somewhere around 116dB if I remember correctly, and in the past has explained why he uses that value.

 

[Craigyp]

I’m using mid gain on my pair of Nilai Mono Blocks - they sound superb. I don’t think there’s any gain (excuse the pun) to be had from using low.

 

[gfinlays]

I have mine set to high gain and I do not hear any noise.

But, Amir places the threshold of audibility somewhere around 116dB if I remember correctly, and in the past has explained why he uses that value.

Yes, he does, to put the subjectivists at ease. But it's pretty theoretical, and in practice, trying to hear noise at -108dB is like listening for the sound of a pin dropping onto a carpet while operating a chainsaw.

 

[LucreciaBorgia]

I am near to pull the trigger and buy 2 of them...The mere idea to build/mount his own amplifiers is somewhat thrilling and make them special to me. And I intend to make some "special tweaks" to personalize them further and make them unique. I have in mind the followings:
- 1.5m LS cable directly wired to the plate and out of the amplifier: So I spare 2 to 3 "connectors" which are always a weak point, and different cable types
- put some damping adhesive bitumen to increase weight and damping properties of the casing
- Upgrade the fuses (I have two spared SR fuses, so better to use it even if the effect on sound is much discussed...)
Does anybody of you see any other tweaking possibility/idea ?
Many thanks in advance

 

[Julf]

I am near to pull the trigger and buy 2 of them...The mere idea to build/mount his own amplifiers is somewhat thrilling and make them special to me. And I intend to make some "special tweaks" to personalize them further and make them unique. I have in mind the followings:
- 1.5m LS cable directly wired to the plate and out of the amplifier: So I spare 2 to 3 "connectors" which are always a weak point, and different cable types
- put some damping adhesive bitumen to increase weight and damping properties of the casing
- Upgrade the fuses (I have two spared SR fuses, so better to use it even if the effect on sound is much discussed...)
Does anybody of you see any other tweaking possibility/idea ?
Many thanks in advance

Ah, the audiophile "tweaking". What actual difference do you think the bitumen and fuses make to the audible sound quality?

As to the effect of the fuses being "much discussed", it is like saying "the heliocentric model is much discussed" - yes, among flat earthers.

 

[Mnyb]

Bolting the speaker cables directly to the amp module probably works fine , but for flexibility I would use speakon instead of normal binding posts they are ”better” than normal binding post and more stable mechanicaly and you still have the possibility to connect and disconnect your speakers.

The bitumen damping ? Not necessary it migth even get in the way of proper cooling of the chassis .

Put on some nice looking feet ,that’s a little bit higher than standard so that air can circulate under the amp too , you can get these to look really high end .

For a tweak make sure all parts of the chassis is properly grounded, for example sand of the anodising where chassi parts meet or connect them with short wires or something. Special fuses no it migth even be an electrical danger as these things are designed by charlatans I would not trust them inside my amps

 

[LucreciaBorgia]

Ah, the audiophile "tweaking". What actual difference do you think the bitumen and fuses make to the audible sound quality?

As to the effect of the fuses being "much discussed", it is like saying "the heliocentric model is much discussed" - yes, among flat earthers.

Bitumen = More weight/ damping = less vibrations
Fuse = I don't know
but at least it will not deteriorate the sound, and it will give me the impression (psy bias ) that my amps are unique...
Don't neglect the psychological aspect !

 

[Julf]

Bitumen = More weight/ damping = less vibrations

Do you believe vibrations are an issue? How much of an audible difference do you think it makes?

Fuse = I don't know

What would, in your view, be the explanation for any effect the fuse might have?

but at least it will not deteriorate the sound, and it will give me the impression (psy bias ) that my amps are unique...
Don't neglect the psychological aspect !

Fair enough. Or you could just paint them pink.