This is a review and detailed measurements of the Hypex Nilai500DIY class D amplifier module with PS500DIY power supply. Parts were provided by the company and member @Rick Sykora was kind enough to assemble it:
As indicated, the single channel amplifier is on the left and the power supply on the right. The amplifier has built-in preamp providing three levels of gain (12, 22 and 28 dB). A jumper selects the appropriate level. At 12 dB, you need about 12 volts to reach full power which requires a pro audio interface or a pre-amp with that level of output. The sole input in this configuration is balanced.
In use the amplifier was exceptionally solid even when pushed hard. It kept going and stayed very cool. It is rated to 2 ohm (see measurements below).
Edit: in the original review I had the top open so I could change the gain settings. Alas, it turns out that doing so allowed some noise pick up around 10 kHz. I re-tested with the lid closed and that issue went away. As a results, we have slightly better performance especially in high-gain.
Hypex Nilai500DIY Measurements
Let's start with lowest gain setting:
That is superb performance with distortion at or below -140 dB! Here is the response at higher grain settings:
With all thee gain settings, the amp lands in our top 20 best amplifiers ever reviewed based on combined noise and distortion rating (SINAD):
Noise performance is excellent but just shy of state of the art:
But gets there at full power:
As we expect from Hypex, frequency response is load impedance independent:
Multitone performance is excellent:
Amplifier is stable on power up:
Let's look at available power at 4 ohm:
Looks like we no longer have to decided between superbly low noise and distortion and available power! State of the art performance is once again achieved in low gain while still producing lots of power (342 watts). Allowing distortion to climb to 1% naturally gives us more power (and matches company spec):
We still have healthy power even with 8 ohm load:
Since the amp is rated at 2 ohm, I measured that as well:
There is a bit of penalty but still great performance. Seems power supply is limiting power so you don't get more juice.
I was a bit surprised at the ballooning of the distortion at higher frequencies:
EDIT:
There is more of a noticeable pop on power off than power on:
As requested, here is the switching response:
Conclusions
It is clear Hypex is taking competition in class D amplifiers seriously responding with a DIY friend amplifier solution that has a ton of power and wonderful performance. While we could nitpick here and there, but in the larger context of the amplifiers out there, this is a superb offering of great performance and lots and lots of power.
FYI I don't have pricing for the kit. If someone has it, please post. I see online ads saying around $900 to $1,100 for a single channel.
I am happy to add Hypex Nilai500DIY amplifier and its companion PS500DIY power supply to my recommended list.
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As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
As indicated, the single channel amplifier is on the left and the power supply on the right. The amplifier has built-in preamp providing three levels of gain (12, 22 and 28 dB). A jumper selects the appropriate level. At 12 dB, you need about 12 volts to reach full power which requires a pro audio interface or a pre-amp with that level of output. The sole input in this configuration is balanced.
In use the amplifier was exceptionally solid even when pushed hard. It kept going and stayed very cool. It is rated to 2 ohm (see measurements below).
Edit: in the original review I had the top open so I could change the gain settings. Alas, it turns out that doing so allowed some noise pick up around 10 kHz. I re-tested with the lid closed and that issue went away. As a results, we have slightly better performance especially in high-gain.
Hypex Nilai500DIY Measurements
Let's start with lowest gain setting:
That is superb performance with distortion at or below -140 dB! Here is the response at higher grain settings:
With all thee gain settings, the amp lands in our top 20 best amplifiers ever reviewed based on combined noise and distortion rating (SINAD):
Noise performance is excellent but just shy of state of the art:
But gets there at full power:
As we expect from Hypex, frequency response is load impedance independent:
Multitone performance is excellent:
Amplifier is stable on power up:
Let's look at available power at 4 ohm:
Looks like we no longer have to decided between superbly low noise and distortion and available power! State of the art performance is once again achieved in low gain while still producing lots of power (342 watts). Allowing distortion to climb to 1% naturally gives us more power (and matches company spec):
We still have healthy power even with 8 ohm load:
Since the amp is rated at 2 ohm, I measured that as well:
There is a bit of penalty but still great performance. Seems power supply is limiting power so you don't get more juice.
I was a bit surprised at the ballooning of the distortion at higher frequencies:
EDIT:
There is more of a noticeable pop on power off than power on:
As requested, here is the switching response:
Conclusions
It is clear Hypex is taking competition in class D amplifiers seriously responding with a DIY friend amplifier solution that has a ton of power and wonderful performance. While we could nitpick here and there, but in the larger context of the amplifiers out there, this is a superb offering of great performance and lots and lots of power.
FYI I don't have pricing for the kit. If someone has it, please post. I see online ads saying around $900 to $1,100 for a single channel.
I am happy to add Hypex Nilai500DIY amplifier and its companion PS500DIY power supply to my recommended list.
----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
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