staticV3
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type of customer mentality that every Hi-fi brand dreams of
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Looking for a replacement amp for my main system
- Thread starter geek_inside
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that's true, but Yamaha deserves it. they have been around a long time and they know what they know what they are doing.type of customer mentality that every Hi-fi brand dreams of
OP
geek_inside
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I'm not looking for an all-in-one amp anyway.
Did you spot this SONCOZ?
SONCOZ SGP1 Stereo Amplifier Review
This is a review and detailed measurements of the SONCOZ stereo class AB power amplifier. It was sent to me by the company about 5 or 6 months ago and costs US $1099. As you see, the unit comes in gorgeous packaging with custom and VU meters befitting of some of the highest end audio products...
www.audiosciencereview.com
SONCOZ SGP1 High-Power Reference Class AB Reference-Grade Stereo Audio Power Amplifier
Foundation for the Future Product Direction of SONCOZ SGP1 is a Class AB Reference Stereo Audio Power Amplifier Designed for High Resolution Audio(HRA)Recording and Playback Systems, which has been Developed by SONCOZ for 3 Years. The SNR and THD Extraordinary Performance of the SGP1 Pushes the...
www.linsoul.com
Have you considered taking the opportunity to ditch the DAC too and go direct from SHD Studio to a pair of actively amplified speakers with digital inputs? Something like these:
OP
geek_inside
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I don't know this brand. The review is nice, but the following comments in the threads aren't. Seems to have quite some reliability issues. I'll pass on this one.
For your second question, this is something I thought about but did not investigate much as a speakers change was not really in my mind, yet...
Fair enough on the SONCOZ; I must admit I didn't read very far in the comments.
KEF LS60W is another option. There's something appealing - to me anyway - about a minimalist system of compact digital source + speakers only. But I do wish they'd produce a 'Lite' version without all the other (glitchy/unreliable?) digital connectivity - just straight AES/EBU on XLR is all that's needed. We're typically pushed to studio monitors for that, and then WAF goes flying out the window. Although... Ascilab C8C.
Roland68
Major Contributor
Since you have very efficient speakers, the 3E Audio A5 should be perfectly adequate for you. It can also be switched to pure amplifier mode.As I wrote in my first post, I'm just looking for another amp which works with my setup. I'm not expecting or asking for any sonic improvement, I know there will be any audible one (at least for my ears). That's also why I asked the rational to upgrade for any Hypex based amp to a Purifi based amp. Maybe this was lost in translation, sorry english is not my first language
However, you might be surprised that this amplifier could actually make a difference compared to your old one. This small amplifier has extremely good measurements and could be audibly more transparent. Even many so-called high-end amplifiers that cost many times more fall short, although that's hard for many to accept.
Only the B200, the larger and newer Purifi and Hypex models, and, for example, the Singxer SA-90 are slightly better. Whether the improved measurements translate into an audible difference is another matter entirely.
olds1959special
Major Contributor
I'm super happy with my Aiyima A70 Mono's. I use four to power my JBL L890's. I did roll the op-amps though, to genuine LM4562's.
OP
geek_inside
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Ended up buying the Audiophonics HPA-S450ET power amp:
www.audiophonics.fr
Good service from Audiophonics team, customs paperwork done correctly and fast delivery times. Great quality amp with a lot of power, might be an endgame for me honestly. Works great, runs cool, great sound. Can't wait to do some measurements in the room and redo the dirac calibration. I also want to try different speaker placements to optimize.
AUDIOPHONICS HPA-S450ET Power Amplifier Purifi 1ET6525SA
The Audiophonics HPA-S450ET power amplifier is based on a Class D architecture, using a pair of Purifi 1ET6525SA amplification modules, a Hypex SMPS1200A400 power supply and an Audiophonics custom buffer stage...
www.audiophonics.fr
Good service from Audiophonics team, customs paperwork done correctly and fast delivery times. Great quality amp with a lot of power, might be an endgame for me honestly. Works great, runs cool, great sound. Can't wait to do some measurements in the room and redo the dirac calibration. I also want to try different speaker placements to optimize.
Great quality amp with a lot of power, might be an endgame for me honestly.Ended up buying the Audiophonics HPA-S450ET power amp:
AUDIOPHONICS HPA-S450ET Power Amplifier Purifi 1ET6525SA
The Audiophonics HPA-S450ET power amplifier is based on a Class D architecture, using a pair of Purifi 1ET6525SA amplification modules, a Hypex SMPS1200A400 power supply and an Audiophonics custom buffer stage...
Good service from Audiophonics team, customs paperwork done correctly and fast delivery times. Great quality amp with a lot of power, might be an endgame for me honestly. Works great, runs cool, great sound. Can't wait to do some measurements in the room and redo the dirac calibration. I also want to try different speaker placements to optimize.
Very likely so. Glad you're happy.
But is it the end game hifi-wise? You know speakers/subwoofer ...acoustic fix in your room....EQ(which you already do)...new thick carpet....new more comfortable listening chair and so on.
(as long as you don't spend money on unnecessary things like super expensive cables)
Edit:
Speaking of fixing the room acoustics. A subjective, individual choice, style and taste and so on. A thread here on ASR, I don't remember the name, is about too dry rooms vs. too lively with lots of undamped reflections. There were tons of pages in that thread about whether or not, when and how to dampen side reflections. A tricky but fun topic. Or actually not tricky, you just have to slap some mattresses on the side walls and try and see what you like.
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OP
geek_inside
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Oh you're right it's endgame amp only, not hifi. Will see after the measurements if I add a sub, or two 
91dB speakers means 250W is ludicrous volume. Unless the room is huge, 500W really is overkill.
Roland68
Major Contributor
If you add active subwoofers now, your new amplifier will have more than ten times the power you'll ever use.Oh you're right it's endgame amp only, not hifi. Will see after the measurements if I add a sub, or two
You should adjust the gain/attenuation so that this power never accidentally reaches your speakers.
OP
geek_inside
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That's already the case right now, I don't get what the sub has to do with that, could you elaborate?
Amp gain is at 20dB (I can set it from 12.5 to 29dB), and I use my dac to control the volume. I might try the 12.5dB gain setting as for now I'm around -15dB on the dac when listening at my max volume. Also, my streamer running dirac is set to -5dB in order to avoid clipping when dirac boosts some frequencies. Good setup?
Absolutely use low gain unless you run out of volume. Lowest noise (though inaudibly so). More importantly it will protect your speakers from DAC inadvertently going to maximum output.
OP
geek_inside
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Thank you for the confirmation, I will change it asap.
EDIT: 12.5dB gain works fine, I'm between -3 and -8dB depending on the files. I'll keep it like this.
EDIT: 12.5dB gain works fine, I'm between -3 and -8dB depending on the files. I'll keep it like this.
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Hi as an alternate thought you may want the maximum efficiency from your amp so choose a higher gain.
As a caution If set on the highest gain your prepro “may” cause/allow a hiss sound on the tweeters of really efficient speakers. If a hiss does occur just choose a lower gain until it disappears.
However, if there is no hiss then choose the higher gain setting to receive more of the wattage you paid for.
that has no bearing on efficiency at all.
If you can get the power/volume you need on low gain (by putting in a higher voltage from the source) then you don't need any more "wattage" (Power). All you will do if you use a higher gain, is turn down the volume on the source - or it will be too loud. Power will be the same.
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Hopefully it is better than the Dartzeel,
www.stereophile.com
Keith
darTZeel NHB-108 model two power amplifier Measurements | Stereophile.com
Sidebar 3: Measurements I measured the darTZeel NHB-108 model two with my Audio Precision SYS2722 system—see the January 2008 As We See It. I performed the measurements using the balanced (XLR) and single-ended (RCA) inputs and left the internal jumpers as they had been set. To avoid triggering...
