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New AUDIOPHONICS MPA-M500NC 374 euro = 415usd for monoblock NC500!

mdunjic

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Although I am perfectly content with my Quad Platinum monoblocks, 180 into 8. This site, and these products certainly appear to be the way
I definitely loved Quad sound over many decades. Still very much do. No need for sound improvement imo. But they definitely run hot and in the summer, it isn’t best option for my office which isn’t best air conditioned lol … yes this site is intriguing for sure lol
 

mdunjic

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Although I am perfectly content with my Quad Platinum monoblocks, 180 into 8. This site, and these products certainly appear to be the way forward!
Those Quad Platinums look indeed as great Quads … new generation of “current dumping” feed-forward circuit design … probably improved 405/306/606/707/909 … I got my 909 recently ‘refreshed’ by Dada Electronics and it sounds amazing. Just too hot in the summer lol
 
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DavidEdwinAston

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Those Quad Platinums look indeed as great Quads … new generation of “current dumping” feed-forward circuit design … probably improved 405/306/606/707/909 … I got my 909 recently ‘refreshed’ by Dada Electronics and it sounds amazing. Just too hot in the summer lol
I replaced a 909 with the Platinums. And then Quad promptly stopped marketing them! I have an Artera pre-amp feeding them. Truthfully, I can't say that the experience is better than the 909. Mind you, on a "objective" site like ASR, I damned well better not! :rolleyes:
 

mdunjic

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I replaced a 909 with the Platinums. And then Quad promptly stopped marketing them! I have an Artera pre-amp feeding them. Truthfully, I can't say that the experience is better than the 909. Mind you, on a "objective" site like ASR, I damned well better not! :rolleyes:
Wondering why would Quad stop marketing the Platinums. Wouldn't they want much more of us replacing our 909s with new more powerful mono-blocks?
 

DavidEdwinAston

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Wondering why would Quad stop marketing the Platinums. Wouldn't they want much more of us replacing our 909s with new more powerful mono-blocks?
It's got me beat! Aren't there Artera monos? Similarly specced to the 909?
 

DavidEdwinAston

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A quick compare of 909 stereo specs. One at random, signal to noise ratio 108 dB for the 909, 117 for the Platinum.
 

mdunjic

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NC500MP has built in power supply and buffer. NC500OEM does not, and manufacturers have to add them separately.
Specs on the NC500MP are quite good actually, but NC500OEM are a little better. Also I have read subjective opinions that the NC500OEM sounds better indeed.

NC500OEM
View attachment 45791

NC500MP
View attachment 45792

I am sorry, I am not getting it ... differences in measurements do not seem material for what human ear can actually hear ... so, IMO, this means that NC500MP is actually very good deal ?
 

mdunjic

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Got my Audiophonics mono blocks today (https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...ifier-class-d-ncore-1x500w-4-ohm-p-14319.html) … unplugged Quad 909, plugged them in … not bad, fairly clean and transparent sound, very quiet, no hum no noise … but slightly different than my Quad though … still not sure what sound I like better lol … not sure if break-in plays any role for these power amps … will let them play for three days and then do more critical listening … btw heat sinks on top are mine lol … although these seem to be cool as cucumbers so far, as I am playing at SPL of 78db to 85db and there is no sign of any strain while driving my Neat Acoustics Motive 1s, to these levels … they are 6ohm and 87db/1watt/1m … so these are producing less than 5watts of power for 85db spl at 2m away … my listening level
 

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mdunjic

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After several hours of listening of my favourite music tracks, I must say that these Hypex nCore NC500MP based Audiophonics mono-blocks seem to sound as good as my Quad 909 ... I can't tell the difference and can't decide which one is better ... amazed and as sceptical as I was, apparently recent class D designs have definitely matured to challenge great class A / AB designs and outperform them in energy consumption and power delivery ... wow

I am keeping them ALL
Using hot Quads in the winter !
Cold Hypex nCore in the summer !

LoL ... executive decision has been made ;)
 
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DavidEdwinAston

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After several hours of listening of my favourite music tracks, I must say that these Hypex nCore NC500MP based Audiophonics mono-blocks seem to sound as good as my Quad 909 ... I can't tell the difference and can't decide which one is better ... amazed and as sceptical as I was, apparently recent class D designs have definitely matured to challenge great class A / AB designs and outperform them in energy consumption and power delivery ... wow

I am keeping them ALL
Using hot Quads in the winter !
Cold Hypex nCore in the summer !

LoL ... executive decision has been made ;)
Nice heads up mdunjic. Thank you!
 

mdunjic

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One observation is that these class D power amps aren't completely cold running ... they still get warm ... definitely noticeably cooler running than Quad 909 which is feed-forward class A + AB design ... but not cold at the touch ... so they are expected to LESS radiate heat than Quad BUT not completely eliminate it
 

mdunjic

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Another recent observation after listening more … at the exact same low listening levels (Benchmark LA4 volme set to -60dB), these particular Hypex class D power amp modules, seem to sound slightly leaner, compared to my Quad 909 … their bass seems less prominent, although still fairly tight and sound is very detailed. At higher volumes, differences aren’t as obvious though. Quad seem to have more ‘body’ at low volumes. Interesting.

Maybe it’s just an illusion, because Quad 909 voltage gain is 29.7 dB and it has input sensitivity of 0.775V, while these Hypex guys have gain around 25.5 dB and input sensitivity at 1.17V? So Quad would be expected to sound little louder, with exact same pre-amp volume knob position?

Well, that sounds about right, since when I add about +4 to +5dB on Benchmark LA4 pre-amp, then sound quality (even sound signature) becomes fairly comparable again (although still not exactly the same). Games never stop lol
 
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Jungstar

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I wish they used a more fitting chassis. All this empty space this deep for nothing... Good price though.
14319_4s.jpg
I just noticed the airintake in the bottom is in the front where the air out is in the top back.... quite smart
 

mdunjic

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NC500MP has built in power supply and buffer. NC500OEM does not, and manufacturers have to add them separately.
Specs on the NC500MP are quite good actually, but NC500OEM are a little better. Also I have read subjective opinions that the NC500OEM sounds better indeed.

NC500OEM
View attachment 45791

NC500MP
View attachment 45792
Yes nc500 has definitely better SINAD measurement than integrated nc500mp but make no mistake … I have pair of these nc500mp based monoblocks and they sound absolutely relaxed and very clean, delivering loads of power … imo, you shall not worry at all, especially if your budget may be limited, as most ears won’t notice the difference between nc500 and nc500mp in real life listening … but if you still want better SINAD, by all means go ahead and splurge on mono blocks based on nc500 oem based hypex board and separate power supply … it’s all part of fun!
 
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