New - miniDSP AMP8, 8 channel Class D Audio Amplifier

[diablo]

I got an email from MiniDSP today which announced this new eight channel amp. Looks pretty good to me.

AMP-8

The miniDSP AMP-8 is an 8-channel power amplifier designed for home theater, immersive audio, and multizone setups. It stands out due to its remarkable power-to-size ratio and high efficiency. Utilizing ICEpower® amplifier modules, the AMP-8 delivers 300 Watts per channel at 4 ohms and 200 Watts...

www.minidsp.com

If I were setting up my cinema system again I'd probably use one.

 

[staticV3]

There's no DSP on board, so this competes with all these:

Eight Channel | VTV Amplifier

Nord Acoustics | Nord One MP NC122 4-8CH Power Amplifier

Nord One MP NC122: powerful surround sound 4-8 channel featuring Hypex modules and individual PSUs, delivers exceptional performance.

nordacoustics.co.uk

Nord Acoustics | Nord One MP NC252 4-8CH Power Amplifier

Nord One MP NC252 4-8CH: Powerful surround sound featuring Hypex modules and individual PSUs delivers exceptional flexibility.

nordacoustics.co.uk

Monolith by Monoprice M8125x 8x100 Watts Per Channel Class-D Multi-Channel Home Theater Power Amplifier with XLR Inputs Hypex NC252MP - Monoprice.com

Monolith™ by Monoprice™ 8125 Class‑D Amplifier 8‑Channels with 200 watts/channel into 8 ohms and 400 watts/channel into 4 ohms in a small 3RU enclosure

www.monoprice.com

Monolith by Monoprice M8250x 8x200 Watts Per Channel Class-D Multi-Channel Home Theater Power Amplifier with XLR Inputs Hypex NC502MP - Monoprice.com

Monolith™ by Monoprice™8250X Class‑D Amplifier8‑Channels with 200 watts/channel into 8 ohms and 400 watts/channel into 4 ohms in a small 3RU enclosureThe Monolith™ 8250X

www.monoprice.com

Buckeye Amps

Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!

www.buckeyeamp.com

Buckeye Amps

Buckeye Amps utilizes the most advanced audio amplifier technologies available. Authorized seller for Hypex and Purifi Class D amplifiers. Based in the US. Free shipping and worldwide service!

www.buckeyeamp.com

NCMP8200 Hypex Based Class D Multichannel Amplifier | Apollon Audio Hypex Purifi Premium Amplifiers

apollonaudio.com

 

[mdsimon2]

ICEpower 300A2s are nice modules, the first ones that came close to competing with Hypex.

Sounds like 4x 300A2s with a 1500S power supply, unfortunately this means power output will be limited by the power supply. Also, disappointing that they do not have an easy way of bridging a module without opening the chassis, there is a BTLselect pin that needs to be pulled high to synchronize the channels.

IMO, 8 channel amplifiers have too many drawbacks and the space savings are not worth it over multiple 2-4 channel amplifiers.

Michael

 

[masterhw]

unfortunately this means power output will be limited by the power supply.

is this an issue in practice? is there content where all channels are driven even close to equally?

 

[mdsimon2]

is this an issue in practice? is there content where all channels are driven even close to equally?

Probably not. Worse case application would be multiple subs. In an active setup, the mid/tweeter channels usually require much less power than sub/woofer channels.

It would be interesting to push 4 of the channels to clipping using a low frequency (say 40 Hz) and see what happens on other channels playing higher frequencies at lower power. Do the higher frequency channels end up with elevated distortion?

Michael

 

[Remail]

I agree with the last post. I don’t think that there will be power for 2400 W

 

[DrStranger]

I got an email from MiniDSP today which announced this new eight channel amp. Looks pretty good to me.

AMP-8

The miniDSP AMP-8 is an 8-channel power amplifier designed for home theater, immersive audio, and multizone setups. It stands out due to its remarkable power-to-size ratio and high efficiency. Utilizing ICEpower® amplifier modules, the AMP-8 delivers 300 Watts per channel at 4 ohms and 200 Watts...

www.minidsp.com

If I were setting up my cinema system again I'd probably use one.

Too bad its not 8 ohms too

 

[DrStranger]

Too bad its not 8 ohms too

scratch that, saw the pdf on the website, runs 8 too.

 

[masterhw]

Inquired if the unit has a fan: “There is a single fan located on the side close to the amplifier modules; you can position the HTx on top of the AMP-8, as the footprint of the AMP-8 exceeds that of the HTx.”

 

[murl]

Is the gain fixed? If so at what? I couldn’t find it in their specs.

 

[mdsimon2]

300A2s have a built-in buffer so I think it is safe to assume the gain is 25.7 dB as per the datasheet.

Michael

 

[murl]

I’m still shopping for an eight channel amplifier for the Trinnov altitude CI.

 

[Mort]

$2200 plus tarrifs doesn't seem competitive.

 

[ban25]

I’m still shopping for an eight channel amplifier for the Trinnov altitude CI.

Buckeye NC502MP 500W x 8 for $2500.

 

[murl]

Buckeye NC502MP 500W x 8 for $2500.

I think this is what I will get.

 

[Matias]

I think this is what I will get.

Buckeye NC502MP 8-Channel Amp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Buckeye Hypex NC502MP 8-channel class D amplifier. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $2,295. There is not a whole lot to look at here. Sheet metal is rather thin and fitment not that great. So put it in a cabinet and forget about...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Juhazi]

PSUs suck huge As in startup when loading amplifiers' capacitors. Some kind of soft/sequential start is needed. When amps are running, caps will feed As for peak power of music, so PSU A rating can be lower than sum of modules' rating, without real problems in performance.

12 years ago I mounted four ICEpower stereo modules in one box and it burned a house fuse at every start (a fast restart was successful). Then I split it in two boxes and now I burn a fuse only after general electric shutdown. If I have shut down amps manually, I cannot switch them on simultaneusly because they are close to each 4-way speaker.

Ref. post #11, notice how high is unweighted idle noisefloor with BTL, 45dB. Practically there most likely is 50Hz and alike hum which is audible. I suppose that is a problem with BTL always.

 

[mdsimon2]

Ref. post #11, notice how high is unweighted idle noisefloor with BTL, 45dB. Practically there most likely is 50Hz and alike hum which is audible. I suppose that is a problem with BTL always.

It is 45 uV, not 45 dB and still very low noise. For reference that is 100 dB SNR using the ASR 5 W in to 4 ohm standard.

Michael