Nord MP NC252 SE Amplifier Review

[Tone]

Thanks again @amirm and @Tone

I would say this was a successful, insightful, and productive test, with Detective Amir finding some microscopic flaws in the design, and Intermediary Tone being very helpful and responsive to engineer & offer a solution to current & future Nord customers to remedy the issue(however inaudible it may or may not be).

This was an awesome, positive, 3-way collaboration between Customer, 3rd party tester, and Seller that is very rare to see in the audio industry.

Cheers to all!
View attachment 500638

What he said.

 

[TurtlePaul]

Why such a big box and heat sinks that arnt used?

For $740 it needs to be reassuringly heavy.

 

[Tone]

For $740 it needs to be reassuringly heavy.

Ahhh, when Audiophile was decided by weight.

Solid aluminium, heavy enough.

 

[TurtlePaul]

Ahhh, when Audiophile was decided by weight.

Solid aluminium, heavy enough.

The company points out that they have a heavy premium case option and a not heavy case. At ~90% efficiency a Hypex NC252mp doesn’t need the heatsink, so yes, the purpose of the SE case is for people who prefer heavier amps and the look of exposed heatsinks.

 

[Tone]

First production test of Nord PCSS (Pure Copper 'Silent-Shield'). Wax coated copper tape, floating shield.

Nord 6CH NC502MP production build.

Case is 3U so mains over modules is elevated somewhat in case of critic.

 

[YSDR]

First production test of Nord PCSS (Pure Copper 'Silent-Shield'). Wax coated copper tape, floating shield.

Looks nice but a main advantage of balanced cabling still not utilized: the twisted pair wires (or star-quad arrangement).

 

[kyuu]

First production test of Nord PCSS (Pure Copper 'Silent-Shield'). Wax coated copper tape, floating shield.

Nord 6CH NC502MP production build.

Case is 3U so mains over modules is elevated somewhat in case of critic.

So literally putting some copper foil tape around the ribbon cable? Not a fan of the flowery marketing terminology, but if it works it works.

 

[Tone]

Looks nice but a main advantage of balanced cabling still not utilized: the twisted pair wires (or star-quad arrangement).

We now use Litz braiding for VL series, direct pcb plug in with pcb mounted input sockets on buffer boards for 'three line products'.

I'm working around to improvements for middle range and multichannel MP.

And yes, any flowery name is for marketing only.

 

[Tone]

Looks nice but a main advantage of balanced cabling still not utilized: the twisted pair wires (or star-quad arrangement).

Star quad, means what exactly?

I read Bruno's paper 'The G Word', he invented NCore class D, top class engineer.

 

[Tone]

Save you looking.

 

[Nopiano]

Star quad, means what exactly?

This has been my understanding…

Van Damme XKE Starquad 4 Core Cable. Balanced XLR Mic. Screened Bulk Reel TOUR

Tough, durable and easy to coil. This cable is ideal for outside broadcast and in situations that may be subject to EMI and RFI - for example in close proximity to lighting dimmer circuits and major power feeds. Priced per meter. Example; order a quantity of 10 to receive 1x10m length of cable.

www.designacable.com

 

[Julf]

Twisted pair is fine for even very high speed data, orders of magnitude more tricky than audio. The main thing is the differential (balanced) signal.

 

[Tone]

This has been my understanding…

Van Damme XKE Starquad 4 Core Cable. Balanced XLR Mic. Screened Bulk Reel TOUR

Tough, durable and easy to coil. This cable is ideal for outside broadcast and in situations that may be subject to EMI and RFI - for example in close proximity to lighting dimmer circuits and major power feeds. Priced per meter. Example; order a quantity of 10 to receive 1x10m length of cable.

www.designacable.com

Yes, when dealing with very low signals, microphone, cartridge, guitar pick up, then any noise rejection possible as gain must be huge.

Line level is a little more 'relaxed' as signal level is higher, thus noise rejection is better to begin with.

And best preamps have very low impedance output.

 

[Tone]

The main thing is the differential (balanced) signal.

This applies to achieving best signal to noise ratio in any type of transfer.

Single ended is used a lot for domestic audio equipment as it's shortcomings are lessened.

In the professional industry balanced signal transfer is more or less insisted upon, for better compliance under adverse conditions.

Thank you Julf.

 

[Tone]

And if we are so concerned about balancing the analogue, should we also not banish spdif in favour of aes ebu?

Funny what seems important to some.

 

[kyuu]

And if we are so concerned about balancing the analogue, should we also not banish spdif in favour of aes ebu?

Nah, just banish coaxial SPDIF in favor of TOSLINK.

 

[Tone]

Nah, just banish coaxial SPDIF in favor of TOSLINK.

Then jitter rules.

 

[kyuu]

Then jitter rules.

Damn! Just can't win. Good thing jitter is inaudible (unless it's connected to an LG TV).

 

[Tone]

BNC spdif, best compromise, allegedly.

 

[Tone]

Jitter is equally as audible as SINAD.

But yes, I can listen to spdif connected equipment, or optical, and not worry either but for technocritically.