Nord MP NC252 SE Amplifier Review

[welwynnick]

Thanks as always Amir.

I wonder how many customers have received units in this condition without realising it.

 

[Zastawny4475]

Hi i got my nord nc252mp se. 6 months ago. here are sum pictures for you. I have had no issues. Nothing that I can hear anyway. hope this helps

 

[Mnyb]

Wonder if its not the amp pcb's themself ? hypex had problems in the past ? the internal cable routing does not move around . Amir measured changes over time when the unit was on ? Can this be explained by assembly errors ?

 

[Sokel]

Hi i got my nord nc252mp se. 6 months ago. here are sum pictures for you. I have had no issues. Nothing that I can hear anyway. hope this helps

@JSmith 's pics seems to be from some other implementation as the mains input is in the middle of the back plate.
Yours seems definitely cleaner.

Edit: The proximity of mains and speaker cables though are not ideal, far from it.

 

[Zastawny4475]

@JSmith 's pics seems to be from some other implementation as the mains input is in the middle of the back plate.
Yours seems definitely cleaner.

Edit: The proximity of mains and speaker cables though are not ideal, far from it.

Its definitely, far from ideal. Thanks for the reply

 

[Matias]

Another sample to test and make sure? @boggit10

 

[PJR918BMW]

I'm no techy but it has occurred to me that many of these "packaging" problems are due to the continuing drive to reduce casework size?
Some of the Chinese ones look crazy small to me. I appreciate the cost and packaging sizes and weights but how do they expect to get clean signal paths with external to PCB cables?
Yes. I know some seem to but even so.
..never mind heat management as well of course!

PS: I built a 5 channel 3 audio amp recently. Used a full size case and "discrete" wiring throughout. Probably made toss all difference but made me feel better!

 

[kopczas]

Bummer indeed. Hopefully it will be an easy return for the owner to Nord.

Why? it's only 3 points lower than other N252.
On the other hand , how they managed to lower on performance with assabled board from factory it's mystery.

 

[Sokel]

On the other hand , how they managed to lower on performance with assabled board from factory it's mystery.

Lots of reasons to happen.
Sloppy cabling, rough postage, sample-to-sample variation (3dB is nothing, only the mains noise is enough to bring it up there) , etc.

 

[tparard]

A photo of the IOM i250 (with Hypex NC252MP) - What do you think?

 

[TimoJ]

A photo of the IOM i250 (with Hypex NC252MP) - What do you think?

Pretty sad. And looks like this capacitor is done, another common failure point of these (if heat management is poorly done)

 

[wineds]

I notice the lock washer on the dim switch is on the outside of the case rather than the inside where it belongs. That's a rookie error.

 

[Dmitri]

Thanks for the truncated (and with good reason) review Amir.

After this travesty I’d expect a “golden sample” if NORD sends you one for review. It’d be interesting to see if they make some changes based on the comments here. It would be a fine example of “ASR Impact,” taking advantage of what the community here has to offer. Buckeye has certainly benefited.

 

[Purité Audio]

That one was the ‘golden’ sample.

Keith

 

[dan_uk]

Pretty sad. And looks like this capacitor is done, another common failure point of these (if heat management is poorly done)

View attachment 494432

Is this a NORD?

 

[Sokel]

Is this a NORD?

That's an IOM i250, different company, same (but unfortunate) Hypex module.

 

[JeremyFife]

Thanks for the review and for your time Amirm

Shame, this is sad to read. Faulty unit? but a QC problem nevertheless. Hopefully Nord respond and explain

 

[kawauso]

I voted “Fine” because the noise is technically there, but it isn’t audible.
However, judging from everyone’s reactions, it seems there may be a serious flaw.
I might need to change my vote to “Headless.”

 

[totti1965]

The Audiophonics MPA-S250NC RCA which has the Hypex Ncore NC252MP module implemented was testet here in 2023:

AUDIOPHONICS MPA-S250NC Amp Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the AUDIOPHONICS MPA-S250NC stereo Ncore class D amplifier. It is on kind loan from a member and costs 415,83 € tax excl. (US $444). The enclosure is absolutely adorable! While it is fair bit deep, the other two dimensions are quite small...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Way better than the device which is now tested, but anyway
it is by far not as perfect as Brunos newer designs
(one generation younger: Eigentakt
or even
two generations younger: Eigentakt 2, since Oktober 2024).

As an example here the J-Test of the MPA-S250NC RCA in comparison with the more powerful, newest Eigentakt 2 Modell,
the boXem Audio A4216/E2

The MPA-S250NC (Very good, but not overwhelming):

boXem Audio A4216/E2 - much lower intermodulation in the near ultrasonic region (25 dB better!):

15 kHz distortion shows the same picture: worst case under 100 Watt output:
minus 72 dB for MPA-S250NC RCA
But minus 86 dB for the boXem Audio A4216/E2


So, for perfection - there is a bit more money to spend!

 

[Tone]

This an unusual result and like Amir says, unacceptable.

I cannot make any comment as to the cause but we will make arrangements to get the unit back for investigation as soon as possible..