Opinions on Hypex Plate (FusionAMP) Amplifiers?

[Maciek]

Its only a 3m cable but it does have a relatively tight bend at its input into the FA253 (and it's not a higher quality cable) - so its seems this cable is the problem.

There might be right angle adapers for toslink cables. There are for sure toslink cables that are terminated with a 90 deg jack, tjis would relieve the cable at the FA side.

I wanted to share that after just 6 months of procrastinaring I can confirm that Fusion amps output usable spdif signal.

Wiim mini -> Hypex Fusion -> Yamha AVR it all worked together and output music. Digital volume control worked as well on both Fusion amp and AVR. This opens options for people on a budget that want to extend their Hypex chain, for example with a sub.

 

[R.Loud]

Working on a build right now using a FA253 and FA501 per cabinet in a build right now. Very impressed so far but they do lend more to a technical user who likes to press buttons and screw around with DSP. Playing with a DIY take on a build between Pitt and Giblen Super Wax Minis and a poor man’s B&O 90s. Basically just a large all in one studio monitor build.

The crossover design in Hypex Filter Design software is fairly easy to pick up on. The only issue I have is with the DAC A/D chain and not being able to hijack analog audio off the DAC and run it into another amp as an audio input. For example, in my setup, I currently have to feed analog input into the FA253 in order to make use of analog through to the FA501. Ideally I would like to feed digital in via optical to the FA253 and be able to still use the analog through to the FA501 which doesn’t have a digital in.

 

[Maciek]

Don't worry about A/D chain as its really transparent. But You can go into FA253 digitally, and then use a DAC accepting SPDIF coax input, which will serve FA501.

So toslink -> FA253 -> coax spdif into external DAC -> FA501

 

[YSDR]

So toslink -> FA253 -> coax spdif into external DAC -> FA501

For that price, you can buy a FA502 with digital input. This way there would plus one amp and DSP channel and don't have to "mess" with the A/D conversion.

 

[Maciek]

FA253 and FA501 are already there as I understand. For an extra ~30 usd (like sms ps100) signal stays all digital on FA253 and still interface with the analog FA501.

 

[AlmaAtaKZ]

I am using a pair of 253s in a small-ish 3-way conversion (the first two pics) and a pair of 123s in a small new-build (the last pic) and find the FAs nothing but excellent.
I hope the FA range gets un update soon:
- more FIR taps
- Nilai tech based
- USB C
- WiFi/Ethernet input, native AirPlay2, Wisa etc. Maybe HDMI
- ability to connect to multiple FA units at the same time
- improvements to HFD functionality

 

[MKR]

I am using a pair of 253s in a small-ish 3-way conversion (the first two pics) and a pair of 123s in a small new-build (the last pic) and find the FAs nothing but excellent.
I hope the FA range gets un update soon:
- more FIR taps
- Nilai tech based
- USB C
- WiFi/Ethernet input, native AirPlay2, Wisa etc. Maybe HDMI
- ability to connect to multiple FA units at the same time
- improvements to HFD functionality

View attachment 514778 View attachment 514779 View attachment 514780

Nice! They really are excellent, albeit getting a bit dated as you alluded too. Plus they can be a bit quirky at times (mainly master to slave syncing), and the DSP software definitely is archaic. But you absolutely cannot argue with the sound quality, which is what really matters in the end.

I do hope there is a major refresh at some point, but in meantime they drive my actives superbly.

 

[Maciek]

Need help on integrating Fusion amps with sub in a 2.1/5.1 setup. At present a Yamaha AVR serves as pre, in between Wiim mini (optical output) and two FA123, and a DIY sub connected to sub out. I want to simplify things for stereo (2.1) and use the AVR only for additional channels for 5.1 material (over HDMI from streaming services). So basically I want to plug Wiim mini directly into Fusion amps but I need to integrate the sub without using AVR. So, as Fusion amps use spdif for master/slave link, could I just connect a DAC with spdif input after the slave unit, to serve the sub?
Obviously I want to avoid buying another Fusion plate just for the sub ($$) as I feel it would be served perfectly fine by something cheaper like an Aiyima TPA3255 amp. Alternatively I could upgrade to Wiim Ultra for sub out but then again, considering additional apmplification I woild probably end at a proce tag close to FA122/FA252. Using spdif out from slave Fusion would be the most cost effective but I don't know if it would work with a third party DAC.

Soooo after a year of thinking and turning my nose on spending €€ for an FA122 to integrate a passive subwoofer with my (still under construction) Fusion powered L/R speakers I think I have found a viable solution.

After probably a dozen different sessions with Gemini where I asked it to solve it on a budget it finally nailed it. I plan to use the ~99 USD Arylic BP50 which has parametric EQ, low/highpass filters and adjustable delay, and an spdif input (albeit optical, needs conversion from coax). To amp the sub I plan to use Fosi V3 mono. This sets me at around half the price of a Hypex FA 122 (cheapest DSP enabled unit) with similar DSP capabilities snd power output, with sound quality reasonable enough for subwoofer applications. Solved!

 

[somebodyelse]

I plan to use the ~99 USD Arylic BP50 which has parametric EQ, low/highpass filters and adjustable delay, and an spdif input (albeit optical, needs conversion from coax).

You might want to check the review first - it had serious issues with its digital in to digital out processing.

 

[Maciek]

You might want to check the review first - it had serious issues with its digital in to digital out processing.

Thanks for the warning! I would use analog outs, in which case there is some 80db of headroom - way more that needed for a subwoofer.
For a 2/3 way crossover I would stick with Fusion Amp but for a subwoofer - thats enough I think.

 

[PGansz]

What is the benefit of using Hypex 501 wh n you can get really good subwoofer plate amps, with specific settings for gain, phase and delay, plus whatever DSP you have in a A/V processor or receiver? It just doesn't make much sense to me...

 

[Maciek]

What is the benefit of using Hypex 501 wh n you can get really good subwoofer plate amps, with specific settings for gain, phase and delay, plus whatever DSP you have in a A/V processor or receiver? It just doesn't make much sense to me...

Its from a different era when DSP was not so widespread. Units with digital in are still a great value considering their performance.

Btw what really good plate amps with DSP do You recommend at lower cost than Hypex offerings?

 

[PGansz]

Well there's not many that contain "digital" DSP (to your point), but there are so many good ones with analogue controls (knobs) that do about everything you want for a sub.

To your point, I am designing my system now with the use of two Hypex plate amps: FA123 and FA251, daisy-chained via balanced cables so the so the AVP essentially sees one output to a full range speaker. With the AVP only applying "features" and gimmicks will be in use, not the PEQ. For me, this decision came down to applying a Linkwitz Transform to the sub, since Marantz gear only applies fancy DSP through Dirac target curves - they cannot be explicitly defined in the system.

 

[bamarek]

Hi Folks. I've been trying to setup my FA503 to marry open baffle stereo subwoofers in channel 1+2 and full range in channel 3. I have a strange problem with impulse measurement. I use acoustic reference as it is probably the only way in my setup, so L for reference when measuring R. Chirp obviously comes from channel 3. When I measure the full range the impulse response is always the same. When I measure the subs, it is all over the place, sometimes 15ms difference between measurements.
My laptop with REW feeds Wiim via RCA, which feeds a DAC via optical which then feeds the mono non-synched amps via analog input. I'm running out of ideas what can be wrong here. I can connect my gear differently but this setup mirrors how music signal flows for me. Any help?

 

[Trdat]

How flexible is HFD? Can you learn to build any crossover filter with it?

Also i noticed you have the 100W extra tweeter amp version, do they match the gain of that extra unit with the two 250W amps? I’m thinking of using FA123 too.

I'm an amateur, and it was possible. With some help, REW and whole host of measurements(not off axis unfortunately) I designed a centre speaker with Hypex HFD.

 

[AlmaAtaKZ]

There is an excellent guide by Dannerd3h on diy audio.

Thread 'Setting up a Fusion Amp 3-way Step-by-Step'
https://www.diyaudio.com/community/threads/setting-up-a-fusion-amp-3-way-step-by-step.333733/

 

[Uncola]

guys if I have active left/right speakers with fa252 plate amps in them.. can I run the usb audio output of my wiim amp ultra, which has digital volume control.. into the usb of the fa252 plate amp, then use spdif or aes output to connect to the other speakers plate amp? or do those outputs only work if you use the matching spdif or aes input on the first plate amp? if I can't use the usb input, I'd probably use a usb to spdif converter.. then I'd use the spdif in on the first plate amp, and then I'd have to use only the spdif output to connect to the 2nd speakers plate amp, right?

 

[voodooless]

guys if I have active left/right speakers with fa252 plate amps in them.. can I run the usb audio output of my wiim amp ultra, which has digital volume control.. into the usb of the fa252 plate amp, then use spdif or aes output to connect to the other speakers plate amp? or do those outputs only work if you use the matching spdif or aes input on the first plate amp? if I can't use the usb input, I'd probably use a usb to spdif converter.. then I'd use the spdif in on the first plate amp, and then I'd have to use only the spdif output to connect to the 2nd speakers plate amp, right?

USB is only for programming, not audio. Just use the optical out of the wiim to Hypex amp, then AES or coax to the second amp.

 

[Uncola]

ahh so if I use optical, coax or spdif input, I can use any digital output to connect the 2nd speaker, it doesn't have to be the same type of cable as what I use for input on the first speaker? thanks dude, that's the info I needed!

 

[voodooless]

ahh so if I use optical, coax or spdif input, I can use any digital output to connect the 2nd speaker, it doesn't have to be the same type of cable as what I use for input on the first speaker? thanks dude, that's the info I needed!

It's all in the manual: