Reasonably Priced Amp 250w 8ohm?

[Drayman]

Does anyone know of a good Class D amp that can output 250w into 8 ohms? This is for a 25 speaker vertical array with measured resistance 6.4 ohms. All the great amps here (Topping, Hypex) output 180+ watts into 4 ohms. These towers need power!

Thanks!

 

[Karmacoma]

Does anyone know of a good Class D amp that can output 250w into 8 ohms? This is for a 25 speaker vertical array with measured resistance 6.4 ohms. All the great amps here (Topping, Hypex) output 180+ watts into 4 ohms. These towers need power!

Thanks!

Hi, welcome to ASR!
This would probably help the answers if you could tell which towers you're talking about.

 

[Mark609]

Does anyone know of a good Class D amp that can output 250w into 8 ohms? This is for a 25 speaker vertical array with measured resistance 6.4 ohms. All the great amps here (Topping, Hypex) output 180+ watts into 4 ohms. These towers need power!

Thanks!

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

 

[Timcognito]

Buckeye NC252MP Stereo Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Buckeye NC252MP balanced stereo class D amplifier. It was kindly drop shipped to me by a member and costs US $575. The amp is almost the size of a loaf of bread and literally weighs nearly as much! Amazing how far amplification technology has...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Beat me to it

 

[Soundproof]

If residing in Europe:
A few variations from Neutrino using Hypex NC 500 MP / NC 500 SMPS (with or without trigger and so on):

Monoblocks:

Mono | Neutrino Audio

neutrinoaudio.eu

Stereo:

Stereo | Neutrino Audio

neutrinoaudio.eu

Neutrino (Croatia) prices are with free shipping in EU and calculated with VAT for destination countries. Believe their prices for cables are pretty attractive too, Mogami/Canare Rean/Neutrik seems typical where relevant.

Haven't shopped there, but if they deliver what they sell? Hard to beat.

Beyond that: March audio (Australia), Audiophonics (France), Soundimport.eu (Holland), Apollon Audio (Slovenia), Boxem (Luxembourg) for Hypex / Purifi and then some.

 

[Redacted]

If in the UK (or importing from), Nord have a wide range.

[edit - in general, most kit is similar so a big consideration ought to be support, service & repair - as local as possible is sensible in the days of tariffs and barriers]

Nord Acoustics Power Amplifier | FAQ

We answer common questions about Hypex NCore amplifiers. Will they work with Electostatic spaekers? Will they drive 2 ohm speakers.

nordacoustics.co.uk

 

[Keith Flanker]

An NC502MP-based amp (Buckeye or similar) would be the straightforward pick here — it’s rated around 250W into 8 ohms and ~500W into 4, so it gives you the headroom your 6.4 ohm array actually needs. The Topping/Hypex amps you’ve seen are mostly optimized for 4-ohm loads, which is why they run out of steam on the 8-ohm numbers. If you’d rather spend less and don’t mind a pro-style chassis with fans, a Crown XLS2502 or similar PA amp will do 400+ watts into 8 ohms and is built for exactly this kind of load. For a living room I’d still take the Hypex route — cleaner measured performance and no fan noise.

 

[Drayman]

Hi, welcome to ASR!
This would probably help the answers if you could tell which towers you're talking about.

Roger Russel ADS-25 clones. Vertical line arrays with 25 3" full range Vifa TC9-FD10-08 speakers each- the white ones with black cones. The dark speakers with white cones are the same design but with fiberglass 4 ohm speakers, TG9-FD10=04. Both pairs are rated at 250 watts.

 

[Drayman]

Roger Russel ADS-25 clones. Vertical line arrays with 25 3" full range Vifa TC9-FD10-08 speakers each- the white ones with black cones. The dark speakers with white cones are the same design but with fiberglass 4 ohm speakers, TG9-FD10=04. Both pairs are rated at 250 watts.

Thanks everyone!
Should have mentioned I'm in Northern California.

 

[Soundproof]

Thanks everyone!
Should have mentioned I'm in Northern California.

https://neurochrome.com/

Just a few miles away

 

[Karmacoma]

Roger Russel ADS-25 clones. Vertical line arrays with 25 3" full range Vifa TC9-FD10-08 speakers each- the white ones with black cones. The dark speakers with white cones are the same design but with fiberglass 4 ohm speakers, TG9-FD10=04. Both pairs are rated at 250 watts.

I shouldn't have asked. Now I'm jealous.

 

[Drayman]

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. The Buckeye NC502MP model is perfect!

Karmacoma- the speakers were a covid construction project. I built them in my garage. But they do sound awesome with the right EQ and power. Drop me a line if you want to know more.

Cheers, all!

 

[Drayman]

An NC502MP-based amp (Buckeye or similar) would be the straightforward pick here — it’s rated around 250W into 8 ohms and ~500W into 4, so it gives you the headroom your 6.4 ohm array actually needs. The Topping/Hypex amps you’ve seen are mostly optimized for 4-ohm loads, which is why they run out of steam on the 8-ohm numbers. If you’d rather spend less and don’t mind a pro-style chassis with fans, a Crown XLS2502 or similar PA amp will do 400+ watts into 8 ohms and is built for exactly this kind of load. For a living room I’d still take the Hypex route — cleaner measured performance and no fan noise.

Just ordered the Buckeye Hypex NC502MP. "Build to ship time" 3-4 weeks. I will update when I get them. Thanks!

 

[Karmacoma]

Thanks for the recommendations, everyone. The Buckeye NC502MP model is perfect!

Karmacoma- the speakers were a covid construction project. I built them in my garage. But they do sound awesome with the right EQ and power. Drop me a line if you want to know more.

Cheers, all!

Oh I've been looking at these for a while. I'm very curious about slim curved line array speakers for home use.

 

[Drayman]

Oh I've been looking at these for a while. I'm very curious about slim curved line array speakers for home use.

Yes, the curved line arrays work very well too. Notice at large concerts the flying arrays are "J" curves. Tweeters are a nice addition, too. But I'm deaf above 8kHz so they don't help me much ;-). I'd say go for it. I'm really enjoying mine.

 

[DanielT]

Roger Russel ADS-25 clones. Vertical line arrays with 25 3" full range Vifa TC9-FD10-08 speakers each- the white ones with black cones. The dark speakers with white cones are the same design but with fiberglass 4 ohm speakers, TG9-FD10=04. Both pairs are rated at 250 watts.

Cool speakers—great build, nice work! But why 250 watts? I mean, what’s their sensitivity? Up around 100 dB? Besides, you don't need to sacrifice sensitivity—by cutting the lower registers to boost the high-frequency response, as is often necessary with arrays—since you can't hear above 8 kHz, ...

But I'm deaf above 8kHz so they don't help me much ;-).

...as you mentioned.

Why not, say, 30–50 amp watts? Unless you really like playing at extremely high volumes—in which case, more power might be needed.

 

[DanielT]

Just ordered the Buckeye Hypex NC502MP. "Build to ship time" 3-4 weeks. I will update when I get them. Thanks!

I missed that you’d ordered it. Let us know later, once you’ve received it, how you think it works with the speakers. It ought to work excellently. It’s a good amp.

 

[stuartkohl]

I missed that you’d ordered it. Let us know later, once you’ve received it, how you think it works with the speakers. It ought to work excellently. It’s a good amp.

I have the Buckeye NCx252MP and it's really a superb amp, so I'm sure your NC502MP will be a great amp too. Dylan does a fantastic job of constructing these and packing them well for shipping.

 

[Drayman]

Cool speakers—great build, nice work! But why 250 watts? I mean, what’s their sensitivity? Up around 100 dB? Besides, you don't need to sacrifice sensitivity—by cutting the lower registers to boost the high-frequency response, as is often necessary with arrays—since you can't hear above 8 kHz, ...


...as you mentioned.

Why not, say, 30–50 amp watts? Unless you really like playing at extremely high volumes—in which case, more power might be needed.

It's a big room 20'x30', I like classical full volume (St. Saens Organ Symphony), and the kids play a bit of hiphop. I'm using a vintage McIntosh MC 2100 now on the 8 ohms and Fosi 180w monobocks on the 4 ohms. But I had a McIntosh MC 2205 blow out a channel. Taking no more chances with the vintage stuff. Thanks tho!

 

[Mark609]

I have the Buckeye NCx252MP and it's really a superb amp, so I'm sure your NC502MP will be a great amp too. Dylan does a fantastic job of constructing these and packing them well for shipping.

Nice to hear this, thanks for sharing. I expect my Buck NCx500 3 channel to be shipped soon. WAY over kill for my use but I'd rather have plenty of room to spare rather than come up short when I need it.