• WANTED: Happy members who like to discuss audio and other topics related to our interest. Desire to learn and share knowledge of science required. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!

Review and Measurements of IOM NCore Pro PWR Amp

cinstance

Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2019
Messages
40
Likes
26
I just build one of this for about $400 total.

I bought the case and all cables and connectors needed from ghentaudio for $130:
https://www.ghentaudio.com/kit/2180a-2.html

and bought the 252MP from Ebay for about $250.

Everything were put together in less than one hour and it works great. It has very smooth and sweet sound for the tweeters, but not so great for mid and bass drivers. So I am using it for the tweeters in a bi-amping set up.
 

Matias

Master Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
5,031
Likes
10,806
Location
São Paulo, Brazil
Class D sweet on highs and not good enough on mids and bass... This just shows how much the world is changing. :)
 

VintageFlanker

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Sep 20, 2018
Messages
4,943
Likes
19,696
Location
Paris
@Audiophonics just listed another release.

After, their amps based on NC122MP, NC250MP, NC500MP, and more recently, NC400. Now, they just released a NC252MP based one! Only XLR inputs this time.

Most impressive thing here is the price: 439€ VAT inc. Pair this with a SMSL M500 and you get a endgame set up for most usages for only 838€.

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...reo-amplifier-ncore-2x150w-8-ohm-p-14185.html

1573040817415_audiophonics-mpa-s252nc-xlr-amplificateur-stereo-class-d-ncore-2x150w-8-...~2.jpg


audiophonics-mpa-s252nc-xlr-amplificateur-stereo-class-d-ncore-2x150w-8-...~2.jpg


1573040816163_audiophonics-mpa-s252nc-xlr-amplificateur-stereo-class-d-ncore-2x150w-8-...~2.jpg


1573040819185_audiophonics-mpa-s252nc-xlr-amplificateur-stereo-class-d-ncore-2x150w-8-...~2.jpg
 

daftcombo

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Feb 5, 2019
Messages
3,687
Likes
4,068
@Audiophonics just listed another release.

After, their amps based on NC122MP, NC250MP, NC500MP, and more recently, NC400. Now, they just released a NC252MP based one! Only XLR inputs this time.

Most impressive thing here is the price: 439€ VAT inc. Pair this with a SMSL M500 and you get a endgame set up for most usages for only 838€.

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...reo-amplifier-ncore-2x150w-8-ohm-p-14185.html

View attachment 38015

View attachment 38016

View attachment 38017

View attachment 38018
Thanks!
Seems like this is what I need for my newcomers Focal Aria 906!
 

RichB

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
May 24, 2019
Messages
1,946
Likes
2,611
Location
Massachusetts
@Audiophonics just listed another release.

After, their amps based on NC122MP, NC250MP, NC500MP, and more recently, NC400. Now, they just released a NC252MP based one! Only XLR inputs this time.

Most impressive thing here is the price: 439€ VAT inc. Pair this with a SMSL M500 and you get a endgame set up for most usages for only 838€.

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/powe...reo-amplifier-ncore-2x150w-8-ohm-p-14185.html

View attachment 38015

View attachment 38016

View attachment 38017

View attachment 38018


The price is right but these are not inspiring specifications:

Max. power (@ 1kHz, THD=1%)
2x150W @ 8Ω
2x250W @ 4Ω
2x180W @ 2Ω

The power versus distortion charts are illegible.

- Rich
 

VintageFlanker

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Sep 20, 2018
Messages
4,943
Likes
19,696
Location
Paris
The price is right but these are not inspiring specifications:

Max. power (@ 1kHz, THD=1%)
2x150W @ 8Ω
2x250W @ 4Ω
2x180W @ 2Ω

The power versus distortion charts are illegible.

- Rich
What @daftcombo said. Check the specs from the datasheet. All will match since this is nothing but a NC252MP module in a box.

In the same order of idea: @amirm measurements for the ION are applicable to the Audiophonics one. (Just much better looking to me and 200€ cheaper!).
 
Last edited:

dkinric

Addicted to Fun and Learning
Joined
Nov 21, 2018
Messages
667
Likes
1,446
Location
Virginia, USA
Wow, great distortion and power #s for only about $400 USD. Case looks nice. This could be "the one" (for me, at least).

Edit: $544 after taxes and shipping to USA
 
Last edited:

rodtor

Member
Forum Donor
Joined
Aug 21, 2019
Messages
97
Likes
180
Location
Toronto
All will match since this is nothing but a NC252MP module in a box.

Hopefully this is the case. But we can never be sure whether an implementation meets Hypex specs until it is tested. The IOM, based on the 252MP, came very close. However, the Nord implementation of the Hypex 500 fell noticeably short of the specs for that module. The Audiophonics units look great to my admittedly untrained eyes. But it would be nice to see independent test results for a couple of their units, as well as others from Apollon, Nord and March. With that proviso, I do share your enthusiasm for units based on these modules.
 

VintageFlanker

Major Contributor
Forum Donor
Joined
Sep 20, 2018
Messages
4,943
Likes
19,696
Location
Paris
However, the Nord implementation of the Hypex 500 fell noticeably short of the specs for that module.
Unfortunately not comparable. There is no "implementation" for the NC252MP. This is a all in one module. It is the only component needed to build an amp.

NC500 needs (custom?) buffers/opamps and a SMPS to operate. That explains some little performance variations.
 

rodtor

Member
Forum Donor
Joined
Aug 21, 2019
Messages
97
Likes
180
Location
Toronto
Unfortunately not comparable. There is no "implementation" for the NC252MP. This is a all in one module. It is the only component needed to build an amp.

NC500 needs (custom?) buffers/opamps and a SMPS to operate. That explains some little performance variations.
That particular Nord used an opamp from Hypex. And what would Hypex's specs be based on. We don't know what custom opamp will do to performance because they, too, have not been tested. A number of contributors to various ASR threads have pointed out that implementation is always key, even for Hypex modules. It is not just a matter of sticking a couple of components in a box.
 

dwalme

Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2018
Messages
41
Likes
25
That particular Nord used an opamp from Hypex. And what would Hypex's specs be based on. We don't know what custom opamp will do to performance because they, too, have not been tested. A number of contributors to various ASR threads have pointed out that implementation is always key, even for Hypex modules. It is not just a matter of sticking a couple of components in a box.

With the NC252MP it is exactly a matter of sticking a module in a box and you are done.

The Nord NC500 based amplifiers are not like the amplifiers built with NC252MP. No alternative power supply, no custom input buffer, etc. You literally bolt the module into a case and connect your power wires and audio input/output wires. Done.
 

rodtor

Member
Forum Donor
Joined
Aug 21, 2019
Messages
97
Likes
180
Location
Toronto
With the NC252MP it is exactly a matter of sticking a module in a box and you are done.

The Nord NC500 based amplifiers are not like the amplifiers built with NC252MP. No alternative power supply, no custom input buffer, etc. You literally bolt the module into a case and connect your power wires and audio input/output wires. Done.

OK, thanks for claritying that for me.
 

headshake

Active Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2019
Messages
297
Likes
238
and bought the 252MP from Ebay for about $250.
Hmmm.,, made me look. There is a US based seller that has the 252mp for $289 shipped.

That's damn tempting. I thought the plate amps were a deal... this might top it.

Just need a few connectors and a case (if i skip ghent).
but not so great for mid and bass drivers
Why? More watts?
 

boXem

Major Contributor
Audio Company
Joined
Jun 19, 2019
Messages
2,014
Likes
4,853
Location
Europe
Hmmm.,, made me look. There is a US based seller that has the 252mp for $289 shipped.

That's damn tempting. I thought the plate amps were a deal... this might top it.

Just need a few connectors and a case (if i skip ghent).
These modules are not supposed to be sold to individuals. This means this guy got something he was not supposed to get, or lied at some point. Not somebody I would trust by default.
 

cinstance

Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2019
Messages
40
Likes
26
Hmmm.,, made me look. There is a US based seller that has the 252mp for $289 shipped.

That's damn tempting. I thought the plate amps were a deal... this might top it.

Just need a few connectors and a case (if i skip ghent).

Why? More watts?

Yeah, probably. My speakers are very power hungry. With the 252MP, the base does not have the same depth and impact as with the QSC PLX3002 which I am now using for the mid and base drivers.
 

BaaM

Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2019
Messages
58
Likes
96
I've just bought the AUDIOPHONICS MPA-S252NC XLR.
Will share my subjective opinion here and compare it to my FX Audio D802C as soon as I find out a good DAC (within ~two weeks)
 
Top Bottom