SCIBER AMPLOI Amplifier Review

[EJ3]

$4900 for that? Uh no.

I thought that maybe meters could bring the appeal up. Then I thought: not enough, though. Perhaps 100 watts at 8 ohms + meters & I would think about it again. Maybe?

 

[Sal1950]

Humm, let me think, a Sciber Ampoli for $4900 or a Topping Mini 300 for around $140 ?
AHHHH.

 

[Sal1950]

Of course it can, and at 180 kg per mono they spared no size, whatever it is:

Eclipse mono : HALCRO

The world's only Super-Fidelity audio

halcro.com

Hey Amir, a SUPER-FIDELITY amp. You need to measure one of these.
The "Worlds Only" none the less! LOL

 

[Sokel]

Eclipse mono : HALCRO

The world's only Super-Fidelity audio

halcro.com

Hey Amir, a SUPER-FIDELITY amp. You need to measure one of these.
The "Worlds Only" none the less! LOL

Apart from what these Halcro crazies did with the rest, I'm REALLY curious to see how this current-mode input compares with its normal inputs and what it brings to the table.
I understand that this does not come from audio world but from their own field of expertise (really nice metal detectors) , same with their obsession about metals used building this amp, but I'm curious nonetheless!

 

[Sal1950]

I'm REALLY curious to see how this current-mode input compares with its normal inputs and what it brings to the table.

But what could it bring to the table, better sound? I VERY highly doubt that. Power amps have been solved, musically transparent
problem for decades now, with the only real breakthroughs being done in design efficiency, class D and such. These "high end" people
still just piss me off with the marketing lies and all the rest.

"They position everything precisely in the soundstage due to their unique ability to avoid adding ‘ghost’ notes that are thrown into the mix by the non-linear distortion of a conventional amplifier. Lack of distortion aside, one of the many things that make Halcro amplifiers so good is the way they maintain the phase coherence of the signal source. Phase coherence is a measure of the degree to which a system maintains the relative timing of various notes or tones within complex music."

Don't want any ghosts notes or out of phase notes getting thru. What a bunch of crap!
If I needed new amps and had much deeper pockets than I do, I'd probably look to something like a Bryston. Truly built like tanks and it's
"we guarantee its excellent performance and trouble free operation for 20 years". Now there's a marketing claim you can sink your
teeth into.

 

[Sokel]

But what could it bring to the table, better sound? I VERY highly doubt that. Power amps have been solved, musically transparent
problem for decades now, with the only real breakthroughs being done in design efficiency, class D and such. These "high end" people
still just piss me off with the marketing lies and all the rest.

"They position everything precisely in the soundstage due to their unique ability to avoid adding ‘ghost’ notes that are thrown into the mix by the non-linear distortion of a conventional amplifier. Lack of distortion aside, one of the many things that make Halcro amplifiers so good is the way they maintain the phase coherence of the signal source. Phase coherence is a measure of the degree to which a system maintains the relative timing of various notes or tones within complex music."

Don't want any ghosts notes or out of phase notes getting thru. What a bunch of crap!
If I needed new amps and had much deeper pockets than I do, I'd probably look to something like a Bryston. Truly built like tanks and it's
"we guarantee its excellent performance and trouble free operation for 20 years". Now there's a marketing claim you can sink your
teeth into.

Halcro's design and engineering has nothing to do with hi-end usual suspects, their late marketing though may relate a little to it, agree to that.

The idea behind them is similar to yours, someone far outside the audio hi-end world (probably as frustrated as you by claims) who just wanted to show what can be done, applying their expertise gained by other,far more demanding fields .

Far from SQ of course, that's solved for decades, it's more the engineering principles applied correctly and at a no cost object design?
Bragging rights can be justified here, allover.

And then came marketing, as in everything.

 

[xanalog]

Humm, let me think, a Sciber Ampoli for $4900 or a Topping Mini 300 for around $140 ?
AHHHH.

But I was led to believe you were/are a multi-channel fan.
$36,750 versus $1,050 would be a real-world comparo, if you needed amplification for 15 channel!

 

[Michou]

Thanks @amirm

I think this is the first class AB with switching power supply that I have seen.
They did not choose more common design of keeping heatsink on the sides exposed outside for better cooling, probably to just make it look cleaner for expense of more heat building up inside causing top to get the heat.
the top plate seems to have vents from the pic, I might be wrong though.

Some pics from their website:

View attachment 471177

View attachment 471178

The French Micromega MyAmp is another interesting example. It's also a Class A/B design based on the LM3886, but instead of a conventional linear power supply it uses a PFC resonant-mode switching power supply, along with a small cooling fan. It's a rather unconventional combination, yet one that works surprisingly well.

 

[Panelhead]

The MyAmp are sweet. Class AB, weighs 2.2 pounds with a switching supply. Has an AK dac, BT, sub out, and remote.
I have a couple.
But use an E70 Velvet and pair of B100’s instead.
If this amp really uses four LM3886 per channel something is wrong. Other amps using the bridged parallel topology using LM3886 outputs were swinging 240/120 watts and not 100/50.

 

[Michou]

The MyAmp are sweet. Class AB, weighs 2.2 pounds with a switching supply. Has an AK dac, BT, sub out, and remote.
I have a couple.
But use an E70 Velvet and pair of B100’s instead.
If this amp really uses four LM3886 per channel something is wrong. Other amps using the bridged parallel topology using LM3886 outputs were swinging 240/120 watts and not 100/50.

The MyAmp is a bit of a misunderstood little amp. It was really designed as a lifestyle product: compact, elegant and practical, with an ESS Sabre ES9023P DAC, Tenor TE7022L USB audio receiver, aptX Bluetooth, remote, sub out, and enough power for a small to medium room.

AFAIK, it uses a single dedicated Texas Instruments (National Semiconductor) LM3886 Class AB chip per channel, not a multi-chip bridged/parallel arrangement. Its roughly 30 W/ch into 8 ohms (and around 60 W/ch into 4 ohms) rating is perfectly in line with that topology. If it actually had two or four paralleled LM3886s per channel, it would be a very different animal, with much higher output capability, different thermal requirements, and a significantly different cost structure.

The MyAmp was quite an advanced design for its time, combining a stylish compact form factor with features that were uncommon in this category. Its resonant-mode PFC SMPS was a particularly sophisticated choice, while the clever cooling tunnel with a small variable-speed fan helped deliver efficient, stable power in such a small enclosure.

The charm of the MyAmp is not brute force, but how much musicality and functionality Micromega managed to pack into such a cute little ABS box. It was never meant to compete with a big power amp, but as a compact integrated it remains a very clever and enjoyable design.

 

[Panelhead]

I realize the MyAmp is a single LM3886. Use with high efficiency horns. Less than 1 watt for LOUD.
The AMPLOI is a more flexible animal. Should be capable of driving most speakers as long as 4 ohms.
Micromega used LM3886 in several earlier amplifiers, usually in parallel to increase the current capability.
Twenty years ago there were products using four per channel. They had double the output of the AMPLOI. If the output topology is bridged parallel the rails must be very low voltage.
I may need this whole thread to see if anyone has looked at output stage configuration. The bridging of LM3886 is simple. Care and tests of the feedback loops is needed when paralleling them.
If the AMPLOI has four in parallel it is unique. Never seen more than three in a commercial amplifier. Guess four in parallel could swing 100/50 watts if rail voltage is high enough.

 

[Panelhead]

Hi All! Thanks for your comments and attention!

Yes, it is high priced due to strictions and because it was our first project, which was made locally and not perfect in terms of economics.

But from an engineering point of view, we put a lot of effort, time and resources into the development! We used many of our own unique developments and tried to take into account all the little things. For example, the amplifier has all kinds of protection - from constant voltage at the output, from short circuits on the terminals, from overheating, from power supply problems and even from static discharges on the connectors.

Bytheway, this amp's production is going to end soon, making way clear for new devices. So, it may be discounts )

And Thanks a lot Who leave politics aside this thread!

We love to create, not ruine!

---

This 64 w is enough to use in typical east european flats. For big houses it is recommended to bridge amps to get 220w.



The amplifier has a fifth-order correction and other unique solutions. There are not bare chips.


If you listen on $50 speakers, you're right. But some people listen on more expensive speakers. And there is a big difference.


That's right! )

I remember a DIY designer from Russia who put together a very low distortion composite amp. Used some ideas from Mauro Penasa. But much higher order feedback. Think his name was Leo.
He was measuring -140dB range. The output relay seemed to be problematic. The My-Ref relay worked very well. Had too. The LM3886 configured with voltage gain of 1 spiked to negative rail voltage on power up.

 

[GydruS]

If this amp really uses four LM3886 per channel something is wrong. Other amps using the bridged parallel topology using LM3886 outputs were swinging 240/120 watts and not 100/50.

Hi! Yes, this amp uses 4xLM3886 per channel. But it uses LM not as directed in datasheet. Also 4pcs is used to quadruple output current. Amploi can provide 30A of current per channel and have big damping ability. And... actual power is above 60/120. We initially made a mistake by specifying too much reserve in the parameters )

The AMPLOI is a more flexible animal. Should be capable of driving most speakers as long as 4 ohms.

And 2 Ohms - easy too )

If the AMPLOI has four in parallel it is unique. Never seen more than three in a commercial amplifier. Guess four in parallel could swing 100/50 watts if rail voltage is high enough.

Yes, it has 4 in parallel. Voltage is +-34. And unique scheme with five-poles correction.

 

[GydruS]

I remember a DIY designer from Russia who put together a very low distortion composite amp. Used some ideas from Mauro Penasa. But much higher order feedback. Think his name was Leo.
He was measuring -140dB range. The output relay seemed to be problematic. The My-Ref relay worked very well. Had too. The LM3886 configured with voltage gain of 1 spiked to negative rail voltage on power up.

Hm... We know 2 Leos here, but never heard that they got -140dB range. We'll ask when meet them (by the way, we're already confidently working with a -150 dB range and have prototypes, but the products themselves are still in development).
And thank You for pointing Mauro Penasa - we will read about his ideas too!
But our solution was born as result of deep understanding of internal shcheme of 3886 and our experiments only. )

 

[Panelhead]

And thank You for pointing Mauro Penasa - we will read about his ideas too!
But our solution was born as result of deep understanding of internal shcheme of 3886 and our experiments only. )

I am glad to see Class AB products. And learned to love triggers.
My system is in a loft. No remote and no trigger means a trip up to switch on or off.
Equipment sometimes being left on accidentally. Do not go up every day.
Never saw the value of triggers until I had used it. Doubt I will buy equipment without now.

 

[Billy Budapest]

Thank you @amirm,
It is a different design approach for sure but no more worthy than a PostmanPanther.

What exactly makes it so pricey is the question, and hope it is not some imagined 'historical' value!

In many different areas, Russia has a history of unconventional but excellent engineering.

 

[Ropeburn]

In many different areas, Russia has a history of unconventional but excellent engineering.

Not the least of which in electronic instruments. The 1982 Polivoks synthesizer for example is legendary and highly sought after. Its filter has been cloned many times, and there's full clones (luxury instruments for $$$$ ofc) too.

Show a real one to any synth player and they'll start slobbering.

 

[milosz]

In many different areas, Russia has a history of unconventional but excellent engineering.

E.G., Chernobyl....

 

[gvl]

E.G., Chernobyl....

Chernobyl happened due to operator error.

 

[Chrispy]

For this price, poor.