SCIBER AMPLOI Amplifier Review

[Yevhen]

Maybe a dumb question but anyway, would a SCIBER AMPLOI amp ($ 5K make a audible difference to a Douk A5 for $50 ? More or less same power with 36v PS!

Douk is class D, and the highs are not perfect there. I think you'll hear from SCIBER AMPLOI a bit more transparency in the 50-20kHz range but a bit less punch in bass

 

[Ajax]

Thanks for the review Amir.

We are so spoiled for high performance power amps these days that I can't see why a well informed audiophile would buy this. Any of the recent hypex ncx500 or purifi based amps will not only out perform, but will do so while providing 3 x the power at a 1/3 of the cost.

'Hypex NCx500 Class D Amplifier Review'

Jan 15, 2023

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Hypex NCx500 NCOREx reference design amplifier. It was sent by the company and kindly assembled by our forum expert, @Rick Sykora.

As you see the sample is a "monoblock" configuration (one channel) driven by Hypex SMPS1200 switching power supply. The only other board is the Ncore standard interface board. The gain as set is almost 12 dB. EDIT: see follow up below review for with buffer (27 dB gain) performance.

Here is a close up:

Note that this board includes a pre-amp (buffer). I am testing per...

• amirm
• Replies: 1,594
• Forum: Stereo and Multichannel Amplifier Reviews

• 

 

[Fledermaus]

Price per watt is what it is, but one may at least appreciate technical prowess and SOTA performance from a small-batch product which doesn't look like everybody's amp - thanks to the company and @amirm.

 

[Steven Holt]

Amir, thank you for this review. These measurements seem to rival Class D! The entire unit reeks of quality, both in and out, very impressed with the wiring and soldering, and those wonderful massive heat-sinks! Right now only Putin and his friends can afford it, but who's to say what the future holds? One thing for sure : The Russians Have Arrived!

 

[DanielT]

Good engineering but another bland, black box. If I spent five grand on an amp I at least want it to look like it cost a few quid.

They look pretty much the same, many of these new amplifiers. But it might sell best if they look anonymously black? Maybe to keep production costs down, not to offer different colors on the chassis for example?

Imagine if car manufacturers did the same thing. Car only in one color. I suspect what you Americans will say now and you have a point about it being that way back then with...:

Spoiler

On the same theme of color and costs:


Regarding the looks...:

 

[Endibol]

I think this is the first class AB with switching power supply that I have seen.

What about the Benchmark AHB2?

 

[Mojo Warrior]

Amir, when will you begin measuring Ukrainian gear ?

 

[Hart]

If those components glued to the heat sink get hot enough to require the heat sink, shouldn't they be spaced further apart from each other? I think the Apollon that was tested was better in almost every way and very powerful. And only $1,400.

 

[Waxx]

Amir, when will you begin measuring Ukrainian gear ?

When someone offers a device to measure it i think, but Amir decides on his own what he measures. If you got the skills and gear, you can also measure yourself and present it here (but it need to be done right). It's not only Amir who publish measurements here, he also push other measurements done right (or push the post to front page).

 

[shuppatsu]

Amir, when will you begin measuring Ukrainian gear ?

Already done. Verum Audio Verum 1 Review.

But be careful what you wish for. The designer turned out to be a raging racist and all-around terrible person.

 

[Steven Holt]

I would like to cordially invite everyone on this topic to KEEP YOUR POLITICS TO YOURSELVES. This is a technical/analytical forum, not a political forum. You want that, go to X/Twitter and bang yr drum to no end. I don't see anyone on here complaining about the China/Taiwan situation (THANK HEAVEN!!)

 

[tomtoo]

I dont vote. I just say 4900 ?

 

[Nopiano]

I think the design is confused. A power amp doesn’t need a volume knob. An integrated amp needs several inputs. Heat sinks need external venting to work well. And an expensive amp needs to look worth the money.

Pros: measures well.

Cons: everything else.

 

[Toni Mas]

Another chip (though not cheap) amp... For performance fine, for what It costs, not even worth considering...

 

[Sal1950]

Stand At Ease Troop

 

[Birdy]

Not a dumb question at all, infact one of the most important ones today.

According to the sum of blind testing results of the past: unlikely. If any, very little.

Maybe better not to do any blind testing then, could ruin a big market! When specs meet ears reality kicks in!

 

[Sokel]

I believe Halcro amps from 20 years ago (or so) were Class AB with switching power supplies.

Not only they use transformers but some of the strangest ones I have seen, they are crazy in general about the metals used, probably cause this is their field of expertise:

At the thread amp, interesting combination, really good performance but limited in power, depending the use case of course.

Thanks Amir!

 

[xanalog]

So now things from Puntin's Russia are being tested and praised.
If you want to support Russia's war machine, buy Russian. Otherwise, don't.

Let us make a distinction between the Russian peoples and Russian politics.
Do you seriously think that buying even 10,000 of these power amps mounts to a hill-a-beans for Russian politicians?
We are not here to deliberate politics; so, just let it be!

 

[ICIETDIYEUR]

People hi

This is a technically very successful amplifier in terms of performance, however it is rather poorly thought out to have integrated the transistor heatsinks inside the box but above all this device is far too expensive for what it is (old transistors and switching power supplies which are at a lower cost...).

Reputable companies such as Mac Intosh, ACCUPHASE, etc. can afford this pricing level due to their reputation, the reliability of their devices, the high quality of their components and their know-how but for this brand I find their 'attitude' a little too presumptuous.

 

[AndreaT]

Way too expensive to be competitive with offers from class D manufacturers, and quite anemic power-wise. A pass in my book.