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Sold my Nord Three 1ET7040SA Monos — Upgrading to 1ET9040BA MB MKII Flagship

Cpopovic

Cpopovic

Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2023
Messages
65
Likes
60
Location
Switzerland
Hi everyone, :cool:

I sold my Nord Three 1ET7040SA MKII reference monoblocks to a friend who visited to listen to my hi-fi system last weekend. He was so impressed by their performance that he offered to buy them on the spot. As a result, I’ve decided to stay with Nord Acoustics and upgrade to their latest flagship: the Nord Three 1ET9040BA MB MKII monoblocks.

These units utilize the Purifi 1ET9040BA module, offering superior performance over the 1ET7040SA with <0.0001% THD+N, a 137dB SNR, and higher damping factors. Featuring the Nord REV D input buffer and specialized Hypex power supplies, they deliver 375W/8Ω, 750W/4Ω, and 925W/2Ω for significantly increased output headroom. [1]
My objectives for this upgrade, beyond pure curiosity, focus on these measurable technical improvements:

  • Ultra-low distortion and noise floor: <0.0001% THD+N (vs 0.00035% on the 7040SA) and a 137dB SNR (vs 129dB) for enhanced transparency.
  • High damping factors: >500 (vs ~400) for superior bass control and authority with demanding speakers.
  • Increased dynamic headroom: 375W/8Ω, 750W/4Ω, and 925W/2Ω (compared to 250W/8Ω, 500W/4Ω, and 950W/2Ω).
  • Proven Input Stage: The same excellent Nord REV D input buffer (4-position gain 12.8-29dB, Weiss OP2 op-amps, and discrete regulation).
Key Differentiators over the 1ET7040SA MKII:
  • Purifi 1ET9040BA module: 40A/90V capability (vs 25-40A) drives all core performance gains.
  • Enhanced Power Supply: Specialized higher-capacity Hypex SMPS matched to the 9040BA’s kilowatt demands.
  • Premium Build: Refined thermal design and hardware, including Switchcraft RCA/XLR connectors and CHK binding posts.
I’m surprised by the relative lack of in-depth reviews for Nord on this forum, given their engineering focus on Purifi modules. While I considered Buckeye and Apollon, I decided to stay with Nord Acoustics after three great years of ownership. I hope these new monos to deliver even greater transparency, significantly improved bass authority, and effortless dynamics without compression—even during the most demanding musical passages (I listen to Acoustic guitars/Pop/Metal/Electronics music)

Delivery is expected within two weeks. I’ll post detailed impressions once the 1ET9040BA MB MKII is properly integrated.
Total price: £3,460 / €3,989 / $4,656

Christian
 
Last edited:
Cpopovic said:
  • Cables:
  • Speakers: Tiglon TPL-2000SP, Vovox Excelsius Drive
  • Interconnects: Kubala-Sosna Emotions XLR
  • Power: Acrolink 7N 4030 Purosangue (source and monos)
  • Power Conditioning: Isotek Aquarius V5
  • Accessories: Custom fuses (SE pink, SR Master quantum), Ethernet filter and cables (MRCUK)
Click to expand...
Just FYI, we don't care about any of that bunkum here.
 
Cpopovic said:
Enhanced Power Supply: Specialized higher-capacity Hypex SMPS matched to the 9040BA’s kilowatt demands.
Click to expand...
A pedestrian SMPS1200, like all Nord Purifi builds. Pedestrian but very good, we use it too.
Cpopovic said:
Premium Build: Refined thermal design and hardware
Click to expand...
With all the respect due to Nord, no.
 
kyuu said:
Just FYI, we don't care about any of that bunkum here.
Click to expand...
we do, it says a lot about the people owning them
1777021844764.png
 
boXem said:
A pedestrian SMPS1200, like all Nord Purifi builds. Pedestrian but very good, we use it too.

With all the respect due to Nord, no.
Click to expand...
For clarity, when I wrote “premium build / refined thermal design and hardware” I meant that Nord offers a more premium casework (SE case)over the standard one, good connectors and seems to pay attention to layout, shielding and thermal behaviour, not that it’s categorically superior to other Purifi OEMs. The SMPS is the standard Hypex SMPS1200, same as many other builds.
 
delta76 said:
View attachment 527453
how I imagine you in 50 years
Click to expand...
I’m perfectly fine with skepticism – it’s needed in audio. But if I’m going to demand “evidence”, that cuts both ways: you’d need controlled data showing no possible benefit from any fuse change, not just strong opinions and memes.
Until then, I’m happy to treat fuses like any other tweak: if I enjoy the result in my own system, I keep it. What I don’t quite understand is why a few millimetres of wire in a glass tube trigger people more than kilowatts of Class D and DSP ever do?
 
Congrats on your amp! And a very nice choice too. Always curious to read impressions of upgrades between high end class D amps.

Nice build. Power supply heatsink making contact with the chassis heatsink. Short inner cables for AC, DC, line level and speakers. The premium SE case is just cherry on top. :)

IMG_20250226_095047_clipped_rev_1.png


nord-one-hypex-with-se-case-by-nordacoustic.png.webp
 
Last edited:
Cpopovic said:
I’m perfectly fine with skepticism – it’s needed in audio. But if I’m going to demand “evidence”, that cuts both ways: you’d need controlled data showing no possible benefit from any fuse change, not just strong opinions and memes.
Until then, I’m happy to treat fuses like any other tweak: if I enjoy the result in my own system, I keep it. What I don’t quite understand is why a few millimetres of wire in a glass tube trigger people more than kilowatts of Class D and DSP ever do?
Click to expand...

No. Not even a little bit.

Those making the absurd claim are required to provide the evidence.
 
Cpopovic said:
I’m perfectly fine with skepticism – it’s needed in audio. But if I’m going to demand “evidence”, that cuts both ways: you’d need controlled data showing no possible benefit from any fuse change, not just strong opinions and memes.
Until then, I’m happy to treat fuses like any other tweak: if I enjoy the result in my own system, I keep it. What I don’t quite understand is why a few millimetres of wire in a glass tube trigger people more than kilowatts of Class D and DSP ever do?
Click to expand...
You are the one who bought it and made the statement first. We are not the one who down $600 for that "few millimetres of wire". Anyone with basic understanding of how electricity works will understand no fuse will ever change the sound.

Yes member of ASR will be triggered by an amp regardless of class or power if it is sold for thousands and claims "sounds better".
 
Cpopovic said:
But if I’m going to demand “evidence”, that cuts both ways: you’d need controlled data showing no possible benefit from any fuse change, not just strong opinions and memes.
Click to expand...
  • Russell's teapot: ”The philosophic burden of proof lies upon a person making empirically unfalsifiable claims, as opposed to shifting the burden of disproof to others”.
  • Brandolini's law: ”The amount of energy needed to refute bullshit is an order of magnitude bigger than that needed to produce it”.
So it’s only fair you start with presenting evidence.
 
Cpopovic said:
Hi everyone, :cool:

I sold my Nord Three 1ET7040SA MKII reference monoblocks to a friend who visited to listen to my hi-fi system last weekend. He was so impressed by their performance that he offered to buy them on the spot. As a result, I’ve decided to stay with Nord Acoustics and upgrade to their latest flagship: the Nord Three 1ET9040BA MB MKII monoblocks.

These units utilize the Purifi 1ET9040BA module, offering superior performance over the 1ET7040SA with <0.0001% THD+N, a 137dB SNR, and higher damping factors. Featuring the Nord REV D input buffer and specialized Hypex power supplies, they deliver 375W/8Ω, 750W/4Ω, and 925W/2Ω for significantly increased output headroom. [1]
My objectives for this upgrade, beyond pure curiosity, focus on these measurable technical improvements:

  • Ultra-low distortion and noise floor: <0.0001% THD+N (vs 0.00035% on the 7040SA) and a 137dB SNR (vs 129dB) for enhanced transparency.
  • High damping factors: >500 (vs ~400) for superior bass control and authority with demanding speakers.
  • Increased dynamic headroom: 375W/8Ω, 750W/4Ω, and 925W/2Ω (compared to 250W/8Ω, 500W/4Ω, and 950W/2Ω).
  • Proven Input Stage: The same excellent Nord REV D input buffer (4-position gain 12.8-29dB, Weiss OP2 op-amps, and discrete regulation).
Key Differentiators over the 1ET7040SA MKII:
  • Purifi 1ET9040BA module: 40A/90V capability (vs 25-40A) drives all core performance gains.
  • Enhanced Power Supply: Specialized higher-capacity Hypex SMPS matched to the 9040BA’s kilowatt demands.
  • Premium Build: Refined thermal design and hardware, including Switchcraft RCA/XLR connectors and CHK binding posts.
I’m surprised by the relative lack of in-depth reviews for Nord on this forum, given their engineering focus on Purifi modules. While I considered Buckeye and Apollon, I decided to stay with Nord Acoustics after three great years of ownership. I hope these new monos to deliver even greater transparency, significantly improved bass authority, and effortless dynamics without compression—even during the most demanding musical passages (I listen to Acoustic guitars/Pop/Metal/Electronics music)

Delivery is expected within two weeks. I’ll post detailed impressions once the 1ET9040BA MB MKII is properly integrated.
Total price: £3,460 / €3,989 / $4,656

Christian
Click to expand...

Do you really expect to hear a difference? :rolleyes:
 
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