UcD102 upgrade - Nad C3050 - help!

[EaZy]

Hello,
I'm new in the Class D era, with a Nad C3050.
Looks great (especially vu-meters) and so far I enjoy BluOS streaming.

But I'm pretty deceived by the amp performance.
Il lacks especially of presence in the midrange.

I didn't try Dirac RC yet. But I think the Hypex UcD 102 is an underperformer in comparison to what this amp has elsewhere.

I'm considering swapping the UcD module.
Would you think I could have an improvement with the NC252MP (not so easy as I would certainly need another PSU)?
Or go on the TPA35X path... TI TPA3251 (requires 36V as the UcD 102) or TPA3255 (should work OK at 36V ?).
For example SylphAudio D100 P02 PFFB or 3E Audio 260-2-29A PFFB?

 

[MaxwellsEq]

What speakers, what room size, how loud do you listen and what are your sources?

 

[EaZy]

Speakers : SEAS A26 Kit
Room size : around 30 m², a bit larger (40 m²) in a not so distant future as I will soon move.
Sources : BluOS (with the MDC2D card added on the back, I think it has a Sabre ES928Q2M chip), Nad CD, Project Turntable.
I rarely listen very loud but I like to have the possibility to do so, when wife and kids are outside

 

[somebodyelse]

Il lacks especially of presence in the midrange.

That seems more like a speaker problem than an amp problem. You might be able to improve it with a bit of EQ.

Would you think I could have an improvement with the NC252MP (not so easy as I would certainly need another PSU)?
Or go on the TPA35X path... TI TPA3251 (requires 36V as the UcD 102) or TPA3255 (should work OK at 36V ?).
For example SylphAudio D100 P02 PFFB or 3E Audio 260-2-29A PFFB?

Remember the UcD uses +/- psu rails while the tpa325x uses only +ve. You also need to consider the integration of any fault/ready reporting and amp enable lines if you're looking to replace amps. A microcontroller on the main board is probably monitoring/controlling these. It would be much easier just to use the preamp outputs into a separate power amp if you're convinced a change of amp is the way to go. There are a few threads on DIY tpa325x based amps if you want to DIY those. Most of the nCore are nominally OEM-only, and you'd be hard pushed to DIY for less than the budget amps from the likes of Buckeye, Nord or Audiophonics.

 

[EaZy]

Thank you.
I don't think the speakers have any problem. They worked much better with my Rega Elex R, the sound was much more lively especially in the midrange. My previous NAD c326 was also better in this area.
I didn't expect such a disapointment switching from AB to class D. I suspect a lack of current coming from the amp section.
What about UcD180HG ?

 

[Rick Sykora]

Thank you.
I don't think the speakers have any problem. They worked much better with my Rega Elex R, the sound was much more lively especially in the midrange. My previous NAD c326 was also better in this area.
I didn't expect such a disapointment switching from AB to class D. I suspect a lack of current coming from the amp section.
What about UcD180HG ?

No simple upgrade from UcD, but shy of a defective unit, is less likely to be the root cause of your issue. The NAD has pre-outs, have you tried connecting another amp to them? Does the issue occur the same way for all sources?

 

[NTK]

Thank you.
I don't think the speakers have any problem. They worked much better with my Rega Elex R, the sound was much more lively especially in the midrange. My previous NAD c326 was also better in this area.
I didn't expect such a disapointment switching from AB to class D. I suspect a lack of current coming from the amp section.
What about UcD180HG ?

The impedance of the SEAS A26 barely dips below 8 Ω between 100-200 Hz. It should be easy to drive and should not require much current from the amp.

https://www.seas.no/images/stories/diykits/pdfdataheet/SEAS_A26_AppNote.pdf

The UcD102 module should be able to output a clean 60 W into 8 Ω, and should be sufficient for moderate listening levels.

https://www.hypex.nl/oem-brochure/Hypex_OEM-brochure.pdf