Hypex NCore 400 amps

[r100]

Hi, I'm not sure a) if this has already been discussed or b) if this is the right thread for it...

but..

I would like to know if anyone has compared a Hypex Amp to a similarly priced standard (non D-class) amp.

I have read a lot about them but cannot figure out from what people say how they could sound. I havn't the opportunity to hear or lend one, so any feedback from a owner/user who has a standard amp (say a Quad 306 :eyebrows:) to compare with would be enlightening

[Sovereign]

There is a chap on Audio Chews with a lot of experience with Hypex amps, you may want to start the same thread there.
Or Alan Brown on this forum.

[r100]

hi, ok thanks !

[Harry Hill]

Try www.acousticimagery.com here in the UK they may be of help although I think there new amps are NC1200 not the older NC400. I heard the NC400 at whittlebury a few years back with some panel speakers and the quality was quite superb, very clean but with real extension in the bass department. Can't comment on how it would sound next to a Quad 306 but these things were rated at 400 wcp so headroom was vast and they did sound effortless.

[Tarzan]

The Hypex NCores have an ecellent reputation, a bit above your average Class D l would say.

[Ali Tait]

Should be for that price!

[r100]

Should be for that price!

I have a 50$ SMSL which sounds surprisingly good. The Hypex amps are multiple times more expensive. If the sound is proportional to the price difference, they should sound exceptional. But price is not everything.The nice thing about all class D amps is the fact that they consume almost no power at normal listening levels. These amps seem to combine that with a natural sound. And yes, the modules are quite expensive. I think a kit of two monos would be around EUR 900.- which is quite steep. The price should come down hopefully because of the release of the new model. Considering the low power consumption they should pay themselves off naturally over a decade or so :rolleyes:

[Ali Tait]

I use two Temple Audio Bantam Golds to drive my open baffles actively. Very good for the money IMHO.

[r100]

I use two Temple Audio Bantam Golds to drive my open baffles actively. Very good for the money IMHO.

That is what I have read.

Just curious but do the same rules apply to Class-D amps as to Class-A/B amps concerning the use of I/C's, etc. .. I get the impression that D-Class amps are less sensitive to such things. But that may just be the impression I get from the reading about them since there seems to be less talk about that sort of thing.

[r100]

hmm, this seems to answer my questions..


Granted it just a few of our opinions, but six people (myself included) who own or owned outstanding and well reviewed Class A amps from Atma-Sphere, Clayton Audio, Lamm, and Pass have now said that the Ncore amps performed as well or better.


from http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=ai7uitliqv05p3gnmrghdqvc86&topic=105826.0

[realysm42]

Class D is my next destination I think.

[r100]

me too.. I'm thinking of building a pair of low cost hypex amps in the near future to get a flavor of them and spend some time with then.

The only reference I have in class-d amplification is a tiny SMSL amp. It sounds good, almost too good for such a diminutive box. I guess it does lack a little refinement though and it cannot handle higher volumes but that's fine with me.

[Ali Tait]

That is what I have read.

Just curious but do the same rules apply to Class-D amps as to Class-A/B amps concerning the use of I/C's, etc. .. I get the impression that D-Class amps are less sensitive to such things. But that may just be the impression I get from the reading about them since there seems to be less talk about that sort of thing.

Can't really answer with respect to SS amps as I've little experience with commercial class AB stuff, but I do notice differences with I/C's on the Golds. One thing I do know is that I find them more sensitive to how easy a load the speaker they are driving is, though this may not be a factor with 400w on tap!

[User211]

Rupert - the Hypex modules are very good indeed.

I had an amp based on the NCore 400 in my system driving refurbished Apogee Duetta Sigs. Bettered a Parasound A21 (SS amp of similar power) but not my 211 monoblocks. All options were performed using an Air Tight passive pre. Just my opinion - some may prefer the Hypex solution as both options are to my mind excellent.

The NCore amp had a JFET input stage. It was very clean sounding and the designer reckons the JFET stage stops the Hypex stuff sounding dimensionally flat.

If you like a very powerful amp with a very clean uncoloured presentation then way to go maybe....