I agree. Especially when you understand the difference between actual purchase prices and MSRP. Factor in warranty, quality of build and resale value and the ATI amps are hard to beat. Even the Dreadnaught from Theta is very compelling.
One could argue if Hypex is not actually discouraging NCore DIY with their price policy.
UCD400HG module is fairly priced, comparable with other amplifier modules (check Lazy Cat for example).
The NC400 module is offered for more than three times that price, which is quite a large difference taking parts a.s.o. into account; being only slightly more expensive than the UCD modules it would be a more attractive deal.
And for the price of a pair of their newly offered mono NC400 kits you indeed have a factory built multi-channel stereo Ncore amp, with the advantages SGK mentioned, or Boggit's NC500 amp.
UCD400HG module is fairly priced, comparable with other amplifier modules (check Lazy Cat for example).
The NC400 module is offered for more than three times that price, which is quite a large difference taking parts a.s.o. into account; being only slightly more expensive than the UCD modules it would be a more attractive deal.
And for the price of a pair of their newly offered mono NC400 kits you indeed have a factory built multi-channel stereo Ncore amp, with the advantages SGK mentioned, or Boggit's NC500 amp.
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I can check. However, don't those new MP modules have onboard SMPS? If that is the case then, no, the ATI amps use the NC500EM.
Thx. The question was whether they use NC500EM or the NC500MP. It will be the EM series and, yes, they much prefer the linear supply to SMPS. They're modelled on the Theta Dreadnaught D which uses NC1200 modules.
I've not seen interior pics of the ATI product but Boggit you can get a sense of the 'design challenge' of a very good multichannel build by looking at the pics of the interior of the Dreadnaught D which are available on the Theta website.
I've not seen interior pics of the ATI product but Boggit you can get a sense of the 'design challenge' of a very good multichannel build by looking at the pics of the interior of the Dreadnaught D which are available on the Theta website.
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I can see why they prefer their own PSU from revenue perspective
My guess is that they have technical reasons to prefer linear supplies (in other words: when asked they very likely would come up with technical reasons as most vendors do instead of economic reasons), but please explain why they should from a revenue perspective.
In the world of OEM you need to stick out to attract customers. Some offer their product at very attractive price. Others who can't or don't want to compete in price department try to be different to make an impression that their product is unique. As much as I can expect differences between various switch mode PSUs I don't really think they could have invented something "special" in linear supply. The claims that ALL their testers preferred linear supply sound really suspicious if so many people on this forum who have heard both would never choose linear over Hypex made.
Their class D series is just one; they always had and still have a series of class A/B amps which seem to be their own design.
The only thing I see being "special" in their linear supplies is the use of a socalled MOH toroidal core, which is a HiB type with higher efficiency because of higher maximum core excitation.
From what I read on forums that "the majority of people would prefer Hypex SMPS over linear" is, to me at least, rather meaningless as I have not seen a really high quality linear supply. You know not all linear supplies are "equal".
The only thing I see being "special" in their linear supplies is the use of a socalled MOH toroidal core, which is a HiB type with higher efficiency because of higher maximum core excitation.
From what I read on forums that "the majority of people would prefer Hypex SMPS over linear" is, to me at least, rather meaningless as I have not seen a really high quality linear supply. You know not all linear supplies are "equal".
At nominal listening level my DACs S/N ratio appears to be poor. So i want to be able to raise its signal level by keeping a higher level from the DAC. This would mean i have to drop the gain on the NC400 and UcD400HxR modules connected to the speaker drivers in my active setup.
Is this a safe enough operation to try? I know there are some mentions in the thread. But has any one made these mods successfully? Any pointers are appreciated.
Is this a safe enough operation to try? I know there are some mentions in the thread. But has any one made these mods successfully? Any pointers are appreciated.
Safe enough if you have a stable hand. Yes, they are surface mounted components, but still solderable by hand, but I wouldn't recommend it as your first soldering job...
I successfully converted 8 nc400's, and botched one by being in a hurry - and I do need new reading glasses. I recommend proper magnifying glasses.
Thanks Julf. I think i can handle soldering, but these SMDs are really small, so will have to be super careful.
Will take a look. Do you know if there are any pictures on the thread for this. Is this resistor on the underside of the board so that the heat-sink will have to be dismantled?
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