Coldamp?

[DQ828]

Hi

I want to put together a 6 channel amp to run the new OB's I am building. I was wondering if you guy's had had any experiences with the Coldamp brand & what your thought's where. I don't want to compromise the speakers with the amp, but also I dont want to spend mega.

I'm a complete beginner with all things electronic.

David

[Saarmichel]

Hi David,

This link may well bring light into darkness.

http://www.groundsound.com/review/El...asurements.jpg

Accordingly, the Hypex UcD 400ST are superior in all respects.

Greetings

Michael

[ssanmor]

Thanks, Saarmichael.
To be fair, and without any intention to disregard the good Hypex products, I must say that there were sone measurement and setup errors during that tests, originally done and published by Elektor Netherlands. We discussed the issue with them but unfortunately no time was left for corrections.
In fact, low power thd of BP4078 is around 0.02% instead of the stated 0.08%, and noise performance is also much better, with a snr of around 100dB with respect to max output. In fact our mofules are widely used in studio apps, where sound quality is the main concern. If the numbers in that test were true, that wouldn't be possible most likely.
Bandwidth can also be extended and in fact it was revised by popular demand, so now the numbers are similar to Ucd400.
As a side note, all the audio characteristics have been improved even more in the new Sonora series, and efficiency is also much better, specially idle consumption, the lowest in the market probably.

[Workhorse]

Originally Posted by ssanmor

specially idle consumption, the lowest in the market probably.

Is that a measure of good performance.........!!!!

You remind me of Lars who was forcing its NCD to heat like class-A

[Saturnus]

Even in the above measurement there's one area where the Hypex lacks behind the Coldamp. Input sensitivity of the Hypex is 2V where the Coldamp follows the industry standard at 0.9V, and input resistance of Hypex is 100Kohms where the Coldamp is 14Kohms. Industry standard is 22Kohms.

From this perspective the Hypex is built to be driven by balanced pro audio signals where the Coldamp is built for standard consumer audio signals. That'd mean that a Hypex module based amp in most cases would need a preamp.

[ssanmor]

Regarding the idle consumption numbers, Workhorse is correct in that it is of course not a measurement of audio performance, but it IS an indication of careful design, and in practical use it is a great advantage (specially when most users think that with the high efficiency of class-D you can enclose dozens of modules in a sealed and not ventilated case, and that's totally false of course).

We could have made then even less current hungry, but that would start to be detrimental to audio quality (excessive dead-time, etc. lowers power but increases THD), so we think we have reached a good compromise with the new Sonora series, specially in the S750 amplifier: having a dissipation with no signal of 5W instead of, say, 15W, does make a difference.

Regarding input sensitivity, it is a matter of tastes, I am sure hypex modules can also be modified or even ordered from factory with consumer audio levels. At least we sometimes make versions of our modules adapted to pro-audio levels and other on-demand mods such as opamp model, etc.

[pieter t]

Why would you need 6 x over 200 watts of amplification to feed your OB??
I have built some class D amplifiers over the years, based on Philips chips and Hypex modules.
Everytime we compared a Hypex amp with a Philips TDA8920 chip amp the Philips was found to sound better. If you don't need more than 35 or so watts these chips are great, not only for the money (a few dollars at Digikey, and you can find complete TDA8920 based amps at Ebay).
By the way, we listen with our ears, not with our eyes.

[DQ828]

Originally Posted by ssanmor

Regarding the idle consumption numbers, Workhorse is correct in that it is of course not a measurement of audio performance, but it IS an indication of careful design, and in practical use it is a great advantage (specially when most users think that with the high efficiency of class-D you can enclose dozens of modules in a sealed and not ventilated case, and that's totally false of course).

We could have made then even less current hungry, but that would start to be detrimental to audio quality (excessive dead-time, etc. lowers power but increases THD), so we think we have reached a good compromise with the new Sonora series, specially in the S750 amplifier: having a dissipation with no signal of 5W instead of, say, 15W, does make a difference.

Regarding input sensitivity, it is a matter of tastes, I am sure hypex modules can also be modified or even ordered from factory with consumer audio levels. At least we sometimes make versions of our modules adapted to pro-audio levels and other on-demand mods such as opamp model, etc.

I'll be feeding the amps with a MiniDSP, which has the following spec,

Item Description:

Analog Audio Input Unbalanced input, RCA terminated

Maximum input level <1% THD 0.9Vrms (Reva) or 2Vrms (Revb)

Dynamic range, un-weighted >98dB

Impedance 6Kohms

Analog Audio Output Unbalanced input, RCA terminated

Maximum level, unbalanced, <1% THD 0.9Vrms (2.5Vpp)

Dynamic range, un-weighted >98dB

Impedance 560ohms

Would it be suitable to run your amps?

David

[ssanmor]

Yes, the matching is ideal. However, if you need additional information or special requirements, contact us directly (info@coldamp.com)

[DQ828]

Originally Posted by ssanmor

Yes, the matching is ideal. However, if you need additional information or special requirements, contact us directly (info@coldamp.com)

Thanks, I already have a quote for various six channel options from you, the postage is a killer, but I guess thats a legacy of living in paradise

I have quite a bit of sympathy for the idea of not using two 200w modules for the tweeters that only need 10-20w, so am contemplating, 4 channel Coldamp, two channel something else?

I'm also having trouble loosening the purse strings.

David