NuForce 9 Amplifier of the Year

[serengetiplains]

Word has it that NuForce has won Absolute Sound's Amplifier of the Year award.

[classd4sure]

Hi,

I don't know, all those review mag awards seem to come rather cheaply and .... compared to what, by who.... doesn't mean a thing to me. So the french are rude but they like le produit Américain... seriously.

I'd be more impressed to know what they've done, if anything, to address the issues they've been having. Does anyone know if they've given that information?

Regards,
Chris

[t.]

I've only ever heard one Nuforce amp last year, can't remember the model but it didn't do anything for me I'm afraid

[koolkid731]

Originally posted by classd4sure
Hi,


I'd be more impressed to know what they've done, if anything, to address the issues they've been having. Does anyone know if they've given that information?

Regards,
Chris

Maybe the RF leak is a factor in the sound quality of the NuForce amplifiers.

When the RF issue is addressed, in a similar fashion IcePower and UcD have addressed it, such as increase the dead time, maybe the sound wouldn't as good

Maybe NuForce amps sound better because of the trade-off between switching at 500kHz (vs 400kHz of IcePower and UcD) and higher vs increasing rise and fall and dead times for low RF, but then getting lower resolution.

Dieu seul le sait? (That for the Canadians heheh, en Anglais "only god knows")
)

[classd4sure]

Hi,

Seems like a few presumptions in that reply. One of which being Nuforce sounds better, maybe another being ICEpower and UCD having addressed high EMI by slowing down the gate signals and increasing dead time.

You'd have to agree there's _many_ other factors that come into play when it comes to high EMI, and how to fix it properly. Deadtime does not necessarily define switching frequency, slew rate of the signals does not necessarily define deadtime, though both may impose an upper limite on it.

Tripath switches from say 700kHz to 1MHz, does it automatically sound better than UCD, I doubt it even comes close.

Also I've found high EMI is absolutely detrimental to good sound quality, and probably far more so than a 500kHz switching frequency. I've heard it said Nuforce only sounds good at very low power... (EMI), has that changed?

That said high EMI is but one problem they were known to have, there were a few others which led to reduced reliability as well. I know some were understood and fixed while others remained a mystery, and it's hard to determine what's what when that kind of information comes in the form of a review magazine interview partial quotes, which is the only place I've seen anything like it so far.

While I've no doubt Nuforce is appreciative of these awards that seemingly keep being thrown in their lap, people here aren't so easily fooled as one might think.

Nuforce has some potential, but they've got serious competition in the land of class D that don't rely on "awards" and "reviews" to get their products out, but sound engineering and the word of mouth of alot of happy users, which is an award I don't see Nuforce having.

Regards,
Chris

[SSassen]

Oh please, I am currently putting two NuForce Reference 8 mono-blocks through their paces and am measuring them front to back with an AP. Generally I'm stumped that these things get credited soo much as I really am NOT impressed, not by their performance or musicality nor by the measurements. But expect a full featured article on my website soon that'll tell you about my findings exactly, with a big announcement thrown in for effect as well, I'm shure it'll rattle quite a few cages.

Best regards,

Sander Sassen
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com

[Yves Smolders]

Just stop reading magazines... If I need new HiFi Equipment, I just check forums for user pro's & contra's. After a while you end up with a pretty good idea what is the right part for you (technically) - then it's off to listening at a local shop to see what sounds right.

Seems like mag reviewers base themselves on the freebies they're getting.

[koolkid731]

Originally posted by SSassen
Oh please, I am currently putting two NuForce Reference 8 mono-blocks through their paces and am measuring them front to back with an AP. Generally I'm stumped that these things get credited soo much as I really am NOT impressed, not by their performance or musicality nor by the measurements. But expect a full featured article on my website soon that'll tell you about my findings exactly, with a big announcement thrown in for effect as well, I'm shure it'll rattle quite a few cages.

Best regards,

Sander Sassen
http://www.hardwareanalysis.com

Also measure some tube amplifiers and let us know. Typically they don't measure too great, but so many audioholics swear by them, with all the associated headaches of tube rolling and replacement, not to forget weight and heat.

I measured IcePower 1000ASP and the results are different from their published spec. Surprised? heck no, Golden sample gets all the tweaks and screening.

Be also aware AUX25 filter is often needed for measuring switching amps.

I looked at MUETA frequency response and am unimpressed for all the hype they made. Then does it sound good?

Anyone interested in a stereo amp with IcePower 1000ASP in black heavy duty chassis with speaker & RCA connectors and IEC connector?

[nuforce]

No products will receive unanimous approval from everyone. But take a look at the scope of the positive reviews coming from online/offline magazines and users. There are more reviews being posted then we have time to link it to our website.
There is no way a tiny company such as Nuforce can manipulate this kind of public endorsement. . Oh, by the way, HiFi+ is the only magazine that trashes Nuforce and we are not shy from telling anyone about it.

If you haven't heard it, reserve your judgement and give it a try.
Ref 9 (version 9.02) has come a long way
If you don't like how it sounded in your system, we respect your opinion.

Reviewers rarely go out of the way to rave about a product, especially openly stating that it has become their reference system or best thing they heard etc. Yes, they generally avoid trashing a product. But raving reviews do mean something .
You should check out Chris Martens review on TAS. It is straight to the point.

Off course a final review by your own ear is the one that counts.

[Yves Smolders]

@nuforce,

Most 'raving' reviews seem to come from people that haven't heard any good class-d amplifier before; for example, the stereophile reviews of the CIAudio amp. Most of the time if they rave about it, it's the first time they heard Class-D.

I wonder, once they understand that modern class-d is something special, they will start to differentiate between several class-d implementations.

I must admit as well, the first class-D I heard was UcD, it was so "different" than class AB, I was sold on it. I'm sure I'd be equally happy listening to ZAPpulse for example. It's the sheer dynamics & control that are a wake-up call for all those used to "normal" class A or AB amplification...