hypex ncore

[mr_push_pull]

Originally Posted by Bruno Putzeys

Probably those that are measurably superior too. The discussion about "what is audible" to me sounds like a driver agonizing over how close he can brush past a lorry before losing his rear-view mirror while on the other side of the car there's an entirely empty lane. I try not to waste too much time paining over the question of how much distortion is still audible if with just as much effort I can reduce it.

I like the parallel.
but you make it sound like there's only two option when in fact there's a third: you can actually do your best to increase distortion

[mr_push_pull]

Originally Posted by 3lviz

I built my nCore amp last weekend and all i can say that its a very good amplifier. I can't say that "it sounds great!" (there is no "sound") and i can't say "it sounds better than zzzz!" (again, there is no "sound").

If you already had a good amplifier such as UCD400HG HxR which already provides all the power and performance at least i need, nCore is not about "what is better" or "it has more <insert attribute>", but nCore is about what is less, i.e distortions. This results in cleaner and more stable sound, especially noticeable in material involving human voice and singing. Also, solo instruments, such as trumpet seems to sound cleaner. But the difference is not nothing to "wow!" about, but it's more or less noticeable. The UCD is already a good amp.

What this tells me is that, if Hypex releases another amp that has (again) 10x better specs, i doubt i'll buy it. This upgrade was already at the limit for me and my equipment (+room), to get moneys worth.

Ok, the amps are conquered, please make the killer DAC next. Pretty please ?

why can't more people be like you?
that is one extremely credible review. it is pretty much what I am expecting from the NCORE myself and also why I'm still refraining from buying. at this moment I feel that I still don't have a clear enough picture on my system's weakest link (speakers, room, signal source), I could find it's not the amp (UCD180).
btw what is the rest of your system?

[3lviz]

Originally Posted by mr_push_pull

btw what is the rest of your system?

Source:
PC + Hiface

DACs:
Buffalo II DAC with IVY III (i/v stage) or Legato 3.1 (another i/v stage)
Benchmark DAC-1

Speakers:
System Audio Explorer Master

Room:
25 m^2 with some acoustics elements and bass traps in corners.

[Bruno Putzeys]

In August a member of a French audio forum wrote this prescient post:

Avec de tels résultats aux mesures (Si elles ne sont pas bidonnées, ce dont je suis quasi sur), je vous fiche mon billet que les commentateurs/critiques gastronomiques d'audio d'exception n'auront plus AUCUN commentaire à publier après l'écoute de cet ampli qui, pourtant, cumule tout ce que la mythologie réprouve (...) Il leur restera fort heureusement les hauts parleurs pour continuer à utiliser leurs dictionnaires de dithyrambes ;-)

Translated:

With that sort of measured results (presuming they're not faked which I'm pretty sure they're not) I'll bet you that high-end audio "food critics" will have NOTHING to write after listening to this amp, which after all does everything mythology disapproves of (...). Luckily they'll still have loudspeakers to keep them busy gushing.

[mr_push_pull]

don't get upset Bruno, after all there's 2 UCD's sitting inside a black slim case in my living room

Originally Posted by 3lviz

Source:
PC + Hiface

DACs:
Buffalo II DAC with IVY III (i/v stage) or Legato 3.1 (another i/v stage)
Benchmark DAC-1

Speakers:
System Audio Explorer Master

Room:
25 m^2 with some acoustics elements and bass traps in corners.

and thanks for the details.

[Bruno Putzeys]

Not upset at all. Every time someone says after listening to Ncore "well that's it as far as amplifiers are concerned" the happier I get. It's one up for science, one up for engineering and one up for me. What more can I want?

[mr_push_pull]

glad to hear that. I'm still to determine the source of the sonic signature that I need to address in my system. since the NCORE is "more UCD" I'm afraid I'll have to change something else before I decide to click on that "Order now" button.

[robbbby]

Bruno, care to address my questions, or at least the one regarding availability of the next batch of ncores. Thanks.

[pieter t]

Originally Posted by mr_push_pull

.... I'm still to determine the source of the sonic signature that I need to address in my system.

Think speakers, speakers/room, source; amplifiers come next...

[mr_push_pull]

yeah, I still think too that the order of importance is room, speakers, source and amp.