We will have soon a small batch available, count on 2-3 weeks for availability. The production volumes will take roughly still 2 months and we will have two version available, for the UcD400 and UcD700. The SMPS 1200 for the UcD400 is only if you like to drive many UcD400, i.e. 5-channel setup....
Indeed we have renamed the SMPS400, so that customers direct order the right version and are not only looking for the voltage.
Jan-Peter
Many thanks Jan-Peter
As always, your replies are very prompt.
I can't wait to get my UCD 400 HG modules in a small enclosure.
Regards
John
Hi Jan-Peter! Any additional news on the SMPS 3000? Looking forward to integrating a couple of those with the 2k Hypex amps
Thanks
I am about to order Hypex modules to build two mono amps to drive ATC SCM 40 speakers (8 ohm 85 db sensitivity, sealed enclosure, floorstanders)
I intend to buy
two UcD400Hg +HxR modules
two UcD linear power supply cards
two TR501 transformers
two soft start modules .
I have never used a switched mode supply in my Hi Fi gear but this is my first try with Class D amps.
Should I go as above or wait for the Switched mode supply ?
As an old fashioned retired engineer my gut tells me to stay Linear
Any help appreciated
Ianmac
I intend to buy
two UcD400Hg +HxR modules
two UcD linear power supply cards
two TR501 transformers
two soft start modules .
I have never used a switched mode supply in my Hi Fi gear but this is my first try with Class D amps.
Should I go as above or wait for the Switched mode supply ?
As an old fashioned retired engineer my gut tells me to stay Linear
Any help appreciated
Ianmac
Hi Ian
I have almost that set up myself. Differences being that I don't have the HxR regulators (will do on the next project) and also I am using the larger power supply boards because the mono one wasn't available at the time.
Advice I would give is as follows:-
1. Go for the TR400 instead of the TR501. I have 501's and they do hum a bit mechanically, particularly if the mains supply isn't very clean. The TR400 is potted and the mechanical buzz is suppressed.
2. I see that you're using ATC speakers with a sensitivity of only 85dB/1Watt. I tried out my amps with a pair of B&W 802's (see pictures below) and they just about drove them OK, sounded great as well and didn't disgrace themselves against my friend's Plinius Odeon! which you can see in the picture of his system. Now they are 90dB/1 Watt and my own speakers are
93dB/1 Watt so the UCD400's go very loud. If your music tastes are loud'n'proud then the 400's might struggle. For an extra £550 or so you may want to consider the UCD700's. However, if your tastes are more genteel, then the 400's will be fine.
3. Going for a SMPS400 instead of the linear PSU will save you nearly £200 and must be worth considering. I have not had the opportunity to do a comparison but I would trust Jan-Peter and Hypex to not compromise the sound quality in any of their products. I will be using SMPS on my next amp.
Anyway have a look at my amp together with a picture of my mate's system here:-http://s932.photobucket.com/albums/ad166/acousticimagery/
Good luck
John
Hi Sam
I am about to launch a company to market high end audiophile components. These will include a pre-amp, a fully user adjustable phono stage and Hypex based mono power amps using the SMPS400.
The units will all be housed in the same anodised aluminium cases. As these are to be quite small it has to be the the SMPS but, as I said in a previous post, I find transformers a touch too noisy in some cases and of course the use of class D amps and a SMPS helps in the cause of 'green electronics'
Keep your eyes open for the 'ACOUSTICIMAGERY' system later this year.
We are currently working on finalising the designs and I will try and post some pictures and specs as soon as possible and of course on the web site when it is up and running.
Regards
John
Sam
It may appear I'm being lazy, but I am going to use the SM supply and I think I'll be better using one designed and built specifically for the job by professional engineers . There is a lot more to their design than I have the knowledge to handle.
I am a retired engineer so hopefully know my strengths and weaknesses
John
Good luck with acousticimagery
Ianmac
It may appear I'm being lazy, but I am going to use the SM supply and I think I'll be better using one designed and built specifically for the job by professional engineers . There is a lot more to their design than I have the knowledge to handle.
I am a retired engineer so hopefully know my strengths and weaknesses
John
Good luck with acousticimagery
Ianmac
In either case, the challenge on your end is much the same, but do note if you want best sound quality, Hypex themselves have yet to advocate on behalf of their own smps versus their unregulated raw dc supplies which actually use higher quality components in terms of sound quality. It's also rather ill advised and unlikely that you'll ever be tweaking their smps yourself. That it offers some mains regulation is just not the critical deciding factor, more so when those who sell such supplies have to speak of "music power".. think about that. Sometimes, as a matter of perspective, you get more with less.
In any case you've received bad advice on the transformers from acousticimagery, who I look forward to seeing posting in the commercial sector.
TR400 instead of the TR501 was recommended as he's seen the TR501 hum with "bad" mains.. which can be easily made good. The hum itself is a mechanical artifact of an electrical phenomena, it is merely one symptom of a problem for which potting can only address the superficial symptom, ignoring the root cause and the other effects of it which are more detrimental.
It's just a bad reason to make that selection, particularly should you consider the root cause will likely be worse with the TR400, and with it the other symptoms as well. Keep in mind the TR400 is, despite its name, a 250VA transformer, while the TR501 is veritably a 500VA transformer. The additional iron means greater robustness to dirty mains, tighter load regulation, and cleaner sound. I think you can live with some mechanical hum or learn how to filter the mains to nullify it at the root, which you'd also need to do with the TR400 anyway to really solve the problem.
Even with just modules, it really takes more than just plugging in to achieve the kinds of results these products are actually capable of given their nature. There's no freedom to take much of anything for granted, there's an army of demons in the littlest of details. People are always in such a rush to plug a product line, and that is really what makes the cake a lie. Good luck with your build, but put the effort in it.
Hi, all
I agree with Ianmac, his thoughts and wisdom.
To Acousticimagery.
I can see smps400? What is the name of the company that produces this? (if you use in audiophile system,then it will be interesting)
Regards
Hi AP2
The SMPS400 is made by Hypex... Hypex Electronics B.V.
Cheers
John
Thanks to John, Ianmac, et al. I'll be looking for acousticimagery and its cohorts in the next months. It seems to me that prebuilt SMPS UcD amps were overdue. They are greener, I think, in avoiding the heaviest conventional PS components. It's great to hear of these efforts! Best of luck to all.
Your idea is not new, here in the Netherlands they already have it.
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It is like LEGO, good luck with your company.
That looks very good. Is it a home project or for sale?
The unit with valves poses the question, how hot does it get?
And of course, nothing is ever new but, all I hope is to make a good product which will add to all the other great hi fi in the world and I think I will be in good company by using Hypex products. Meridian, Genesis, Channel Islands Audio, Hexateq, Trichord, M+M and Kharma are but a few 1st class audio companies around the world who have concluded that Hypex make a damn fine amplifier.
John
It is part of a test project, we like to test witch inputbuffer we like the best.
- the origenal TL072 opampbuffer
- opampbuffer with HXR regulators and OPA627
- opampbuffer with HXR regulators and AD847 and others
- tubebuffer with 6n6p or ECC88.
- tubebuffer with 6n16 minitube.
Further we like to test the SMPS400 versus conventional power supply.
Modules are for sale. one UCD400 build in case € 200,-, SMPS400 build in case with wiring to connect two UCD's € 250,-, tubebuffer with 6n6p and separate power supply € 200,-, volume/source contol with remote in case and with powersupply € 200,-. Opampbuffer with HXR modules in case € 200,-.
The 6n6p tubebuffer in the pixture above got to hot. We have made a other version.
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An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Final versions will be with 10mm aluminiumfront in black or aluminium and there will be a carbon version.
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hi,
To Koifarm.
I think that affects many, the test with SMPS.
in my tests (with other SMPS) not regulated, created thd (Th1-TH4) from 10-100Hz and a lot of IMD. 3kHz-7, 5kHz and 9K-15K. (SMPS frequency of 95Khz).
test on good class D.
If you do this test on your SMPS ... will all be happy.
Regards
To Koifarm.
I think that affects many, the test with SMPS.
in my tests (with other SMPS) not regulated, created thd (Th1-TH4) from 10-100Hz and a lot of IMD. 3kHz-7, 5kHz and 9K-15K. (SMPS frequency of 95Khz).
test on good class D.
If you do this test on your SMPS ... will all be happy.
Regards
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