Hi Guys, I am the person who wrote the review of the Nords.
As always it is difficult to try and convey in words what is heard.Sometimes analogies work, sometimes not. Also when talking about wine you can come across as being a little pretentious and as it is a matter of taste (literally) some disagree.
Sorry my wine analogy did not hit the mark. For me I like Beaujolais Village as a good 'drinking wine' , it is light, fruity and very tasty. Up until recently Chateau Neuf du Pape wines were always more robust in flavour and a 'heavier ' wine more for drinking whilst eating. Unfortunately this wine has become a bit trendy in the UK and the quality of some are not that good. The same with amps, my Audionote gives a more weighter, fuller sound compared to the lighter Beaujolais of the Nords. One is more truthful and the other really nice.
I'll mention my faux pas to my neice when I see her in Paris in a few weeks. It will amuse here as she is an ex-pat having met one of those charming Parisians at work and decided to stay there.
Julf: True but the review was written for a more generalised forum than DiY Audio. Being a commercial product opens up the audience to those who will listen and buy rather than wanting to make their own. In all of this I have tried to write up my audio impressions of the products taking account of my biases. I really like my Audionote set up but accept it measures badly and sound dam good.
The Nords are more truthful and do not have the sound drawbacks of the other Class D amps that I have heard. I accept it is just my views but that is the way of subjective reviews. As always I have tried the amps with other guys and got their views on board before committing electrons to the net but in the end it is purely my view.
OK, that took a while... again, but here you are!
the crimps are good
[image]Image:the crimps are good|none|border[/image]
😵 my power supplies are not from the same batch! 😉
[image]Image:😵 my power supplies are not from the same batch!|none[/image]
The twisting of output cables will be tightened.
[image]Image:The twisting of output cables will be tightened.|none[/image]
bench view
[image]Image:bench view|none[/image]
The mains cable looks like 0.75mm2, OK for 2xSMPS1200?
[image]The mains cable looks like 0.75mm2, OK for 2zSMPS1200?|none[/image]
Cables detached. My plan is to mod the rev B boards to rev C, or something like it.
[image]Image:Cables detached. My plan is to mod the rev B boards to rev C, or something like it.|none[/image]
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When modifying the input buffers, I will keep the Hypex regs. I have obtained a pair of LM49990 duals on 8pin to try in place of the Sparkos.
Thanks. I guess I would have turned the mains input upside down to make the earth strap to the chassis shorter and straighter (is that a straight-through mains inlet, or does it contain a noise filter?), and the twisting of the speaker output wires is very good - to start with, they are rather unnecessarily long, and the twisting is uneven, unsymmetrical and with large open loops - pretty far from ideal. I can understand that the very thick wire some of use is hard to twist, but that wire is actually thinner than the power cables...
My advice would be to re-twist the speaker output wires.
Hi Julf
The IEC inlet is without filter, and indeed it could be turned around. This would also improve access to the rear power switch as it would sit above the socket. (But this power switch is redundant, there is another one on the front panel.)
I will shorten and twist the speaker wires. The pics above are from my stock Nord amp before any mods, which will also include remote standby switching.
The IEC inlet is without filter, and indeed it could be turned around. This would also improve access to the rear power switch as it would sit above the socket. (But this power switch is redundant, there is another one on the front panel.)
I will shorten and twist the speaker wires. The pics above are from my stock Nord amp before any mods, which will also include remote standby switching.
Clearly I did not ship the amp with speaker cables like that! We have also placed the switch in a horizontal plane as pictures on page 137. Tom if you want to give me a shout I can help you with some Rev C boards and the 12V trigger.
I was thinking the only way that could have happened would have involved more than one bottle of Beaujolais Village... 🙂
They case runs about 36C in a 21-22C room. The case is used as a heat sink hence its warm feel. We ship all around the world with no issues. The Mono blocks run slightly lower as they have a case per channel.
These pics were to replace the earlier ones that you posted (and then deleted) of the same amp. I have certainly not untwisted the speaker wires! I only bent them a little for the pics. The only other, prior modifications were to change the jumpers on the SMPS for unregulated ancillary supplies and I twisted the thick power cables between PS and buffer boards.
I see now why you put the IEC socket horizontally: the earth cable gets very close to one of the ncore modules when I flip it over. When lifting the earth from the chassis, I noted that the paint has only been removed on the outside around the bolt. The bolt is black as well. I think this construction would not meet regulatory standards for a safety earth. I have now scratched off some paint around the bolt on the inside of the bottom plate for the eyelet to make good contact directly with the chassis.
There is a lot of thermal paste used in this build. It's no big deal as it anyway runs quite cool, but I recall someone writing that paste works best when applied as a thin film.
I'm building a 12v trigger using a mosfet and a USB wall wart. I think your idea was to use a triac, and I would be concerned with potential noise issues as triacs are quite notorious in that respect. I attempted to remove the rear panel to drill a hole for my standby input socket, but the bolts were too tight and I wasn't quite sure what tool to use. A 2.5mm Allen key seems a pretty good fit? In the end I used some duct tape on the inside to catch any metal filings and drilled the hole 'in situ'.
I will post some more pics when it's all done.
Indeed. Some people just squirt a blob of the stuff and then press the component down on the blob, hoping (vainly) that the paste will spread and do it's job properly. However, thermal paste should be used very sparingly and spread as a very thin film all over the base of the component before placement. Think of the paste as nothing more than a very fine gap filler. It has a lower thermal conductivity than either the component or the enclosure so you want heat to 'get through it' easily/rapidly.
This is annoying but informative:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjF5jabXRCY
Sorry I'm jumping in months late, but I cannot understand the placement of the inputs and outputs. It certainly appears that the input and output wires could be shortened by 2/3(!) if XLRs and binding posts were positioned rationally.
I will re-drill and tap mounting holes for the amp and SMPS in Ghentaudio cases because the first is a bit too far from the back corner, and the PS is 90 deg off with silly lengths for the AC input cable and PS output cable. Yet Hypex's own nCore 400 mono cases are even worse, since *both* modules need 90 degree clockwise rotation (okay, 70 deg for the amp module) and it stupifies me.
The PS output cables on the Nord look good here. But given the Hypex creed of minimal internal fields, I just don't understand the tolerance for long signal leads. And the AC hot going to the front of the amp just for the convenience of a pretty front button/LED...sigh. I expect that Julf and others chimed in with the same layout comments long ago. That minor complaint aside, I'm *thrilled* that these amps are available!
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Doh, sorry I meant to say above that I was modding 4 mono cases for nC400 amps with SMPS600s. But my comments concerned the nc500 build in the photos posted in #1361. The twisting is thorough so the amps should measure fine...I just hate wires.
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fwiw, I switched to an external linear power supply. The resulting difference I did not find to be subtle.
Helmut, how are you liking your NC500 with the rev c and SI 994 on the Confidence 5?
I wonder why haven't you tried the Anaview AMS1000 with those speakers? You will not have impedance missmach if you connect the XLR ouputs of the Sabre DAC directly to the AMS1000s.
The Nord One Up + SI994 opamps. A review (of sorts).
Summary is simple: Delighted !! OK, I can do better than that... bare with me. For me hifi is a bit of a journey and hence my review may appear obtuse but here we go...
My early proper system was a Marantz CD63 / Cyrus SL + XPA power amp / Mission 761i. Looking back I remember it as fun: music bounced along and I enjoyed it. On reflection it was immature but it had a promising future...
I swapped the Missions for Monitor Audio Silver 8i. The sound stage grew bigger as the lower registers appeared and detail increased; one could really start to place the sounds / instruments and overall it was still an exciting picture.
I then got into home cinema and chopped all the amps in for a Arcam AVR300 (error). Not that bad for the money but not that great really. The Monitor Audios were actually quite forgiving.
I then bought a pair of PMC OB1s of a very nice gentleman! I realised their potential and the Arcam was quickly supplemented by a Naim Nait XS (I sneaked in a Oppo 105 along the way too) and I felt like I'd arrived in hifi land. The sound stage was much bigger compared to the Monitor Audios. The bass was BIG, detail increased, it felt a lot more mature but looking back from where I am now, the Naim wasn't at all up to the job; the sound was overweight. The bass swamped the mids and treble. One felt like one had to turn the volume up to hear vocals but the room was then thudding as a result (was i really enjoying it?)
[Finally he gets to the Nord / 400W into 8ohms ... ]
The Nord has totally grabbed the PMCs and has the bass drivers firmly under control: it's a lot of responsibility. The Naim just couldn't do it and would let go at the bottom end.
The result is amazing. Bass is so well defined and no longer booms into the room. This allows mid and treble to take their natural places and the overall presentation is so balanced.
I have never heard my PMCs sound so lively and well... music is fun again and its mature!. Detail has increased but not so it's harsh. The placement of sounds extends into the room, beyond and behind the speakers; when you close your eyes they are not even there. One can hear space between sounds and the decay from sounds.
Jamiroquai (Synchronised) - used to sound awful. I thought it was mixed badly. Nope. JK is now in my living room with his band and they are making wonderful noises.
Madonna - Immaculate Collection. A range of mixes though time. The "thinner" early mixes still sound good; really good. The later tracks like Justify My Love (which has some grunty bass) / Vogue are brilliant.
I have a bit of a penchant for electronic dance music. These, almost without fail, are so dynamically compressed someone should get shot but the Nord somehow finds a way of making these sound the best possible. Some of the sounds are unholy: i can't stop grinning.
As you can tell I am very pleased with not just the Nord but how all of my system now sounds.
Regrettably, I don't have much time to listen to my hifi. However, when i get the opportunity i love it. I enjoy it again. I tell my friends about.
Am I pleased I bought the Nord One Up. Hell Yeah!!!!
Summary is simple: Delighted !! OK, I can do better than that... bare with me. For me hifi is a bit of a journey and hence my review may appear obtuse but here we go...
My early proper system was a Marantz CD63 / Cyrus SL + XPA power amp / Mission 761i. Looking back I remember it as fun: music bounced along and I enjoyed it. On reflection it was immature but it had a promising future...
I swapped the Missions for Monitor Audio Silver 8i. The sound stage grew bigger as the lower registers appeared and detail increased; one could really start to place the sounds / instruments and overall it was still an exciting picture.
I then got into home cinema and chopped all the amps in for a Arcam AVR300 (error). Not that bad for the money but not that great really. The Monitor Audios were actually quite forgiving.
I then bought a pair of PMC OB1s of a very nice gentleman! I realised their potential and the Arcam was quickly supplemented by a Naim Nait XS (I sneaked in a Oppo 105 along the way too) and I felt like I'd arrived in hifi land. The sound stage was much bigger compared to the Monitor Audios. The bass was BIG, detail increased, it felt a lot more mature but looking back from where I am now, the Naim wasn't at all up to the job; the sound was overweight. The bass swamped the mids and treble. One felt like one had to turn the volume up to hear vocals but the room was then thudding as a result (was i really enjoying it?)
[Finally he gets to the Nord / 400W into 8ohms ... ]
The Nord has totally grabbed the PMCs and has the bass drivers firmly under control: it's a lot of responsibility. The Naim just couldn't do it and would let go at the bottom end.
The result is amazing. Bass is so well defined and no longer booms into the room. This allows mid and treble to take their natural places and the overall presentation is so balanced.
I have never heard my PMCs sound so lively and well... music is fun again and its mature!. Detail has increased but not so it's harsh. The placement of sounds extends into the room, beyond and behind the speakers; when you close your eyes they are not even there. One can hear space between sounds and the decay from sounds.
Jamiroquai (Synchronised) - used to sound awful. I thought it was mixed badly. Nope. JK is now in my living room with his band and they are making wonderful noises.
Madonna - Immaculate Collection. A range of mixes though time. The "thinner" early mixes still sound good; really good. The later tracks like Justify My Love (which has some grunty bass) / Vogue are brilliant.
I have a bit of a penchant for electronic dance music. These, almost without fail, are so dynamically compressed someone should get shot but the Nord somehow finds a way of making these sound the best possible. Some of the sounds are unholy: i can't stop grinning.
As you can tell I am very pleased with not just the Nord but how all of my system now sounds.
Regrettably, I don't have much time to listen to my hifi. However, when i get the opportunity i love it. I enjoy it again. I tell my friends about.
Am I pleased I bought the Nord One Up. Hell Yeah!!!!
can anybody comment on NC500 with hypex buffer stage and Nord buffer stages? which one sounds better? more musical?