Anyone have any experience with this amp?
EP-100.2SE | Emerald Physics
Reports are that it sounds ‘smooth and tubelike’ mids/highs.
Looking at using it to biamp the horns (B&C DE250 crossed @ 1500hz) on a new build. Sensitivity padded to 98db.
Would that kind of sensitivity be too much up top for this amp.....or even class D all together?
EP-100.2SE | Emerald Physics
Reports are that it sounds ‘smooth and tubelike’ mids/highs.
Looking at using it to biamp the horns (B&C DE250 crossed @ 1500hz) on a new build. Sensitivity padded to 98db.
Would that kind of sensitivity be too much up top for this amp.....or even class D all together?
Me too.....that’s why I’m asking.
MSRP was $2200, they are on ‘discontinued’ special $799.99 (found them for $650 nib online) so I don’t believe there is a satisfaction return policy involved.
MSRP was $2200, they are on ‘discontinued’ special $799.99 (found them for $650 nib online) so I don’t believe there is a satisfaction return policy involved.
Last edited:
I had constructed both, tube, SS linear amps and Class D units, with some time between them. Clearly they are all different technologies with its own pros and cons. Class D are designed for economy of components, smaller size and heat sinks, size, wheight and cost. Their tube counterparts are expensive, large, bulky and generates lots of heat, but they are unequable in the sound they can give, including simple pentode output at tube radio/phonograph/televisors, that rarely had NFB and gave us lots of fun, happy and good moments. I speak particularly from the old shortwave radio receivers I used to listen. Some modern class D amps and SS linear with lots of NFB several times, listen to them cause fatigue. Mainly those car amps with lots of Boom boom sound. Puaj, give me nausea.
Yes, I’m well aware of what the differences are supposed to be.
There are tube amps that sound more like SS and vice versa.....this was the first time I’d ever heard a class D equated to tubes.
Was wondering if it’s BS or EP is on to something......the website drips snake oil but was looking for first hand knowledge. One never knows!
There are tube amps that sound more like SS and vice versa.....this was the first time I’d ever heard a class D equated to tubes.
Was wondering if it’s BS or EP is on to something......the website drips snake oil but was looking for first hand knowledge. One never knows!
What is supposed to understand by BS or EP? Apologies by my ignorance about acronyms.
Sorry.......Wondering if it’s bull excrement or is Emerald physics on to something.
Emerald Physics EP100.2SE Stereo Power Amplifier | 10 Audio
Doesn’t look like much under the hood.
Emerald Physics EP100.2SE Stereo Power Amplifier | 10 Audio
Doesn’t look like much under the hood.
Last edited:
Well its fairly high distortion, so maybe!
Warning bells sounded on that website - beeswax fuses(!) and copper binding posts (they need to be brass or the threads will strip).
Immediately this says to me "run away! run away!".
Last edited:
That's the kind of review that imparts negative information I'm afraid. No measurements, load of flowery nonsense adjectives, no use to anyone.
From the picture its probably a competent class D budget circuit, nothing special, sold for 10 times its value (toroidal aside). The box external design is pretty gross.
Last edited:
Too many snake oil superlatives, not enough actual information.
For $2200 MSRP, I am clearly not convinced. Especially when I can get 100w/ch mini-amps for under $100.
For $2200 MSRP, I am clearly not convinced. Especially when I can get 100w/ch mini-amps for under $100.
Can get it for $650 nib like I said.....but yah.
I don’t mind paying up for someone else’s engineering if it performs.....this just seems too risky to find out.
I don’t mind paying up for someone else’s engineering if it performs.....this just seems too risky to find out.
One look at the picture of the inside and you can tell it's really just a chip amp of some kind ... on a guess a TPA3255 ... or something similar.
Not much of an engineering challenge... and especially not for the price.
Not much of an engineering challenge... and especially not for the price.
The test is very useful:
"light weight bass and a noticeable loss of resolution in the upper frequencies"
should disqualify this amp instantly.
"light weight bass and a noticeable loss of resolution in the upper frequencies"
should disqualify this amp instantly.
Opened mine up - It has an NXP TDA8954 chip (not the smd type). I actually really like mine. It sounds different - clean, quiet. Great on my Maggies, not so much on ESLs (drops in / out after a while)
I have bought a pair of these $20 TDA8954 (smd not through hole) all in modules off ebay (just add tranny) and sounds pretty bad - high pitch noise on both dual channel modules...just plain bad. I am removing the FB rectifers and caps hoping its the culprit. If I can get these $20 jobbies to sound as good as the 100.2 I will be happy.
I have bought a pair of these $20 TDA8954 (smd not through hole) all in modules off ebay (just add tranny) and sounds pretty bad - high pitch noise on both dual channel modules...just plain bad. I am removing the FB rectifers and caps hoping its the culprit. If I can get these $20 jobbies to sound as good as the 100.2 I will be happy.
I had an ep100.2. They are regularly available for that $799 price second hand. They never sell at full msrp new. They use a toroid power supply instead of smps as most class d do. The chassis looked very nice and was thick. They sounded very neutral to me, didn’t really do anything special. I got rid of mine because the toroid had a mechanical hum and I use my gear on my desk so it was audible where I sit. I believe they use a hypex UCD design but I could be wrong about that.
Last edited: