Hi, I just got my two UcD180HGs with the HxR regulators today. About an hour ago, I completed the exchange against the former UcD180ADs!
My first impression: Very clean sound right out of the box. Too early to tell much; only did a very quick listening, but was pleased by what I heard. I intend to let them run in for a while and then report back. But the first listening is very encouraging indeed.
I measured output offset voltages of about 14mV, the 180ADs had only about 4mV (dc-coupled between opamp and modulator). Probably nothing to worry, I'll recheck after some hours. Maybe Jan-Peter can tell if this is a coincidence or if the HGs do have somewhat higher offset.
Regards -- Kurt
My first impression: Very clean sound right out of the box. Too early to tell much; only did a very quick listening, but was pleased by what I heard. I intend to let them run in for a while and then report back. But the first listening is very encouraging indeed.
I measured output offset voltages of about 14mV, the 180ADs had only about 4mV (dc-coupled between opamp and modulator). Probably nothing to worry, I'll recheck after some hours. Maybe Jan-Peter can tell if this is a coincidence or if the HGs do have somewhat higher offset.
Regards -- Kurt
Re: Hypexshop.com
So....the engineers from the telecommunication company did a great job, all lines are again working... 😉
On the black potted PCB (new type of modulator!), is mounted a small blue bourns potentiometer, with these pot you can re-adjust the DC offset. In the case you short circuit the coupling caps, you can re-adjust the output to 0V DC.
Cheers,
Jan-Peter
Jan-Peter said:Hi,
indeed the www.hypexshop.com is down, there is somewhere an huge problem with all connections in our area. We do not even have telephone connection at the moment, the dual wan connection is also down..
The only connection what works are the mobile telephone and my wireless internet connection... 😉
We have had very good feedback from our customer about the new HG series. I would be nice if somebody could place a posting...
Cheers,
Jan-Peter
So....the engineers from the telecommunication company did a great job, all lines are again working... 😉
Javin5 said:
On the black potted PCB (new type of modulator!), is mounted a small blue bourns potentiometer, with these pot you can re-adjust the DC offset. In the case you short circuit the coupling caps, you can re-adjust the output to 0V DC.
Cheers,
Jan-Peter
Hi Jan-Peter,
I'm glad you mentioned the adjustment of DC offset.
I take the liberty to ask the same but for a previous version of UCD400ST; V2.2 I think...
One module has 92mv DC (input caps removed), can I adjust it with the small potentiometer located between the "T bone" and the modulator PCB in this horrible photo?
Thanks in advance.
M
I'm glad you mentioned the adjustment of DC offset.
I take the liberty to ask the same but for a previous version of UCD400ST; V2.2 I think...
One module has 92mv DC (input caps removed), can I adjust it with the small potentiometer located between the "T bone" and the modulator PCB in this horrible photo?
Thanks in advance.
M
maxlorenz said:Hi Jan-Peter,
I'm glad you mentioned the adjustment of DC offset.
I take the liberty to ask the same but for a previous version of UCD400ST; V2.2 I think...
One module has 92mv DC (input caps removed), can I adjust it with the small potentiometer located between the "T bone" and the modulator PCB in this horrible photo?
Thanks in advance.
M
Only the newer UcD400ST and the both HG modules does have a potentiometer for adjusting the DC offset. This pot is only mounted on the UcD modulator board, the other pot is for adjusting the THD versus Idle current. You CANNOT re-adjust these setting, all UcD modules are tweaked on an Audio Precision for the best THD performance against acceptable Idle current.
Cheers,
Jan-Peter
DC-Offset at new UcD180HG:
"On the black potted PCB (new type of modulator!), is mounted a small blue bourns potentiometer, with these pot you can re-adjust the DC offset. In the case you short circuit the coupling caps, you can re-adjust the output to 0V DC"
Thanks for the hint, Jan-Peter. Two questions:
I'm assuming that the offset is also adjustable without short circuiting the coupling caps, since the blue Bourns pot is on the modulator subboard. Correct?
You mention short circuiting the coupling caps; does this bring a similar improvement in the UcD180HG as is the UcD180AD?
"On the black potted PCB (new type of modulator!), is mounted a small blue bourns potentiometer, with these pot you can re-adjust the DC offset. In the case you short circuit the coupling caps, you can re-adjust the output to 0V DC"
Thanks for the hint, Jan-Peter. Two questions:
I'm assuming that the offset is also adjustable without short circuiting the coupling caps, since the blue Bourns pot is on the modulator subboard. Correct?
You mention short circuiting the coupling caps; does this bring a similar improvement in the UcD180HG as is the UcD180AD?
After my UcD180HG-HxR's have now been powered on for several days, I have been listening to a number of CD's today. Unfortunately, a direct A/B comparison between the new 180HG and the older 180AD was not possible, because I have only one setup. I have therefore to rely on my memory for the 180AD sound.
The first thing that stands out is the very transparent and detailed midrange. Instruments really shine. Voices seemed more intelligible. The soundstage, if properly recorded, is wide and spacious. There is a closer feeling to reality and a sense of involvement, a clean and clear reproduction of the timbre and nuances that makes listening exciting. Put Keith Jarrett's Koeln Konzert in the player and enjoy!
There is even some benefit with FM-radio sound, although less than with a good CD.
Don't misunderstand this; the 180AD is already a very good amp, but I perceive the 180HG as a further improvement in sound quality. Its advantage came out most clearly on CD's of good quality; but I also found some CD's where I preferred the sound of the older 180AD. In comparison, the new 180HG seemed a little bass shy. This could be due to the fact that I had dc-coupled the 180AD (i.e. bridged the coupling caps between opamp and modulator), while the new 180HG's are not yet tweaked. The comparison is therefore not 100% fair.
These are my personal impressions at the present time. Your conclusions may be different, depending on your preferences, the way you embed the UcD180 (power supply, grounding, etc.), your cd-player, preamp and speakers. For me, the upgrade has been positive and I'm looking forward to some further refinements by tweaking, e.g. shortcircuiting the coupling caps. Hopefully, we will see a number of hot rodding contributions for the UcD180HG here as we had for the legacy UcD180.
Thank you, Hypex!
The first thing that stands out is the very transparent and detailed midrange. Instruments really shine. Voices seemed more intelligible. The soundstage, if properly recorded, is wide and spacious. There is a closer feeling to reality and a sense of involvement, a clean and clear reproduction of the timbre and nuances that makes listening exciting. Put Keith Jarrett's Koeln Konzert in the player and enjoy!
There is even some benefit with FM-radio sound, although less than with a good CD.
Don't misunderstand this; the 180AD is already a very good amp, but I perceive the 180HG as a further improvement in sound quality. Its advantage came out most clearly on CD's of good quality; but I also found some CD's where I preferred the sound of the older 180AD. In comparison, the new 180HG seemed a little bass shy. This could be due to the fact that I had dc-coupled the 180AD (i.e. bridged the coupling caps between opamp and modulator), while the new 180HG's are not yet tweaked. The comparison is therefore not 100% fair.
These are my personal impressions at the present time. Your conclusions may be different, depending on your preferences, the way you embed the UcD180 (power supply, grounding, etc.), your cd-player, preamp and speakers. For me, the upgrade has been positive and I'm looking forward to some further refinements by tweaking, e.g. shortcircuiting the coupling caps. Hopefully, we will see a number of hot rodding contributions for the UcD180HG here as we had for the legacy UcD180.
Thank you, Hypex!
Size?
I have some ucd180 arriving and I am searching for some nice case to install in.
I made some search but I actually could not find the size of ucd180 board.
Can anyone give me LxHxD actual size of the board, please?
Thanks in advance!
I have some ucd180 arriving and I am searching for some nice case to install in.
I made some search but I actually could not find the size of ucd180 board.
Can anyone give me LxHxD actual size of the board, please?
Thanks in advance!
Hi, I've been thinking building a dual mono UcD 180HG HxR amplifier. Curious to those who have built a UcD amplifier how they compare to amplifiers currently on the market, such as Cambridge Audio 840A, etc.
Thanks
Kris
Thanks
Kris
More UcD180 HG questions for Jan-Peter
Jan-Peter, could you answer the following for the new UcD180HG:
(a) Are the coupling caps still between the opamp output and the modulator (rather than at the opamp input)? What value?
(b) If I remember correctly, the input impedance was 100K at the legacy UcD180AD. Has this changed for the 180HG?
(c) Will the following application notes at the Hypex website be updated to reflect potential differences for the HG-series?
- Voltage gain of the UcD modules
- Ucd and IMD, DIM, slew rate
Thanks in advance for your answers.
Kurt
Jan-Peter, could you answer the following for the new UcD180HG:
(a) Are the coupling caps still between the opamp output and the modulator (rather than at the opamp input)? What value?
(b) If I remember correctly, the input impedance was 100K at the legacy UcD180AD. Has this changed for the 180HG?
(c) Will the following application notes at the Hypex website be updated to reflect potential differences for the HG-series?
- Voltage gain of the UcD modules
- Ucd and IMD, DIM, slew rate
Thanks in advance for your answers.
Kurt
Re: More UcD180 HG questions for Jan-Peter
Hi Kurt,
1. no the coupling caps are now back where they belong in front of the op amp. The value is 680nF, actually the same 'audiophile' cap as we use at the output of the amplifier.
2. the input impedance is still 100k, no changes.
3. no need to update our aplication notes, nothing did changed.
An interesting posting about the UcD400HG in this thread; http://www.diyhifi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=1346
There is improved a lot compared to the UcD180AD;
- new type of modulator with an 'audiophile' setting.
- new type of outputcoil, lower THD, lower EMI.
- a faster FET to further reduce the THD.
- improved on board regulators.
- all cermet potentiometers for adjusting Idle current and DC offset.
- buffer op amp changed to the LM4562.
- gain resistors of the LM4562 changed to Mini Melf.
Cheers,
Jan-Peter
Javin5 said:
Hi Kurt,
1. no the coupling caps are now back where they belong in front of the op amp. The value is 680nF, actually the same 'audiophile' cap as we use at the output of the amplifier.
2. the input impedance is still 100k, no changes.
3. no need to update our aplication notes, nothing did changed.
An interesting posting about the UcD400HG in this thread; http://www.diyhifi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=1346
There is improved a lot compared to the UcD180AD;
- new type of modulator with an 'audiophile' setting.
- new type of outputcoil, lower THD, lower EMI.
- a faster FET to further reduce the THD.
- improved on board regulators.
- all cermet potentiometers for adjusting Idle current and DC offset.
- buffer op amp changed to the LM4562.
- gain resistors of the LM4562 changed to Mini Melf.
Cheers,
Jan-Peter
HG Auxiliary power supply for UCD 180 buffer amp
I've had my UCD 180AD's for about a year now and have been enjoying them in my basement system with a Transcendent Sound design Grounded Grid tube preamp (scratch built from Bruce Rozenblitz's book). The pair sound great together. I highly recommend the pre-amp. We did some A-B's vs. a $7k CJ preamp and we ended up liking both. There were differences, but both were great. Sad to say, but his CJ amp was clearly better than the UCD... but it still sounds great and at a fraction of the cost.
I finally got around to hooking up the HG Power Supply's aux power to the buffer amp by taking out the onboard regulators as shown in Hypex's application sheet. It was a bit tricky working so small, but I managed using some 24 guage stranded wire and only stripping a tiny bit off the end before tinning them and soldering them on.
I've been listening now for an hour to the new mod and there is clearly a difference. The lower noise floor seems to improve the bass as well as the mids and highs. Also soundstage seems improved. Of course, it's no A-B test, but there's a noticeable difference. Thanks to Hypex for a great product. Sure, there are better amps, but this one runs cool, is very compact, and sounds great! I can throw the two units in a daypack and bring them to a party 😎
Props to all on the forum for helping one another out.
Cheers,
Stefan
I've had my UCD 180AD's for about a year now and have been enjoying them in my basement system with a Transcendent Sound design Grounded Grid tube preamp (scratch built from Bruce Rozenblitz's book). The pair sound great together. I highly recommend the pre-amp. We did some A-B's vs. a $7k CJ preamp and we ended up liking both. There were differences, but both were great. Sad to say, but his CJ amp was clearly better than the UCD... but it still sounds great and at a fraction of the cost.
I finally got around to hooking up the HG Power Supply's aux power to the buffer amp by taking out the onboard regulators as shown in Hypex's application sheet. It was a bit tricky working so small, but I managed using some 24 guage stranded wire and only stripping a tiny bit off the end before tinning them and soldering them on.
I've been listening now for an hour to the new mod and there is clearly a difference. The lower noise floor seems to improve the bass as well as the mids and highs. Also soundstage seems improved. Of course, it's no A-B test, but there's a noticeable difference. Thanks to Hypex for a great product. Sure, there are better amps, but this one runs cool, is very compact, and sounds great! I can throw the two units in a daypack and bring them to a party 😎
Props to all on the forum for helping one another out.
Cheers,
Stefan
UCD 180HG
Hi guys,
Justed picked up a pair of UCD180HG modules and installed them in my old enclosure where a pair of Avondale NCC200 modules used to reign.
The transformer is a custom 2x27V 500VA UI-core with in- and external shielding between the windings. Caps are a pair 100.000uF/40V Rifa PEH169s with snubber. Rectifier is a standard 35A/600V bridge.
First impressions are very good indeed, these modules murders the NCC200 modules - they are much more transparent and much more smooth. The UCD180HG amp also betters my ICEPOWER amp by a considerable margin.
It sounds very different from my tube amps, a matter of taste I would guess.
Well, to my questions. Have any of you tried the HNR12 and HPR12 regulators?
If I choose to buy the regulators, do I just install them, or do I have to remove some other components?
How does one install a seperate transformer/power supply for the +/- 12V supply?
People talk about removing the coupling caps - is this also recommended for the 180HG - and how does it affect the sound?
Are there any "no-brainer" mods that one just have to do on a pair of 180HG?
Hope someone can help.
Thanks.
Regards,
David
System:
Sources:
Vista based Media PC with Carddeluxe sound card
Michell Gyrodec with Nottingham RB250 and Garrot K1.
Preamp:
Copland CTA-301MK2 with remote
Poweramps:
ICEPOWER 500A based monblocks with 500VA transformers, 120.000uF pr. block, Schottky 40A/250V rectifiers.
Copland CTA-505, KT-88 based, 2x70w ultralinear, 2x35w triode.
Trends TA-10.1
Thorhauge 2x12w EL84-based PP-amp
DIY 2x80w KT-88 based tube amp, based on Tubes4hifi board.
Hi guys,
Justed picked up a pair of UCD180HG modules and installed them in my old enclosure where a pair of Avondale NCC200 modules used to reign.
The transformer is a custom 2x27V 500VA UI-core with in- and external shielding between the windings. Caps are a pair 100.000uF/40V Rifa PEH169s with snubber. Rectifier is a standard 35A/600V bridge.
First impressions are very good indeed, these modules murders the NCC200 modules - they are much more transparent and much more smooth. The UCD180HG amp also betters my ICEPOWER amp by a considerable margin.
It sounds very different from my tube amps, a matter of taste I would guess.
Well, to my questions. Have any of you tried the HNR12 and HPR12 regulators?
If I choose to buy the regulators, do I just install them, or do I have to remove some other components?
How does one install a seperate transformer/power supply for the +/- 12V supply?
People talk about removing the coupling caps - is this also recommended for the 180HG - and how does it affect the sound?
Are there any "no-brainer" mods that one just have to do on a pair of 180HG?
Hope someone can help.
Thanks.
Regards,
David
System:
Sources:
Vista based Media PC with Carddeluxe sound card
Michell Gyrodec with Nottingham RB250 and Garrot K1.
Preamp:
Copland CTA-301MK2 with remote
Poweramps:
ICEPOWER 500A based monblocks with 500VA transformers, 120.000uF pr. block, Schottky 40A/250V rectifiers.
Copland CTA-505, KT-88 based, 2x70w ultralinear, 2x35w triode.
Trends TA-10.1
Thorhauge 2x12w EL84-based PP-amp
DIY 2x80w KT-88 based tube amp, based on Tubes4hifi board.
Re: UCD 180HG
Hi David,
thanks for the great feedback on UcD180HG performance! I had 4 UcD180 and 2 UcD400 in my two 3-channels = 6 monoblock amps and have been in the process of getting the HG versions for the last several months.
You should be aware that the first batches of UcD180HG were incompatible with add-on Hypex regulators (no I don't know the details). I think this is fixed now (I am hoping to receive 4 of them with regulators installed next week, with 2 UcD400HG). The UcD400HGs did not have that problem and were compatible with the regulators (I am using them for the bass drivers so I will use them without regulators).
Depending on how recently yours were made you might be OK. You may want to check with Hypex before ordering.
Guy
Hi David,
thanks for the great feedback on UcD180HG performance! I had 4 UcD180 and 2 UcD400 in my two 3-channels = 6 monoblock amps and have been in the process of getting the HG versions for the last several months.
You should be aware that the first batches of UcD180HG were incompatible with add-on Hypex regulators (no I don't know the details). I think this is fixed now (I am hoping to receive 4 of them with regulators installed next week, with 2 UcD400HG). The UcD400HGs did not have that problem and were compatible with the regulators (I am using them for the bass drivers so I will use them without regulators).
Depending on how recently yours were made you might be OK. You may want to check with Hypex before ordering.
Guy
davidsarinelli said:
Ok, thanks for the update on the regulators. I've mailed Hypex and asked them about HxR12 regulators in the 180HG.
These modules are wonderful sounding, they suck you in to the music like none of the other amps I have - fan-*******-tastic! My wiring also leaves major room for improvement, so once I sit down and finish the amp, I figure it will improve vastly.
I want to try schottky rectifiers after the the new HxR12 regulators have been installed, that is, if they can be installed...
Only downside is that I have some hum induced by the transformer, so I need to shield either the transformer or the modules - bummer... It is definitely the transformer, as the hum disappears when I hit the power switch, but the amp keeps playing for 30-45 seconds due to the 200.000uF capacitance of the power supply, thus - shielding, here I come!! This is why O-core trannies are so popular!
These modules are wonderful sounding, they suck you in to the music like none of the other amps I have - fan-*******-tastic! My wiring also leaves major room for improvement, so once I sit down and finish the amp, I figure it will improve vastly.
I want to try schottky rectifiers after the the new HxR12 regulators have been installed, that is, if they can be installed...
Only downside is that I have some hum induced by the transformer, so I need to shield either the transformer or the modules - bummer... It is definitely the transformer, as the hum disappears when I hit the power switch, but the amp keeps playing for 30-45 seconds due to the 200.000uF capacitance of the power supply, thus - shielding, here I come!! This is why O-core trannies are so popular!
davidsarinelli said:
The power switch decouples the transformer from the mains so the hum could come from the mains. What I have done following Bruno Putzeys recommendation is to not connect the mains ground to the enclosure (using double insulation everywhere), and leave the signal ground floating. Plus you need to make sure all equipment is connected to the same power mains to avoid ground loop. Finally I still had hum that disappeared when I disconnected the Cable TV cable from my pre-amp so there was a ground loop through that cable as well. I do have 3 circular trannies and 64000uF in each box
Guy
I just finished my 180HGs and did connect the mains ground to the enclosure. However, my Amp is dead quiet. Everything else is also connected to a single power conditioner (not sure if that makes a difference). The sound is fantastic. Here are a link to some pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/bugandang/Hifi?authkey=xDyo5wY0VJY
http://picasaweb.google.com/bugandang/Hifi?authkey=xDyo5wY0VJY