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Class D Switching Power Amplifiers and Power D/A conversion |
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#1 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Hi,
I built 2 hypex UcD400HG w/HxR monoblocks about 4 or 5 years ago. At that point the switch mode PSU had not been introduced, so I used 2 500VA toroids. I think this amplifier sounds amazing for my studio monitors, and have decided that I must have one in the living room as well. Since then, the price has gone down by about 30-40%, and the nCore has been introduced as the new "top of the line". The nCore costs just slightly more than the UcD400HG used to. The specs speak for themselves, but how does this translate into practical terms? I currently own the following relevant speakers: ProAc studio 100 (for mixing), PMC LB1 (for mastering) and 90s Seas Argon (large, full-range, very enjoyable and fairly inexpensive, for the living room) For loudspeakers at this level, will I even notice the difference between the two amplifiers? Class A or not, is there anything else in the price range that is regarded superior to the Hypex? |
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#2 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: The Jurassic Coast, England. GB
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FlyingMole DAD-100 don't run so hot in a confined space and they have the SMPS on board.
__________________
Support for Fender, Marshall and all Valve Equipment; Audio Innovations, Audiorama FU29, Quad and Leak. www.jonsnell.co.uk |
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#3 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Hi Jon, thanks for the input,
for my use heat, size and ease of build is not crucial. I'd list my priorities like this: 1. sound quality 2. reliability 3. price 4. ease of build (If I had the time I would've considered building the amp from scratch) 5. size/weight 6. power consumption So, how does it sound? |
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#4 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
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EDIT: double post
Last edited by AMelbye; 23rd August 2013 at 12:38 PM. |
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#5 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: The Jurassic Coast, England. GB
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The Hypex modules are not bad at all. As you say, size is no object.
Unless the old units are faulty, I would be inclined to keep them running. Replacement modules for them are very inexpensive.
__________________
Support for Fender, Marshall and all Valve Equipment; Audio Innovations, Audiorama FU29, Quad and Leak. www.jonsnell.co.uk |
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#6 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Montreal, Canada
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A good friend had the same situation with the only difference that the ps was switching ps and the difference in performance the ncore was dramaticaly better.
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#7 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Remote
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I have the nCores, and they are a significant improvement over the UCD. You will hear the difference on your speakers, no doubt. I have ATC SCM11 and the transparency and detail is greater with nCore.
They consume 4.5w at idle and are 94% efficient meaning that they do not produce much heat, and Bruno says that they can run at 80deg celcius, and in an ambient temperature of 35deg celcius without problem. The build is extremely easy too, with the SMPS600 all cables are supplied to connect the two together. You just need to add input signal, input power, speaker output and connect NAMPON high to make the thing power up. The size and weight is very small for both meaning that they are easy to fit where you need them. Mine are on sleds at the rear of my speaker stands. The price is a lot for a DIY project, but you hardly ever see these amps for sale secondhand as people just want to keep them. I know several nCore owners and they all say that the search for amps is over now. I have heard of no reliabilty concerns, and they really do sound amazing. Nothing added, nothing taken away from the signal - at least as far as my speaker can tell me anyway. |
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#8 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Northern Virginia
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Built both the UcD400HG with HxR regulators and NCore's here using SMPS's and the NCore sounds a bit more detailed in the upper frequency range. Both types are excellent amplifiers and simple to build. Here they drive stock pairs of Zaph ZRT's in sealed enclosures.
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#9 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Thanks for your input!
I think I'll go for the nCore ![]() |
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#10 |
diyAudio Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bristol
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Ive been eyeing the nCores, pretty much once a week since they have been released. Anyone update there opinions, worth the money...?
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Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Hypex UcD180HG HxR or 400HG HxR ? | StigErik | Class D | 272 | 20th September 2017 08:55 AM |
FS: Hypex UCD400HG+HXR + PSU | trex | Swap Meet | 0 | 25th February 2012 12:31 PM |
FS: Hypex UcD400HG+HxR | Francois K | Swap Meet | 3 | 25th February 2012 05:23 AM |
FS: Hypex UcD400HG w/ HxR modules + PSU | jchedstrom | Swap Meet | 2 | 21st November 2011 03:05 AM |
Hypex UCD400HG with HxR (and without!) | cowanrg | Swap Meet | 7 | 4th July 2009 08:03 AM |
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