NumbDiver
Super Member
I’ve been researching Class-d PWM amps for a few years, in hopes of making a move. I’ve yet to audition any that can duplicate the presentation of great class A. The Spectron with its linear power supply has been the closest. In truth, I’ve not auditioned the Spectron in my own system, so it’s difficult to compare due to system synergy. Either way, it is quite good. The other 4-5 I’ve auditioned have all fallen short in HF extension as musicality.
Up till now, class d has done wonderful (world-class) bass, and l love the black noise-floor. But they’ve not had the level of detail in upper registers. That also affects the depth of the soundstage.
However…nobody on this string as mentioned the new Class-d amps that I chomping at the bit to audition. Hypex N-core NC1200 based amps. NC400 is DIY only, and NC1200 is OEM only. There are raving reviews out there (but then again, there usually is). The NC1200-based amps may well be the giant-killers we seek. They are supposed to equal or surpass even the best SS amps running class-a or ab. It may be hype, but it’d be a lot of hype from many different sources. I’m at minimum, very curious.
The amps in question (so far) are: Merrill Veritas, Mola-Mola and Acoustic Imagery Atsah. All are NC1200-based. All are around $10k-ish. I dunno. They will have pretty big shoes to fill, as my current SS amps are Levinson No. 20 class-A monoblocks. One of the best-reviewed (albeit older) class-a SS amps ever produced. However, they are getting older and they are class-a. That means parts/cap maintenance; possible unobtanium; high-heat; big power bills. If I can move to a brand new amp that performs as well as my Levinsons, and can do it in a lightweight, small, power-sipping package…I’m in.
I’ve read great things about both the NC400, and especially the NC1200. NC400 has a discrete input section, where the NC1200 uses opamp. They say the DIY community pushed for discrete and it measures better, but the opamp NC1200 sounds better. Both use switching power supplies. From everything I’ve gathered, the current offerings are using the stock Hypex configurations on the boards (unlike the Rowland-type Icepower stuff that uses the manufacturer’s own proprietary input buffer). Paul McGowan is also introducing a PSAudio NC1200 amp this summer, from what I’ve read on his blog.
All these offering feel like they should be in the $6k range, even with the audio-jewelry casework they may have. I have a hard time wrapping my head around $10-12k+ for a stock 6” class-d output board, and another stock switch-mode power supply board. I know that’s my problem, but I can SEE all the value in my huge class-a amps with the heat sinks, massive torroid, beer-can PS caps, regulated power supply, 32 output devices, etc.. At some point, when I get an audition, I still may talk myself into the purchase if they do what I want them to do.
Yes…I think the Big-Guys are either scared, or wanting to jump on board. But only if whatever class-d technology finally equals or trumps today’s best amps (which I have yet to see).
Up till now, class d has done wonderful (world-class) bass, and l love the black noise-floor. But they’ve not had the level of detail in upper registers. That also affects the depth of the soundstage.
However…nobody on this string as mentioned the new Class-d amps that I chomping at the bit to audition. Hypex N-core NC1200 based amps. NC400 is DIY only, and NC1200 is OEM only. There are raving reviews out there (but then again, there usually is). The NC1200-based amps may well be the giant-killers we seek. They are supposed to equal or surpass even the best SS amps running class-a or ab. It may be hype, but it’d be a lot of hype from many different sources. I’m at minimum, very curious.
The amps in question (so far) are: Merrill Veritas, Mola-Mola and Acoustic Imagery Atsah. All are NC1200-based. All are around $10k-ish. I dunno. They will have pretty big shoes to fill, as my current SS amps are Levinson No. 20 class-A monoblocks. One of the best-reviewed (albeit older) class-a SS amps ever produced. However, they are getting older and they are class-a. That means parts/cap maintenance; possible unobtanium; high-heat; big power bills. If I can move to a brand new amp that performs as well as my Levinsons, and can do it in a lightweight, small, power-sipping package…I’m in.
I’ve read great things about both the NC400, and especially the NC1200. NC400 has a discrete input section, where the NC1200 uses opamp. They say the DIY community pushed for discrete and it measures better, but the opamp NC1200 sounds better. Both use switching power supplies. From everything I’ve gathered, the current offerings are using the stock Hypex configurations on the boards (unlike the Rowland-type Icepower stuff that uses the manufacturer’s own proprietary input buffer). Paul McGowan is also introducing a PSAudio NC1200 amp this summer, from what I’ve read on his blog.
All these offering feel like they should be in the $6k range, even with the audio-jewelry casework they may have. I have a hard time wrapping my head around $10-12k+ for a stock 6” class-d output board, and another stock switch-mode power supply board. I know that’s my problem, but I can SEE all the value in my huge class-a amps with the heat sinks, massive torroid, beer-can PS caps, regulated power supply, 32 output devices, etc.. At some point, when I get an audition, I still may talk myself into the purchase if they do what I want them to do.
Yes…I think the Big-Guys are either scared, or wanting to jump on board. But only if whatever class-d technology finally equals or trumps today’s best amps (which I have yet to see).
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