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In Reply to: RE: Playing with NCore NC400 Class D posted by mitch2 on October 16, 2014 at 20:22:09
Sensible points. I find my $1200. nCore 400s have a much different 'sensation' than all the ICE designs that I've auditioned at home with the exception of the Rowland 500 (now redesigned 525?). Don't know enough to say if its the ICE supplies or the implementation/design but with the ICE versions I noticed my shoulders clinched up unlike with the PS Audio, Rowland, NuForce SE, and mostly the nCore. The method or degree of filtering could be the issue but I just can't say.
It maybe just me but I found my body doing the same thing at a recent audio show where digital was the source.
What I noticed sonically with my first switching amplifier, the PS Audio, was subjectively detailed bass and the complete lack of congestion with increasing volume compared to my A/B amps. IMO this is the fundamental difference in class D presentation that many have issues with. To be clear this is in comparison with similar priced solid state A/B amplifiers.
I find the nCores powering a pair of Avalon Acoustics Monitors a perfect match in my small recording studio. The presentation is relentlessly plate glass transparent, perfect for monitoring and absolutely not for casual listening.
I'm still in the dark as to why the Hypex 1200 series iterations have become so costly.
Follow Ups:
I'm having a little trouble with your sentence structure.
You LIKED the PSAudio, Rowland, NuForce in addition to the NCore?
The PSAudio GCC series of integrateds used UNModified ASP modules from B&O. They INCLUDE an on-board switching PS and have output taps for OTHER non-powered modules. That feature makes bi/tri amping fairly easy, provided you have a line-level crossover!
I replaced a GCC250 with Parsound separates and even without counting inflation, spent 10% less.
Factor in inflation, the full-feature set and the cost advantage of todays rig approaches 30%.
Too much is never enough
My first introduction to switching power amplifiers was the PS Audio HCA-2. My solid state went in for an upgrade and I purchased the PS Audio intending to return during the trial period but I ended up keeping it. Regardless of what sourced components were used in the HCAs design it was the overall uniqueness of a switching amplifier that grabbed me.
Shortcoming or not it was the HCA that forced me to upgrade my VAC circuits and not use any silver cabling. This experience made it clear that switching amplifiers are not simply plug and play which may be the reason so many have failed to hear their virtues.
It wasn't until I purchased a pair of proprietary designed NuForce SEs that I was able to begin to compare at home and hear class D differences including ICE equipped amplifiers. NuForce also designed the copper cabling that I currently use with the nCores and that worked very well with all the other switching amplifiers that I have auditioned.
I had the HCA-2...couldn't wait to get rid of it. Bass worked well on my friend's Apogee Grand's subwoofers...but that was it. We tried it on the panels and were shocked how bad it sounded compared to the Sphinx Project 14 hybrid amps that normally did the duty.
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