|
|
Post by dsjr on Nov 30, 2019 14:13:15 GMT
Following on from Biggie's Neurochrome power amp, here's another new one, sadly for us from Austrailia although Keith at 'Purite Audio' seems to sell their products here and it may be available via him before too long, probably under £3k -
The amp modules used are further developments on the Hypex amps designed in full or part by Bruno Putseys (remember his name as he seems to be 'it' right now in the sota amp world). $2600 the pair isn't a large amount in high end circles yet the expected performance will run rings round almost all of them, as well as being far more efficient.
I think they look cool as well..
To save materials and these days, actually improve performance, expect more like this in future high end amps. I believe the Sh#t that older types spewed out has been solved, excessive heat in some parts in these supplies is being sorted now and long lives should hopefully be better expected. Power amp switching frequencies are so high and far out of the audio band now, the filtering used should have absolutely no effect on the audio reproduction, at least at this level.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2019 14:48:18 GMT
I could never own something like that. It looks like £50 worth of Chi Fi. Some folk will not care about the build/design side, but for me it’s important.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2019 15:13:00 GMT
It looks like an SFF PC, but that wouldn't put me off if it sounds decent.
|
|
|
|
Post by sq225917 on Nov 30, 2019 15:57:03 GMT
Seems expensive for what it offers beyond a DIY nc400 build.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2019 16:07:01 GMT
No thanks never heard a switching amp I like, just like a Mosfet it just don't sound right.
Bugger the heat, a fan sorts that, I will stick with valves thank you.
|
|
|
|
Post by dsjr on Nov 30, 2019 17:14:02 GMT
And the high output impedance and speaker response altering consequences, together with bass distortion at low frequencies?
These amps are way ahead of the old ICE power ones B&O developed I gather and one Hypex implementation I heard in an active speaker sounded as sweet as anyone could wish for (Kii Threes). Stunned me it did and I wish I could afford a pair (they're cheaper than ATC actives too).
|
|
|
|
Post by sq225917 on Nov 30, 2019 18:54:43 GMT
I did a lot of back to back testing when building my current power amps, ncores, class a solid state and my mod 86. Loved the ncores on the bass, tight as a drum, couldn't want better, the class a stuff excelled in the hf but fell apart in the bass, and the mod86 traded a little bass softness for a much sweeter treble compared to the ncore, and lost the tiniest bit in the treble to the class a stuff but walked all over them in the bass.
I cant live with class d in the hf, theres something not right with it. Though I will add them when I go active in the bass.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
|
Post by Bigman80 on Nov 30, 2019 19:35:55 GMT
I know of a set of these March Audio amps, and the owner is not all that complimentary about them.
For me, and most importantly, my enjoyment, the Neurochrome don't sacrifice much, if anything, against the strengths of any of the amps I've owned, loaned or heard.
Admittedly, I haven't heard the Hypex amps.
Where the Neurochrome excels is in its ability to not be there. Its not doing anything that I would pick out as an obvious sound signature.
It's spooky at times, just how easy it is to forget there is even a system involved.
I haven't heard an amp that does it as well as the Neurochrome amps. Whether there's better at one specific aspect is irrelevant to me, the overall performance is delighting me.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2019 20:02:00 GMT
My mate just picked up a Lavardin IS Reference. He's very complimentary about it and that's after using an EAR 861. I've not heard it yet, but I expect he may pop round with it sometime.
|
|
|
|
Post by sq225917 on Nov 30, 2019 21:09:26 GMT
Oli imagine super tight bass and edgy treble with the mids of your neurochrome amps, that's a hypex. It's not a compromise I was willing to make.
Cant beat the neurochrome, just built a bridged 286 for someone today. Tiny case... scraped knuckles.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
|
Post by Bigman80 on Nov 30, 2019 21:15:05 GMT
Oli imagine super tight bass and edgy treble with the mids of your neurochrome amps, that's a hypex. It's not a compromise I was willing to make. Cant beat the neurochrome, just built a bridged 286 for someone today. Tiny case... scraped knuckles. The BOSC was a close Contender but the Neurochrome edged it. Yes, I'm with you mate, the Neurochrome amps are marvellous. It took some time to get there but I'm absolutely delighted with mine. I've turned down the opportunity to audition 4 different amps, necause I'm just not Interested anymore. There were isolation platforms here too that I flat out refused to try. The revolving door of hifi is jammed shut at the minute. That will change if I can get my grubby mits on a few nice DACs to try. |
|
|
|
Post by sq225917 on Nov 30, 2019 22:16:34 GMT
I'm waiting on new transformer board for mine then I'll case it up in the new year. I'll bring it round sometime in the new year.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
|
Post by Bigman80 on Nov 30, 2019 23:09:01 GMT
I'm waiting on new transformer board for mine then I'll case it up in the new year. I'll bring it round sometime in the new year. I would really appreciate that. Not to divert a very good thread, but I honestly feel a DAC is the last bit of hifi I haven't explored in any depth. I'd love to hear the Mytek Brooklyn and obviously your Ian Pi DAC, that would be very high on my list. Maybe a couple of Chords offerings and if money allowed, a Chord Dave or a Denafrips Terminator would be on the list. We shall see. |
|
|
|
Post by dsjr on Dec 1, 2019 1:27:07 GMT
I know of a set of these March Audio amps, and the owner is not all that complimentary about them. I thought the one I linked to was different to the others? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2019 3:33:05 GMT
And the high output impedance and speaker response altering consequences, together with bass distortion at low frequencies?
These amps are way ahead of the old ICE power ones B&O developed I gather and one Hypex implementation I heard in an active speaker sounded as sweet as anyone could wish for (Kii Threes). Stunned me it did and I wish I could afford a pair (they're cheaper than ATC actives too). You make me laugh I use very high efficiency speakers your first comment is nonsense, sorry. "Bass distortion" you crack me up. Then we are all entitled to our preferences and opinions not so.    |
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
|
Post by Bigman80 on Dec 1, 2019 8:06:51 GMT
I know of a set of these March Audio amps, and the owner is not all that complimentary about them. I thought the one I linked to was different to the others? I believe the guy has these ones Dave. I will clarify but he has literally only just got them (on loan) from March Audio. Could well be the Hypex version. Oops. |
|
|
|
Post by macca on Dec 1, 2019 8:51:49 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by dsjr on Dec 1, 2019 10:15:03 GMT
And the high output impedance and speaker response altering consequences, together with bass distortion at low frequencies?
These amps are way ahead of the old ICE power ones B&O developed I gather and one Hypex implementation I heard in an active speaker sounded as sweet as anyone could wish for (Kii Threes). Stunned me it did and I wish I could afford a pair (they're cheaper than ATC actives too). You make me laugh I use very high efficiency speakers your first comment is nonsense, sorry. "Bass distortion" you crack me up. Then we are all entitled to our preferences and opinions not so. High output impedance from a transformer coupled valve amp has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with high efficiency speakers!!! Even if your high efficiency speakers were 15 ohms, as long as they have a passive crossover in them, the amp will react with it and alter the response of the speaker at bass resonance and crossover region especially. Look up various Stereophile valve power amp reviews for confirmation - it's enough to be VERY audible in most cases and confirmation! For a totally extremely bad case, look at the Prima Luna reviews. these amps are the worst for this I've ever seen and they have ultrasonic ringing as well to add to the disastrous mix! Even a graphic equaliser couldn't do this much acoustic damage...
Same with low frequency bass distortion. Even the (on here) revered Radford 25 goes to pieces below 50hz as measured by HiFi News a few years ago and since the current re-imagined one uses transformers similar I gather to the originals... ALL valve amp output transformers will saturate at some point low down and bearing in mind modern recordings are claimed to have up to 10db more low bass content, even modern vinyl pushes it more than it used to in the 60's and 70's and vinyl usually has low bass rolled off to prevent the pickup jumping. Maybe not an issue if you use tiny speakers with limited low bass, but bigger more efficient ones may well reproduce the added bloom and warmth. Bloody good job our ears aren't so discriminating in the bass and yes, i like the looks of glowing valves too, but even I can hear the way the ones I've heard 'alter' the sound of the music playing through them into a typical loudspeaker.. You may find most decent modern solid state amps sound different to your current tastes, yet broadly similar to each other as a consequence perhaps? Just a remote suggestion to ponder.
So I'm not talking nonsense sir, just not as good at articulating the objective provable truth as some others can. Please may I politely suggest you do some reading up (if you haven't already) so you understand what it is you use and why you may prefer it sonically to other things.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
|
Post by Bigman80 on Dec 1, 2019 10:36:17 GMT
Yes, you are quite right Macca. That'll teach me to dive in lol. Apologies Dave. |
|
|
|
Post by dsjr on Dec 1, 2019 11:25:05 GMT
Keith at Purite is expecting a set of these new ones this next week if you read the linked thread on ASR.
Apologies for rocking the boat again.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
|
Post by Bigman80 on Dec 1, 2019 11:27:25 GMT
Keith at Purite is expecting a set of these new ones this next week if you read the linked thread on ASR. Apologies for rocking the boat again. Haha, you ain't rocked the boat Dave, I. Glad you've posted again. |
|
|
|
Post by macca on Dec 1, 2019 11:33:35 GMT
he is right ofc. Nothing to do with sensitivity, it's how much the impedance of the speaker varies. if it doesn't vary much then you won't get the variations in frequency response. It is the achilles heel of valve amps. Except for OTL valve amps.
I'm interested to know why this bloke is not keen on the March Audio amps. They look good on paper and I have toyed with the idea of trying the stereo power amp.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2019 11:41:58 GMT
Why are these so expensive? They really do look less costly than some two-figure Chi-fi stuff.
|
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
|
Post by Bigman80 on Dec 1, 2019 11:45:40 GMT
he is right ofc. Nothing to do with sensitivity, it's how much the impedance of the speaker varies. if it doesn't vary much then you won't get the variations in frequency response. It is the achilles heel of valve amps. Except for OTL valve amps. I'm interested to know why this bloke is not keen on the March Audio amps. They look good on paper and I have toyed with the idea of trying the stereo power amp. I think a lot of it was down to price and how much it can be made for. I didn't talk at great length about them but he wasn't mad on them. |
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
|
Post by Bigman80 on Dec 1, 2019 11:46:26 GMT
Why are these so expensive? They really do look less costly than some two-figure Chi-fi stuff. Cases. That's the only thing I can think of. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2019 11:48:49 GMT
Aren’t the cases just plastic?
|
|
|
|
Post by macca on Dec 1, 2019 13:08:57 GMT
No they are milled from aluminium block. Build-wise there really is no comparison with 2 figure chi-fi, they measure a lot better too.
|
|
|
|
Post by sq225917 on Dec 1, 2019 13:49:34 GMT
I wonder if the cases are made in Australia, or made in China, like the iphone.
China can do good and bad you get what you pay for.
Some people just dont like class D. For whatever reason.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2019 14:01:42 GMT
You make me laugh I use very high efficiency speakers your first comment is nonsense, sorry. "Bass distortion" you crack me up. Then we are all entitled to our preferences and opinions not so. High output impedance from a transformer coupled valve amp has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with high efficiency speakers!!! Even if your high efficiency speakers were 15 ohms, as long as they have a passive crossover in them, the amp will react with it and alter the response of the speaker at bass resonance and crossover region especially. Look up various Stereophile valve power amp reviews for confirmation - it's enough to be VERY audible in most cases and confirmation! For a totally extremely bad case, look at the Prima Luna reviews. these amps are the worst for this I've ever seen and they have ultrasonic ringing as well to add to the disastrous mix! Even a graphic equaliser couldn't do this much acoustic damage...
Same with low frequency bass distortion. Even the (on here) revered Radford 25 goes to pieces below 50hz as measured by HiFi News a few years ago and since the current re-imagined one uses transformers similar I gather to the originals... ALL valve amp output transformers will saturate at some point low down and bearing in mind modern recordings are claimed to have up to 10db more low bass content, even modern vinyl pushes it more than it used to in the 60's and 70's and vinyl usually has low bass rolled off to prevent the pickup jumping. Maybe not an issue if you use tiny speakers with limited low bass, but bigger more efficient ones may well reproduce the added bloom and warmth. Bloody good job our ears aren't so discriminating in the bass and yes, i like the looks of glowing valves too, but even I can hear the way the ones I've heard 'alter' the sound of the music playing through them into a typical loudspeaker.. You may find most decent modern solid state amps sound different to your current tastes, yet broadly similar to each other as a consequence perhaps? Just a remote suggestion to ponder.
So I'm not talking nonsense sir, just not as good at articulating the objective provable truth as some others can. Please may I politely suggest you do some reading up (if you haven't already) so you understand what it is you use and why you may prefer it sonically to other things.
If you say so. I know diddly squat, you know everything, sorry for being so stupid, going to follow your vast knowledge, and flog all my kit and buy a bloody second hand music center hope that does not distort. I had better get some new ears while I am about it. |
|
Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
|
Post by Bigman80 on Dec 1, 2019 14:01:42 GMT
I wonder if the cases are made in Australia, or made in China, like the iphone. China can do good and bad you get what you pay for. Some people just dont like class D. For whatever reason. Had some really nice bits from China. The Viborg stuff is usually immaculate upon arrival. Had some not so good stuff but then I haven't paid a lot for it. I've been on Aliexpress for some time now and even bought cable from there. I've not had anything bad or that I'd look for a refund from. |
|
