Mark's Hypex NC400 Build

[AudioHTIT]

Sounds a bit like a Mac Pro, that might be an interesting design.

[klinemj]

May 22, 2016 12:35:23 GMT -5 mvk said:

yeah i will definately take that in account. the difficulty there is when the PSU physically, shielded but still physically under the NC400's i would need to re-interpret the wire routing from a 2 into a 3 dimensional setup.

which is basically one issue i need to help with. But i will need to figure this out myself first before i call in the help brigade.

Also i will ask Hypex for there idea.

i already had a small talk to them about this. where i mentioned the wooden plate idea, the major issue they came up with is the cooling. for which i added the dual side metal sheet.

but.. i'm still completely in design mode. i will only start building till i figured it all out.

Great Matt

ps: Medschool, but i have a BsC in photonics and am also a gold and silversmith.

Yes...the 3D aspect of the wiring will take some thought. Hypex will likely have some thoughts and were very helpful with questions on my build.
With mine, both the amp modules and power supplies mount to aluminum plate material, and the whole box is open except the back plate (which, with my wall mount is a bottom plate) and the top (face, as wall mounted, which is wood) and not tightly sealed. Three of the faces are fully open other than some black fabric that covers the aluminum frame structure. So, as they hang on the wall, the top and left and right sides are fully free to breathe and the wall side is aluminum in face to face contact with the modules/power supplies. I have zero heat issues.

If you work in some metal for grounding needs and only have the wood be an ornamental surface, I doubt you will have issues. Worst case, put in a small fan at the bottom that blows up though the circuits. There are some dead silent fans around.

Good luck with the exams and the rest of med school. I debated that with specializing in biomedical, but developing technology for diapers called me instead.

Mark

[GreenKiwi]

I'd try my hardest to not have a fan... I'm guessing that if you have any metal to mount to, and have an air passage that allows for convective cooling, you'll be OK. If the devices get a bit warm and are able to naturally suck air in from the bottom and have it exit at the top, they will likely stay pretty cool. (Or not too hot.)

[mvk]

yeah indeed, i try to stay far away from fans. it's not the noice but the moving parts that disturb the circuit.

convective cooling was indeed my thought.. hence the open bottom, and indeed need some open parts in the top / top of the sides but i'm bot sure on how i will implement this. as mark said, most of bamboo's function will need to be ornamental and a bit structure. It will also do a little bit of EMI filtering as it will function as a barrier.

but as said there will be a lot of thinking and designing before i start to actually build.

thanks for your succes wishes.. i believe i will need them for comming exams...

so please forgive me for turning a little quite, but please keep posting if you have idee's i will read the sooner or later.

Kind regards

Matt

[mvk]

hey guys,

all parts ordered came in today from hypex. was difficult to leave it be.. as you will understand. but i've been drawing a little in a some 'spare' time...

just to get some visualisation of what i want and see where the problems will come.

for explanation.. which will be definately necessairy... 

in the top plate (bamboo) are now 'just 6 holes' this will be more, i'm thinking about routing the hypex logo. I just put it there to show that there will be an air vent. These holes will be covered at the bottom by an additional plate at which the dlcp (the grey part hanging) will be mounted. Also i will place the display from the dlcp add on and the buttons in the top plate.  

on the middle plate, with a large hole in the middle, will be a will be the metal / copper cooling plate mounted with a set off so ai can travel under it, through the hole and along the side of it. cooling it off a little, with on top the 6 (4 now)nc400's. ofcourse with cooling paste in between (yes i will need to be carefull there!) 

at the bottom of the middle plate there will be 3 (now 2) smps600's mounted, upside down. 

an upside down 'table' (which now has it's legs through the smps600's, not in real live ofcourse, just a drawing problem there)  will keep the hole openand will be used to place the smps dlcp on and the soft start at the bottom. 

the wiring from the smps dlcp to the dlcp will go straight up. through the coper plate (need a hole the, but just for passage. I will get that 'closed' so no air can bypass the air route there. 

wires from the dlcp can go straight to the nc400's going allong the walls. also the wires from the smps600's which each will power two nc400's will go through the middle plate along the side or through the main hole in the centre under the cooling plate, but i don't like that last option.. 

i feel like this way all the wiring will be as far from essential parts as possible, and i can keep them also as short as possible. 

all of this will be on some sort of feet. with spikes there.... 


www.dropbox.com/s/p8d8ubmdfux074q/side%20view%201.bmp?dl=0

www.dropbox.com/s/2piff1vyub1xpo3/side%20view%202.bmp?dl=0

hope you can see the images. i can only see them when i open them in a different tab, thats why i also posted the direct links. 

if not, please show me the way to properly show pics here. i posted the link from dropbox public folder. 

kind greatz

Matthieu

[klinemj]

I think I get it...the gold/yellow plates are metal, correct? And in the "top floor" of the design are the amp modules. In the bottom floor are the power supplies - right?

And it looks like the power supplies are mounted mostly perpendicular to the amp modules, except the ones on the very top and very bottom which are parallel to each other. The thing I do not know, but I am sure the folks from Hypex could tell you, is whether or not some type of field that can create a bad electrical interference is created out of the plane of the amp module or power supply that needs considered. Most folks have amp modules and power supplies in a common plane with wiring routed around the edges of each. If you have amp modules and power supplies not orthagonal and/or not in the same plane - that may create issues. But, Hypex would be able to tell you.

Also, what material will go around the vertical circumference? Be aware if it is optically transparent that the LED's on the amp modules will be able to shine though.

I leveraged this as my power-on indicators for my amps, even putting a smoked glass window over the amp module so the LED glow can be seen (and if you look closely - you can see the lit up amp module parts...which is kind of cool!)

But, if you don't want them to shine through - you will need to account for that.

Mark

[mvk]

well eh no, the gold yellow plates will not be metal, that is bamboo. so wood.
the only metal part is the copper / alu plate that is mounted on the middle plate, with a set-off on which the nc400's are mounted.

the set=off is so air can travel onder it to the top level, rising while warming up. in the middle there will be a heatsink so the warmth of the nc400 can dissipate extra. negative side there is that it will diddipate the heat to the air the has not yet travelled under the mounting plate. would be better the other way arounf but that the air is not forced to go thrue it.. so i believe although that is not ideal, it is still the better option.

And it looks like the power supplies are mounted mostly perpendicular to the amp modules, except the ones on the very top and very bottom which are parallel to each other.

not sure how you mean. all parts are level, some are upside down, yes, but all are level. all parts are also divided by 3 so. i don't see the perpendicular meaning here. it might just don't get it.

jos from hypex said just the wood would probably be enough for shielding. afterwards i decided to place the extra metal plate foor cooling / earthing if necessairy. which on it's own will have a shielding effect. but I will go into more detail on this issue when i fully designed the idea, as this is indeed of real importance. personally i believe that the amps and the psu's being seperate and not in the same plane to be benefitial. but i could be wrong there... just thinking. always open for errors. and as said. i will go into depth detail with hypex once there is a final model. this is far from finished.

the circumference will be opaque. just made it transparent so you can see in in the model. i think i will make the top partly open, so you can see the led's though. the side will be a matt black tube in some form. i'm looking into large diameter PVC tube (400mm), but i can only buy in 5 mm length and i will just need like 40 cm so.. i will need to look for scraps there.

thanks very much for your input! really appreciated! all will be taken in account.

can't wait to start.. but unfortunately

kind greats

Matt.

ps: any personal opinions on the overal appearence of the design?

[klinemj]

I think it will look really cool!

Mark

[mvk]

thanks! i hope s anyway. 

i just did a QUICK cut through drawing, maybe that will clear things up a little... it is sometimes difficult to properly visualise something that you got all worked out in your head. so hope it helps. sizes are not really accurate here. but do come close. 

also i added some pictures of the lx-mini's i'm building. also not finished yet ofcourse!! 

still working on the feet issue there too, and the bass tube is being spray painted just like the black horizontal tube. this latter one i also have in bamboo. in doubt which one i'll use. .. opinions  please (also the negative once.. lot's to learn from those)



www.dropbox.com/s/i46agrt04t7ehqp/IMG_20160525_123759.jpg?dl=0


www.dropbox.com/s/c0sdp81hzchfiso/IMG_20160514_182900.jpg?dl=0


www.dropbox.com/s/glsgcbovpksgb08/IMG_20160514_113030.jpg?dl=0

hope this gives a better understanding. 

kind greatz 

Matthieu

[GreenKiwi]

I didn't see that you're getting the DLCP too... I'm very curious how it all sounds.

www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/hypex_dlcp_n400_e.html

Good luck with the digital crossover part. I'm definitely interested in that side, since I have some 3.6s which can have an external xover.

[mvk]

Yeah, am very curious too.. Will take some time to finish though..

Unfortunately I also don't have the placement where I live now so for the full enjoyment I'll have to wait for another year or so

About the dlcp.. I will buy it already uploaded for the crossover filters.. Magiclx521.com sell them specially for the LX setups. So not much troubles there I hope.

As said before, I don't have all the parts as mentioned in the drawings.. But I want to be able to expand without rebuilding when I add the woofers at a much later stage.

I re-did the the drawings tonight. And basically added the dlcp add on parts.. So they have there place now too. I'll post the tomorrow. Not entirely done. Also added the cooler part on the metal plate.

I like drawing all in 3D, that way you can fit it all together and make mistakes without waisting to much work and you'll have a good idea what it will look like.

Kind greatz

Matthieu

[klinemj]

The design is a lot more clear now. I would talk with Jo's about the power supply location vs. the amp modules just to make sure about any interference risk.

And I had missed the part about the DLCP also. Very curious to learn about that.

The design does look like it will be very cool...very distinct.

Mark

[garbulky]

That's the Linkwitz Pluto right? Or is that the amp enclosure somehow?

[mvk]

we'll it is an amp (enclosure) indeed, for a lx mini. pluto is a bit out of eh date.

as linkwitz would say.. surpassed.

[mvk]

latest alterations.. adding schematic DLCP add-ons. 

side view 4.bmp (1.74 MB)
side view 3.bmp (1.74 MB)

[mvk]

just posted an extensive mail to hypex with dicussion and fot's of the design adressing possible issues and asking for design flaws.

hoping for an constructive and interesting answer...

Matt

[klinemj]

I am sure if they have any concerns, they will let you know. Good guys there.

Mark

[pmd918]

mvk,

Can't believe I found this thread. What's the likelihood - I am considering nearly the exact same setup. I learned about the LXmini about a month ago and was intrigued. So was thinking about building them. Then I chanced upon the nc400, and am intrigued about it, too. So here I am, just this afternoon thinking about building the speakers and powering them with four of the nc400's.

Only difference is that I was thinking of sticking with the miniDSP 4x10HD instead of messing with the Hypex DLCP.

Wow, still can't believe it. When do you think you will be done?! Can't tell you how anxious I am to hear how your project turns out.

Doc

[mvk]

Hey guys..

i know.. long long time that you've heard from me, but i come with semi good news.
my amp build is nearly finished and i'm well to say the least a little bit proud of what is did.
i have plenty of pictures so i will make one hack of a long post with the entire building and assembly proces in there with all my thoughts and actions (some good some less good) but i hope the result will be there

unfortunately the amp build took so much time that the speakers are still in the put the pieces to gether stage and there is some exams coming very very soon so i can't tell you anything about the reason why we build this all. the sound.

but the looks will be good.

doc.

to you also.. sorry that i didn't post here for so long.
i know the feeling when building this set and the anxiousness till it's all together.
hope you went for it.

about the dsp's well i must say i had similar thoughts, i finally choose the dlcp from hypex. as the lessrer quality mentioned on forums is mainly with the pre-amlifier setup. which i will not be using

but the hypex set it all up nicely together so i decided. nit sure if it's the right choice yet. and not sure if i'll ever know.

where you from?

maybe we can compare our setups when they are done.

grtz

Matthieu

[klinemj]

Glad to hear of the progress!

I am in the US in the Cincinnati area. Where are you?

Mark