Hypex NCore nc400 vs XPA 1L?

[quattroll]

Locally someone is selling a pair of these in the silver boxes asking 1450.

I have a pair of 1Ls that I am using with a DC-1 and newly acquired Magnepan .7s. I know that some in the lounge really like these Ncores, so I wanted to see if anyone had some advice. Of course the 1Ls are really nice, but unfortunately they are in a very dusty environment (my studio) and I am getting a little concerned about that. I have an XMC-1 in another location that would be happy to use them.

I guess the question is are the NCores a step up or just different but also excellent? And is this price for unused really that good?

[AudioHTIT]

Oct 11, 2016 17:50:49 GMT -5 quattroll said:

Locally someone is selling a pair of these in the silver boxes asking 1450.

I have a pair of 1Ls that I am using with a DC-1 and newly acquired Magnepan .7s. I know that some in the lounge really like these Ncores, so I wanted to see if anyone had some advice. Of course the 1Ls are really nice, but unfortunately they are in a very dusty environment (my studio) and I am getting a little concerned about that. I have an XMC-1 in another location that would be happy to use them.

I guess the question is are the NCores a step up or just different but also excellent? And is this price for unused really that good?

Mark (klinemj ) has Ncores with Maggies and loves the combo, maybe he'll see this and chime in.

[klinemj]

quattroll

I have ncores, but I have never heard xpa-1L's. The closest I can compare is to the xpa-2, gen 1 -which I used to really like but noticed a bit of harshness in the upper end. The nCores made that go away. So, if you are noticing the 1L's be a tad harsh, the nCores may help. And, i have never felt the nCores were lacking in power...the pump out the sound just fine.

As for price, when I built mine, I had about $1500 in parts. Today, you would spend about 1100 euros for the modules and power supplies, plus any duties and misc. parts like power cords, power switches, outputs, inputs, cases, etc. At $1500, assuming the build looks good, the price seems reasonable and it is likely you could buy them, try them, and if not impressed...sell for no loss.

Mark

[klinemj]

Ps...where is "local" for you? If you are near Cincinnati, you could listen to mine.

Mark

[quattroll]

Thank you, I am in Seattle. I spent some time with my system last night, and my .7s are really sounding good now, it has taken a few weeks for them to open up, but I believe they are a tremendous value, as my last two pairs of towers cost quite a bit more (B&W, Sonus Fabre). None of my other combos have come close to the full, natural, and engaging sound I'm hearing now. My used MMGs I got off Craigslist were a revelation, but these newer design "I" designated speakers are terrific. If you have the space, these speakers could end many listeners' upgraditis.

Also I would like to add that I have powered my MMGs with xpa5, xpa100, and my 1Ls, they all sound very close, I would rank them in that order, with the 1Ls best, slightly in AB mode, and more so in A. I find that being in A mode makes a difference at all volumes, though I am concerned about the heat that is generated, so I go back and forth depending upon how focused I am.

[klinemj]

The Maggies are indeed special. I love mine. There is nothing about them I would change at all. One nice thing about the Class D nCores is that heat is no object. With mine, they staying very cool as they are hanging on the wall behind my speakers and the case is made of an aluminum base that is open on the top and both sides...only covered by a fabric like speaker grill material to keep dust out. The front face is a wood and glass plate, and the metal bottom panel has the inputs and outputs and power line in and switch. The amp module and power supplies mount to the side that hangs next to the wall - which is made of aluminum. As mounted on the wall, there's about 1/4" of airspace. So, in addition to being very efficient, the cases are a heat sink surrounded by ambient air. They don't even get warm at all.

Mark

[leonski]

Oct 12, 2016 17:06:31 GMT -5 klinemj said:

The Maggies are indeed special. I love mine. There is nothing about them I would change at all. One nice thing about the Class D nCores is that heat is no object. With mine, they staying very cool as they are hanging on the wall behind my speakers and the case is made of an aluminum base that is open on the top and both sides...only covered by a fabric like speaker grill material to keep dust out. The front face is a wood and glass plate, and the metal bottom panel has the inputs and outputs and power line in and switch. The amp module and power supplies mount to the side that hangs next to the wall - which is made of aluminum. As mounted on the wall, there's about 1/4" of airspace. So, in addition to being very efficient, the cases are a heat sink surrounded by ambient air. They don't even get warm at all.

Mark

Could you post a photo of your nCore build?

[solidstate]

You'd best wait for Emotiva to release their Ice based amps with the newer improved module if going Class D.

[klinemj]

Oct 16, 2016 16:23:14 GMT -5 leonski said:

Oct 12, 2016 17:06:31 GMT -5 klinemj said:

The Maggies are indeed special. I love mine. There is nothing about them I would change at all. One nice thing about the Class D nCores is that heat is no object. With mine, they staying very cool as they are hanging on the wall behind my speakers and the case is made of an aluminum base that is open on the top and both sides...only covered by a fabric like speaker grill material to keep dust out. The front face is a wood and glass plate, and the metal bottom panel has the inputs and outputs and power line in and switch. The amp module and power supplies mount to the side that hangs next to the wall - which is made of aluminum. As mounted on the wall, there's about 1/4" of airspace. So, in addition to being very efficient, the cases are a heat sink surrounded by ambient air. They don't even get warm at all.

Mark

Could you post a photo of your nCore build?

Here you go...

Pix of Mark's Build

Mark

[leonski]

I OWNED an ASP module'd integrated and EVENTUALLY was not impressed.

I don't know that the later 'd' ICE amps are actually better than nCore. UcD is the early Hypex product, also 'invented' by Bruno P. but based on everything I've read and a brief chat W/Bruno, I'm thinking the nCore is a step up.

Bruno does several things differently than B&O, like very high feedback and a claim of 'load invarient'.

I'm just curious as to how the finished product looked inside.

If I built some nCore amps, it would be 2xstereo amps with a built-in MiniDSP used as a variable 2-way crossover. So, you'd only need a SINGLE input and make it balanced, at that. EAch stereo amp would easily drive nearly any biamp speaker. As long as you wired the drivers directly to EACH amp.



Good photos and I ESPECIALLY like the Wall Mount.    Saves valuable floor space.   As long as proper provisions are made for cooling and being able to de-dust, this is a great idea.
Kind of reminds me of the Bryston Power Pack amps which while being kind of industrial looking would appear to be wall mountable, as well.

www.soundandvision.com/content/bryston-powerpack-300-power-amplifier#Ase3pBux0gBhZlBQ.97

This is the 300 watt version, but the 120 is much smaller.   You could even put this INSIDE a wall, using a cover / access plate