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Post by copperpipe on Jan 15, 2018 17:42:55 GMT -5
Your analogy is incorrect because it assumes "all else being equal". I'm not sure on the sound, but class d can cost less, use less electricity, be more powerful, and weigh less, all at the same time. I'm sure there are other advantages as well. I bet you have an ugly dog! Nope. My mini x's are quite pleasing to the eye. |
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Post by mgbpuff on Jan 15, 2018 17:49:45 GMT -5
I bet you have an ugly dog! Nope. My mini x's are quite pleasing to the eye. That’s because they have no alligator genes! |
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jan 15, 2018 19:01:58 GMT -5
You're kind of looking at it backwards. The idea of Class D amplifiers isn't new - and they can most certainly be built with tubes. I'm pretty sure there were even a few commercial Class D tube amps (and a few mil-spec ones). However, as a broad generality, tubes don't work as well in Class D amps, and they don't achieve the efficiency of solid state designs. Tubes simply aren't as efficient as solid state components when used as high-current high-speed switches. They can do the speed just fine, and there are high current tubes, but their on-resistance is just too high to be efficient as a switch. And, yeah, have you seen what a tube that can switch 10 amps looks like? Large. And, yeah, you could make a Class D tube amp, and use an output transformer, but that would sure be the long way around. You can certainly do it as an interesting design exercise.... but it isn't very practical. Imagine hitching a horse up to your wagon - then driving the horse around in the back of your pickup truck while he pulls the wagon....  And, incidentally, if you built a real Class D amp, then it would sound like a Class D amp.... and it wouldn't matter what sort of switch you used as long as it switched properly. (And it would sound exactly the same.....) |
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Post by Casey Leedom on Jan 15, 2018 19:52:57 GMT -5
So, KeithL, I assume that you guys have sampled B&O ICE Power modules since that was something you were considering. And it sounds like you've also sampled Pascal amplifier modules. Have you also sampled Hypex NC500 modules? And more generally, what are your thoughts on the ones you have played around with? Casey |
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Post by pawsman on Jan 17, 2018 11:18:00 GMT -5
Mike at Mivera Audio says the new IcePower Modules (Iceedge chip) are the best Class D out there, even besting the big NCore module.
He has experience with all the NCore modules apparently, even building his own custom input buffers.
He's offering the new 1200AS (600/1200 wpc into 8/4 ohms) in custom cases for a very reasonable price. There's over 100 pages of discussion
on this new IcePower Class D module at the Mivera Audiocircle Board. I may go for one later in the year-
pawsman
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Post by Casey Leedom on Jan 17, 2018 13:06:49 GMT -5
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KeithL
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Post by KeithL on Jan 17, 2018 14:28:10 GMT -5
We have considered both the B&O ICE Power modules and Pascal's modules - and we thought that both sounded quite good. I believe both may be destined to become part of new Emotiva products in the near future. (Bear in mind that each company makes several different modules with different capabilities; and I believe specifically that Pascal has some very new models.) I wasn't deeply involved in the selection and auditioning process - and I don't know if we actually had Hypex modules in-house or not. I could be off-base here, but I was under the impression that the business model at Hypex was more attuned to DIY hobbyists than manufacturers. In other words, Hypex pricing structure is more in line with a complete amplifier, to which you can add your own custom casework, and less in line with being a reasonably priced PART we could use to build amplifiers. (We're not really interested in buying complete amplifiers from someone else and re-badging them.) So, KeithL , I assume that you guys have sampled B&O ICE Power modules since that was something you were considering. And it sounds like you've also sampled Pascal amplifier modules. Have you also sampled Hypex NC500 modules? And more generally, what are your thoughts on the ones you have played around with? Casey |
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Post by Casey Leedom on Jan 17, 2018 14:57:34 GMT -5
Yes KeithL , I think Hypex has two arms: one DIY with the NC400 Monoblock Kits, and one OEM where they sell complete amplifier modules ( NC500, NC1200 (can't find a link), etc.) And I don't blame you at all for not wanting to get into the rebranding game. Seems kind of pointless. Casey |
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Post by mgbpuff on Jan 17, 2018 16:42:39 GMT -5
Meet Rambo, a class D dog -  |
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Post by chicagorspec on Feb 3, 2018 23:05:44 GMT -5
I’ve been listening to my used, new-to-me Nord One Up Hypex NC500-based monoblocks since receiving them last Thursday. The sound is the best I’ve ever had in my room, including when I had XPR-1s (had their strengths but now gone, and I couldn’t be happier) and, more recently an SA-250. I can’t get my remaining Emo amps out of the house fast enough.
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Post by brubacca on Feb 4, 2018 8:26:27 GMT -5
I would only buy a class D amp when it looks like this...   Rogue Audio does something like this. They have a linear power supply, ncore oem modules and tube in the circuit somehow. It their hydra and medusa amps. Quite expensive if you ask me. |
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Post by simpleman68 on Feb 4, 2018 8:45:02 GMT -5
I’ve been listening to my used, new-to-me Nord One Up Hypex NC500-based monoblocks since receiving them last Thursday. The sound is the best I’ve ever had in my room, including when I had XPR-1s (had their strengths but now gone, and I couldn’t be happier) and, more recently an SA-250. I can’t get my remaining Emo amps out of the house fast enough. Looking forward to hearing your rig in a few days.  Scott |
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on Feb 4, 2018 13:00:52 GMT -5
There are a few companies who add tubes to what are basically solid state amp designs.... Rogue Audio and Vincent come to mind... (I believe the Vincent amp designs start out as Class A/B). DO bear in mind that all of these Class D amplifiers we're talking abut are complete self-contained amplifier modules. This means that, if someone adds a tube input stage to an otherwise complete solid state amp design, then they are doing so to ADD TUBE COLORATION to the way it sounds. There is absolutely zero possibility that adding a tube stage to an otherwise complete amplifier will make it be quieter, or have lower distortion, or be more accurate. (If you change it in any way, you are doing so by ADDING EXTRA NOISE OR COLORATION TO IT..... of course, if that's what you want, then you may be happy with the result.) I would only buy a class D amp when it looks like this... Rogue Audio does something like this. They have a linear power supply, ncore oem modules and tube in the circuit somehow. It their hydra and medusa amps. Quite expensive if you ask me. |
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Post by pedrocols on Feb 4, 2018 13:27:16 GMT -5
I would only buy a class D amp when it looks like this... Rogue Audio does something like this. They have a linear power supply, ncore oem modules and tube in the circuit somehow. It their hydra and medusa amps. Quite expensive if you ask me. Some D amps are ridiculously expensive. |
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Post by chicagorspec on Feb 4, 2018 14:57:55 GMT -5
Rogue Audio does something like this. They have a linear power supply, ncore oem modules and tube in the circuit somehow. It their hydra and medusa amps. Quite expensive if you ask me. Some D amps are ridiculously expensive. Some solid state amps are ridiculously expensive. Some tube amps are ridiculously expensive. I think we’ve got that issue covered now. |
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Post by wpl on Feb 6, 2018 2:33:36 GMT -5
I’ve been listening to my used, new-to-me Nord One Up Hypex NC500-based monoblocks since receiving them last Thursday. The sound is the best I’ve ever had in my room, including when I had XPR-1s (had their strengths but now gone, and I couldn’t be happier) and, more recently an SA-250. I can’t get my remaining Emo amps out of the house fast enough. hallo Chicagorspec Sensei have you heard the nord one, s ever with the xsp-1 ? or do you know someone? I first wanted to buy the Nord One SE Hypex NC500 monos with Sonic Imagery 994 Op + Sparkos Labs. I then bought the XPR-1 monos. and a xsp-1 normally I would like to buy 1 xmc-1. but emo does not answer me how long the delivery time is ( to thailand ). in support and here in the forum. I do not understand that . |
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Post by chicagorspec on Feb 6, 2018 7:54:42 GMT -5
I’ve been listening to my used, new-to-me Nord One Up Hypex NC500-based monoblocks since receiving them last Thursday. The sound is the best I’ve ever had in my room, including when I had XPR-1s (had their strengths but now gone, and I couldn’t be happier) and, more recently an SA-250. I can’t get my remaining Emo amps out of the house fast enough. hallo Chicagorspec Sensei have you heard the nord one, s ever with the xsp-1 ? or do you know someone? I first wanted to buy the Nord One SE Hypex NC500 monos with Sonic Imagery 994 Op + Sparkos Labs. I then bought the XPR-1 monos. and a xsp-1 normally I would like to buy 1 xmc-1. but emo does not answer me how long the delivery time is ( to thailand ). in support and here in the forum. I do not understand that . Hi, wpl. The One SE is as the One Up model that I have, only with a nicer case and a few other features like dimmable power LED. Innards are the same. I have not heard the Nords with the XSP-1, which I have owned in the past but not currently. At the moment, I am using my Emotiva DC-1 DAC for volume control, but plan next to investigate trying a passive from Hattor/Khozmo to pair with the Nords, as the DC-1 as a preamp is not a permanent solution for me. I plan to reach out to Arek of Hattor for his thoughts on the best configuration for the passive considering my setup (interconnect and speaker cable lengths, Nord amplification) parameters. Sorry that you are having difficulty regarding delivery to Thailand for the XMC-1. It seems over and over that email is an unfortunately unreliable way to get things done with Emo, and that a phone call is really the better way, which I understand can be more challenging than email on the other side of the world. If there is any way you can do so I would try to call them. Regarding the product, you might take a look at some of the other threads regarding the XMC evolution (XMC-2/3?, as gateway products to the flagship RMC-1) due out "soon", as it seems (to me) that the current chassis XMC-1 is/may end up getting a bit left behind by those processors using the new chassis and look, in terms of how upgradeable they may be in the future. I am not pursuing an Emo processor, so am not the best person to speak on this. Good luck with whatever direction you choose! |
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Post by brubacca on Feb 6, 2018 9:32:28 GMT -5
@keithl
I thought that the stealth Monoblocks and the Emersa Amps were ICE based?
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Post by wpl on Feb 6, 2018 10:33:20 GMT -5
hallo Chicagorspec Sensei have you heard the nord one, s ever with the xsp-1 ? or do you know someone? I first wanted to buy the Nord One SE Hypex NC500 monos with Sonic Imagery 994 Op + Sparkos Labs. I then bought the XPR-1 monos. and a xsp-1 normally I would like to buy 1 xmc-1. but emo does not answer me how long the delivery time is ( to thailand ). in support and here in the forum. I do not understand that . Hi, wpl. The One SE is as the One Up model that I have, only with a nicer case and a few other features like dimmable power LED. Innards are the same. I have not heard the Nords with the XSP-1, which I have owned in the past but not currently. At the moment, I am using my Emotiva DC-1 DAC for volume control, but plan next to investigate trying a passive from Hattor/Khozmo to pair with the Nords, as the DC-1 as a preamp is not a permanent solution for me. I plan to reach out to Arek of Hattor for his thoughts on the best configuration for the passive considering my setup (interconnect and speaker cable lengths, Nord amplification) parameters. Sorry that you are having difficulty regarding delivery to Thailand for the XMC-1. It seems over and over that email is an unfortunately unreliable way to get things done with Emo, and that a phone call is really the better way, which I understand can be more challenging than email on the other side of the world. If there is any way you can do so I would try to call them. Regarding the product, you might take a look at some of the other threads regarding the XMC evolution (XMC-2/3?, as gateway products to the flagship RMC-1) due out "soon", as it seems (to me) that the current chassis XMC-1 is/may end up getting a bit left behind by those processors using the new chassis and look, in terms of how upgradeable they may be in the future. I am not pursuing an Emo processor, so am not the best person to speak on this. Good luck with whatever direction you choose! hallo Chicagorspec i say thank you verry much for your answer and info and you too, much success in finding the nirvana sounds. best regards peter thailand |
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Post by mgbpuff on Feb 6, 2018 13:01:07 GMT -5
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