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Post by boomzilla on Oct 15, 2018 20:34:26 GMT -5
OK - I'lll throw in the wild card here - Consider the Emotiva PA-1 mono blocks. klinemj has rhapsodized about his Class D amps, and I think I'm beginning to understand why. These PA-1s are NOT like the Crown "pro" amps that another reviewer liked so well - they're far better... Really. Stand by for a review at the Secrets site.
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vcrpro3
Minor Hero
..A loony lunatic.....
Posts: 73
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Post by vcrpro3 on Oct 15, 2018 20:51:49 GMT -5
Thanks. I have reached out to the seller on these but it looks like another interested party that happens to live on the other side of town from me (Phoenix, Az.) asked about them a couple of days ago...
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vcrpro3
Minor Hero
..A loony lunatic.....
Posts: 73
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Post by vcrpro3 on Oct 15, 2018 21:30:29 GMT -5
OK - I'lll throw in the wild card here - Consider the Emotiva PA-1 mono blocks. klinemj has rhapsodized about his Class D amps, and I think I'm beginning to understand why. These PA-1s are NOT like the Crown "pro" amps that another reviewer liked so well - they're far better... Really. Stand by for a review at the Secrets site. I already have a pair of class d monoblocks. B&O ice amp based units that are 250 w/ch @ 8 ohm.
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Post by garbulky on Oct 15, 2018 21:34:30 GMT -5
OK - I'lll throw in the wild card here - Consider the Emotiva PA-1 mono blocks. klinemj has rhapsodized about his Class D amps, and I think I'm beginning to understand why. These PA-1s are NOT like the Crown "pro" amps that another reviewer liked so well - they're far better... Really. Stand by for a review at the Secrets site. I already have a pair of class d monoblocks. B&O ice amp based units that are 250 w/ch @ 8 ohm. What are those? Red Dragons? What speakers do you use with them?
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vcrpro3
Minor Hero
..A loony lunatic.....
Posts: 73
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Post by vcrpro3 on Oct 15, 2018 21:45:04 GMT -5
I already have a pair of class d monoblocks. B&O ice amp based units that are 250 w/ch @ 8 ohm. What are those? Red Dragons? What speakers do you use with them? Murano Audio P500. I have a pair each of PhaseTech PC800ho speakers and Magnepan MMG. Red Dragon's previous series were basically the same amp except the Muranos have Lundahl input transformers which take the edge off the harshness many attribute to class d amps.
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Post by leonski on Oct 15, 2018 23:48:31 GMT -5
I went from a 'D' amp of 2x500 for my panels to a pair of 'conventional' amps totaling 4x200 and things got better. I had become dissatisfied with the presentation of the 'D' amp which had some HF problems.....IMO. I could net as much as 3db apparent increase by going to an active crossover and 'gutting' the one in the speakers.
If I had REAL deep pockets, I'd experiment with the Hypex nCore400, the only one, apparently, available to the DIY guys.
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Post by boomzilla on Oct 16, 2018 10:14:03 GMT -5
...If I had REAL deep pockets, I'd experiment with the Hypex nCore400, the only one, apparently, available to the DIY guys. It may be the only Hypex nCore available for DIY, but the B&O ICEpower modules are far, far better than they used to be, and readily available. Get ONLY the newest generation ones, though...
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Post by garbulky on Oct 16, 2018 11:26:49 GMT -5
...If I had REAL deep pockets, I'd experiment with the Hypex nCore400, the only one, apparently, available to the DIY guys. It may be the only Hypex nCore available for DIY, but the B&O ICEpower modules are far, far better than they used to be, and readily available. Get ONLY the newest generation ones, though... The old ICE generation I believe had issues with below 8 ohm speakers. The new generation can get down to 2.7 ohms so they can handle 4 ohm speakers with stability.
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Post by leonski on Oct 16, 2018 12:45:52 GMT -5
My amp was an ASP module. a pair of 'em. As near as I can tell, only HYPEX makes the 'load invariant' claim. All the B&O stuff which uses an output Zobel to filter out the switching 'noise' has falling HF output which increases as impedance DEcreases. The original ASP1000 module was even down in response at 20khz, which was with 4 ohm speakers......but not 8. I'd have to look at some old datasheets to confirm what I remember to be a 2 ohm minimum rating for the ASP500 modules. It's here somewhere!
As for 'better'? How? Objectively? (some measurable?) Subjectively? (listening panel conclusion?) Manufacturing? (lower parts count? Less $$$ to make?)
I think they did pretty good right out of the box. Don't forget that Bruno P. was part of the original B&O team, and went on to join HYPEX where he has continued to improve and develop 'D' amps.
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vcrpro3
Minor Hero
..A loony lunatic.....
Posts: 73
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Post by vcrpro3 on Oct 17, 2018 3:21:16 GMT -5
It may be the only Hypex nCore available for DIY, but the B&O ICEpower modules are far, far better than they used to be, and readily available. Get ONLY the newest generation ones, though... The old ICE generation I believe had issues with below 8 ohm speakers. The new generation can get down to 2.7 ohms so they can handle 4 ohm speakers with stability. These particular amps were demoed for me on a pair of Magnepan 1.7i. Drove those puppy's with authority and didn't break a sweat.
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Post by leonski on Oct 17, 2018 11:53:03 GMT -5
My ASP modules, of 500x2 @4 had NO problem with my 1.6 panels. At any level from 0300 whisper quiet to 'annoy the neighbors' loud.
Datasheet indicates lower impedance limit AND maximum pure 'capacitive' load. <3 ohms, IIRC, down in the 2s. Except for the drop of FR due to interaction with the Zobel, I've never heard of any problems with ICE modules and 'Below 8 Ohm Speakers'.
The neat thing about the ASP module is that it has power taps for another module or 2, either same power or lower. So, you get a ASP module, the 'P', being powered, and than an AS module for a 2-way active speaker.
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Post by jjkessler on Oct 17, 2018 15:57:54 GMT -5
I have both the XPA-1 and several XPA-1L. Both are great amps but, feel the XPA-1L amps are highly underrated and are really good all around amps.
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