Class D

[garylkoh]

VERY nice! That is the way to go for the Hypex modules, also the UcD. I do a similar power supply for my Reference amps, but I use 23 different capacitor values, but only two of each value, whereas it looks like you've got more than two of each value.

One additional trick I use is that I use a LC resonator tuned to the sampling frequency of the module. This adds a little of a "jitter flywheel" effect to make things even smoother.

Let us know what the amp sounds like. I'm guessing that it will be quite spectacular.

[dallasjustice]

VERY nice!
Let us know what the amp sounds like. I'm guessing that it will be quite spectacular.

Thanks Gary. I should have them by next week. WILCO on the reveiw. I have the BMC monoblocks to compare them against. I believe the BMC monoblocks are top performers, so it should be fun. :-)

[Odyno]

Just completed my NCore amp with its SMPS.
Just to let you know that the NCore outperform the UcD in every area and specially the bottom end.
I previously used for power amp a Pass Labs Aleph 5 then went for an amp with UcD400HG then to a pair of UcDHG HxR and from there to the NCore.
The performance was always upward but wasn’t expecting such a gap from the UcDHG HxR to the NCore.

[barrows]

Dallas: I look forward to hearing your impressions of the nCores. You probably have one of the more refined systems to evaluate these amps in, compared to those who have reported on sonics so far. I am soon going to be building a pair for a friend, and will be able to compare with my Pass. I am actually hoping I like the nCores, as I would love to trade to them and get the benefit of less power use.

[AudioExplorations]

barrows, welcome to WBF! I'm hoping you are the same 'barrows' that hangs out over at computeraudiophile... I learnt A LOT from your posts and discussions there (I was jdebonth on CA and later changed my nick to AudioExplorations in case you remember). You will love it over here, a lot of very smart people in this community.

You should check out the preamp/no preamp thread over here, took a bit of a different turn to the various times this came up on CA...

[barrows]

Yes, same "barrows" here, and thanks for the welcome. I will check out the preamp thread, although I already know what works best in my system (no preamp).

[iansr]

Thanks Gary. I should have them by next week. WILCO on the reveiw. I have the BMC monoblocks to compare them against. I believe the BMC monoblocks are top performers, so it should be fun. :-)

VERY interested to hear (a) your impressions of the ncore and (b) comparison of the 2 power supplies.

[barrows]

A brief update on nCore. I am building a pair of nCore based monoblocks using the nCore DIY modules and the matching SMPS600. I did some preliminary listening to the modules (no cases, haphazard wiring) to make sure they worked. At first the sound was very good, with exceptional detail retrieval, with the exception of the high frequencies, which seemed a little veiled, and a slight lack in the low level resolution necessary to depict ambience.
After a few days of use, both these areas improved markedly, enough to make me consider nCore based amps for my own system, I am quite impressed, as these observations were made without proper wiring, or chassis.
These amps are being built for a friend, they should be finished within a week or so (I am still waiting for the back panels), and I will listen again (testing) for 24 hours or so before shipping them to their owner. I'll be happy to report my findings at that time.

My amplifier for reference is a Pass Labs X150.5, with Nordost Frey speaker cables, to Focus Audio FS-888 speakers. I use a custom music server running voyage/mpd, with a custom dual linear power supply, a very low noise independent supply feeds a SOtM USB out card in the server, and my DAC is a custom variation on a DIY Twisted Pear Audio Buffalo II, with a single input, a SOtM async USB receiver.

[Odyno]

Keep us posted on your decision!
I use 4 NCore witn 2 SMPS one power supply per channel and with those amps my system ever sounded beter.

[Occam]

I've been running my Ncore 400s, dual amp modules fed by 2 SMPS600, for 2 months now.
Subjectively -
- Excellent bass, although I do miss some of the 'phat' bass of my Aksa Lifeforce amp, a beautifully implemented Self styled Bailey architecture optimal bias AB bipolar output amp.
- Resolving mids and treble, but subjectively 'colder' than the above amp. Changing the tube dampers on the Siemens PCC88s on my E.A.R. Acute III cd player/dac from Herbies Ultrasonic SS to Blackberrys helped somewhat.
-The Ncores require about 6 hours of warm up to come 'on song' with a solid soundstage. As I acquired the amp to evaluate [directly coupled] balanced and single ended cabling on the fly, I simply leave the its 3pdt center off switchs for switching between inputs in the center muted, Nampon line ungrounded, position.
- Unlike most amplifiers I've evaluated, the Ncore powered by its mating SMPS, does not IMO benefit from added low pass mains filtering. Its SMPS incorporates a CMC filter with X2 and Y2 caps. Regardless of whether Hypex incorporated the filter for emissions purposes, and the input filtering is a happy byproduct, kudos to Hypex. I wouldn't know if the Ncores would benefit from those power conditioners that rely upon the capture, subjugation, and redeployment of Maxwell's Daemons.
- The Ncores came with input signal cable harnesses made of Mogami w2791 cabling. Changing it to my preferred shielded twisted pair cabling was, IMO, a substantial improvement. Current Ncores modules come with cable harnesses labeled "hypex electronics QuietConduit low-noise balanced audio cable". Per Bruno

We did indeed decide to roll our own. It's a full custom product designed by yours truly. The manufacturer is "one of the usual suspects".

If your Ncore has an original Mogami based harness, I'd suggest rolling your own, or trying Hypex's newer implementation.

As an analytic tool, my implementation of the Ncore 400 is quite successful. As part of a system for the joy of listening to music, I'm not quite there, yet.

FWIW, YMMV,
Paul
Kaplan Cable