Hello Guys!
Any experiece with direct purchase Class D poweramps? There are several sourches like Nord, Buckeye and Audiophonics but you seldom see them reviewed.
Maybe take a step back and help the other readers understand why you specifically want it to be both class D and sold direct with no dealer.
Those requirements seem a bit weird and restrictive but perhaps if we understand the background better, advice will be more balanced and forthcoming.
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I took it that he was looking for comments from people who have direct experience of using class D amplification.
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All the more reason to clarify. I reread it but it still seems like direct selling from manufacturer to me.
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My guess is that looking for amps online the said ones come up at what seem decent prices.
There can be many reasons for buying remotely, whether direct from a manufacturer or wholesaler or from a dealer of some sort, not least if someone has no practicable direct access to any dealers, or none that sell something that has piqued interest.
If you look at prices from the above suppliers they seem to about half of the price one would expect compare to Class D offerings from big labels. They share using the same chipsets from Hypex or Purify. But you very seldom see them tested in the normal channels (e.g What Hifi) but receive attention from social media based forms.
Big bang for buck or Bugus?
see reply too feeling_zen
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Correct, this is a price matter. But lack of reviews that can be evaluated makes this a potential “buying a pig in a sack” matter (swedish saying).
Since I like Naim stuff opinions in this forum would be helpful
Class D: small, running cool. Appart from the home system i may be involved in a yachting contect where this is important
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The most common view on this forum has been that Class D rubbish in terms of sound quality, even critical of Naim’s implementation in Nova PE - but that was based on past experience of Class D or even hearsay, several people since actually having heard the PE felt it was good, and of course it is used in the Muso and Qube, which many people like though arguably not really hifi units, And more recently Naim has used Class D in the C102 which seems to be gaining followers. I suspect that because of past prejudice against Class D few in here will have explored the ones you mention, so don’t be surprised if not many responses
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I have a friend whose Klipsch Pro Media 2.1 speaker system’s built-in amplifier failed. Some research on it revealed that it gets quiet hot and is prone to component failures. Though a repair kit is available on the web, I thought to replace it with a tiny footprint class D would be best. A look at YT revealed that somebody had done this already with one from Amazon!
I followed his lead! The user has been very happy with the little amp’s performance!
Chucked that one (claims to total 100W continuous!) C$33 for the repair kit
For this one placed on their desktop (50+50+100W with overheat and short circuit protection}. C$32 plus brick ps!
But they don’t always run cool. My TEAC 505 power amp is small. But runs hot and has fairly low power output. Same Hypex n-Core as in some other class D amps that run cool with more output power.
I think implementations vary significantly so you may need to be careful.
FWIW, the Naim CI range are class D and cost less than any thing else in the Naim range and are intended for things like yachts.
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I’ve listened to class-D extensively, since at least 2015. It can range from terrible to technically excellent. I tend to prefer the newer Eigentakt implementations from NAD and over-power-supplied Hypex N-Core implementations (with my Hypex fav being a linear PS’d Hypex N-Core). Most are tragically bad, however.
The ones that are technically excellent, do not necessarily sound excellent. I would place Buckeye & Nord into that category; you’re getting the sound quality from a common sub-$500 multichannel AVR, but with no current limiting, ever (if you size it well). There’s no soul…minimal boogie…and it’s very rare to be drawn into a listening session involuntarily. Even more rare to be held there. I’ve only heard Audiophonics once but it felt familiar in that way. Well built amps that provide a lot of value, IME.
Same issue I heard, in terms of listening pleasure, that I experienced with my old Benchmark AHB2. A subtly micro-etched character that initially presented as “moar detail” but gave way to less actual listening as time progressed. Soundstage depth was marginal and bass punch/texture lagged far behind what the wattage and current ratings suggested. Even when I had twin AHB2’s, wired as monoblocks. Though I don’t fully understand from a technical perspective why they were grossly inferior in SQ to my SN3, the AHB2 uses significant amounts of corrective feedback in all stages of amplification (this is one of its hallmarks) and a proprietary SMPS, despite being classified as a class A/B output section.
Overall, there’s a lack of listening enjoyment that won’t show up in some objectivist measurement data suite. BUT, it’s there if one cares to listen for it.
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I once had an inexpensive Denon class D integrated and I thought it sounded lovely - smooth, sweet and very musical. I guess class D is like class A/B in that there are good ones and not so good ones. As far as the chipsets go I wouldn’t think which one they use is the most crucial thing. As with DAC chips, it’s the implementation that’s at least as important as the chip itself.
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I’ve listened to a number of Class D amps, included cheap ones, up to a Devialet.
They all sounded grey and un-involving, rather typical clinical signature all included.
And this makes a deal breaker for me, no matter price or sales method.
I can understand if people want them for high power requirements, some of them are easy 150-250 watt or more.
Personally I’m much more comfortable with low watt amps on not difficult loudspeakers in smaller rooms.
I have however yet to hear Naim’s CI102 Uniti, which do receive good feedback from users.
Maybe Naim found the wisdom.
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I once heard to Jeff Rowland continuum integrated, class D, in 2008 I think. With Sonus Faber Cremona. Very good.
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Jeff Rowland is a RARE exception to the general performance of class-D. JR has always sounded really good to me.
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I traded a Naim NAP 200 for a Bel Canto class D amp some years ago It had great reviews in the HiFi press and the dealer was very persuasive Small footprint plenty of power but I never felt emotionally engaged with the music so eventually sold it and returned to Naim amps
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I bought a Nord One MP NCx252 Stereo Power Amplifier direct from Nord.
The amp seemed to be well put together and I have no complaints about the service from Nord. I know this isn’t peak-Hypex but my desk setup is space constrained. However, I found music via this amp to be totally uninvolving to listen to. Upgrading to a NN50 fixed that issue immediately.
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