2. amps-preamps
  3. 1399374353

HYPEX,PASCAL OR ABLETEC

Knowing about the many apparently very good class D amps on the market right now and even though I'm very satisfied with my current ClassD Audio SDS-440CS amp, I'm seriously considering purchasing one of these amps to try out in my system. My thinking is that, if I do like the amp in my system, I can just use my current amp to replace an older Adcom GFA-545 that currently powers my Magnepan CC3 center channel and my unamplified (passive)sub for ht purposes. I would then always be able to choose which amp I used for my 2 ch music and which amp I used for ht(cc and sub).

Well, I should get to my point:

I'm using an Oppo105 as the master source in my streamlined A/V living room system used 40% for 2-ch music and 60% for ht. For 2-ch listening, I stream my cd collection and hi-res Flac files from a Synology NAS in another room to the Oppo. The Oppo acts as a stand alone dac and sends the analog output via xlr cables to my class D amp (440 w/ch@4ohms) which powers my Magnepan 2.7qr speakers. For ht, I use the Oppo for decoding surround sound from Netflix, Directv and bluray discs. Two class A/B amps power the Oppo's ht audio outputs to my Magnepan CC3 center channel, LFE sub and in-ceiling rear surround channels.
I've narrowed my new amp choices down to the following four listed below. I'm requesting feedback on any or all of these 4 amp options, especially from anyone who has used 1 or more in their system. My budget is $2,000 to $2,500 and my room is 18ft x 13ft with 8ft ceilings. Here are my options:

Option#1 Hypex Ncore nc400 based amp builds from James Romeyn in Utah. A stereo, dual-mono build is $1,500 total and is rated at 400 watts @ 4 ohms. It includes 2 Hypex nc400 power modules both powered by 1 nc12000 smps mounted in a generic case with a black or silver aluminum faceplate with both se and xlr inputs. A pair of mono-blocks built runs a bit under $2,000/pr. total and consists of a nc400 power module mated to a nc600 smps in each 'NCORE' labeled black case with both se and xlr inputs.

Option#2 Pascal amp build from Aluminati Sound in Ohio. This is a stereo build only that will use a new stereo board from Pascal in Denmark, called the SPRO-2, that has a smps incorporated on the board. Power output is rated at 500 watts/ch @ 4 ohms. Forecasted price is about $2,000 but may run a bit higher. Pascal modules are used in the new JRRG Continuum 2 integrated amp that has received very positive sq reviews. Alumnati is owned by 2 former CNC machinists/fabricators. Their main advantage is their case work. One of the Aluminati owners, Matt Kraemer, told me the new stereo Pascal amp is tentatively named the "X-1" and should be available for order by approx. mid July. He said the stereo case will be milled from a single large aluminum block. The finished case will have an anodized finish (think JRRG cases but milled as 1 solid piece instead of multiple anodized face panels attached to a chassis underneath. The aluminum case will have a blue power/status light mounted underneath projecting downward.

Option#3- Abletec amp modules in the DSonic M3-600M mono-blocks. I'm not certain which Abletec modules are used in these amps but the price is $1,950/pr. and power output is 600 watts/ch @ 4 ohms in black cases with a blue power/status light with both se and xlr inputs. The Abletec modules have built-in smps just like the Pascal modules. According to DSonic's owner, Dennis Deacon, the 600Ms and their top-of-the-line 1500Ms have similar sound characteristics, even though the 1500Ms use Pascal modules(likely either a MPro or XPro module).

Option#4- Identical ClassD Audio SDS-440CS amp to replace my older class A/B amp that powers my center ch and sub. This option is least attractive to me since it would mean my music amplification would remain the same and I wouldn't be auditioning any of the newer class D amp modules. If I liked option 1,2 or 3 above better for music playback, I would simply move my existing CDA music amp over to center and sub duties anyways. The only benefit of option #4 is that it's the least expensive at $630.

I've ruled out some amps, like the Wyred4Sound and Red Dragon offerings, because they use the older Ice ucd power modules typically considered sonically inferior to the newer Hypex Ncore, Pascal and Abletec power modules. Any comments comparing the sq of these options is greatly appreciated, especially if you've owned or listened to some of these. I do understand that there is more involved with how various class D amps sound than just the power modules utilized, such as high quality components and custom input stages.

I should also say, just like Audiozen, I have never actually heard a Hypex, Pascal or Abletec powered amp. I'm just curious and base my optimism on the positive reports from owners, listeners and professional reviewers. If I had a larger $10k plus budget, I'd likely just buy a completed amp based on the Hypex Ncore nc1200 power modules, such as Merrill, upcoming Mola-Mola or Acoustic Imagery.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts, comments and suggestions. Please feel free to suggest other reasonably priced class D amps I may have omitted.

Thank you,
Tim



Much like Audiozen, I am basing
noble100
guidocorona
4,114 posts
 
Thank you Audiozen, please refrain from sarcasm.... I do not need it this early in the morning.

Appriciate the info on module... I have added it to my class D tracking spreadsheet... Do you have any further tech specs on M3-600 and M3-1500?

E.g. power supply, input stages, max/peak current, etc.... As you may have read elsewhere on this board, I am blind and do not see images... Hence, If there is any hard information that you have extracted from the photo you mention, please outline them here.

Regards, G.
mcbuddah
93 posts
 
I'm going to give my M2-600s (Abletec core) a new challenge early next week. I bought a W4S STP SE preamp for a very good price to replace my quarter-century old stock Classe DR-6. Since this is the only preamp I have had for 25 years, I don't have any way to know if it should be retired. It's controls and output are as quiet as new and it seems to match up with the D-Sonics well enough to make some really nice music lately. Nice enough that I haven't made any config changes or applied new tweaks since last June. Still, I am nagged by the thought that I may be shortchanging the system with this aging preamp.

Living with these amps for almost a year and a half, the first six months were a flurry of system changes driven by an obsession to get more and better sound out of them in a system with a $20K+ phono section. The last nine months have been just listening and enjoying the music. No, they do not sound 'better' than the 100w early 1993 vintage Atma-Spheres they replaced. But, right out of the box they showed enough promise that I began to try some things I had only read about before. The magic in these amps is that they reveal differences due to system changes (VTA, upstream cable changes, improvements due to cable dressing, footer changes, speaker positioning, for a short list) better than any amps I have ever heard, much less owned in my own rig. For six months, I was trapped in a never-ending circle of trying some new change(s) to the system, hearing the results plainly and clearly in many cases. These amps made power-cord changes,almost anywhere in the system, VTA changes, component position changes, and especially introduction of isolation platforms, all easy to discern.

I can't speak to the competing Class D technologies, but I have no desire to even audition any others much less go back to tubes, even after 20 glorious years with a pair of the finest OTLs made. But, it took me six months and over one hundred system changes to get them there. They are very rewarding to 'philes who are willing to get serious about clean cable setups, try different component isolation techniques, plug, pin, and socket cleanliness, EMI/RF mitigation, and want to be rewarded for their efforts by being able to really hear the results.
macrojack
1,292 posts
 
This appears to be the Pascal amplifier module present in my JRDG Continuum S2 integrated amplifier.

http://www.pascal-audio.com/downloads/M-PRO2_Datasheet-2_1.pdf

At this point I have had it in use for a week. Most of that time it has carried TV and FM signals. Today I plan to devote some time to careful listening. The apparent superiority over my NCore 400 mono amps came as a surprise to me. Before I bought the Rowland I was concerned that the NCores were irreplaceable. Those fears are now assuaged and I am honestly beginning to wonder if I may have blundered into the new State of the Art. One matter that prevents that optimism from blooming fully is the awareness that Jeff uses the Hypex NCore 1200 modules in his 825 and 925 flagship models. On the other hand, the early reports I've seen evaluating the Pascal designs suggest a new paradigm.

Well, it doesn't matter much really. I've made my bed, so to speak. At this price level I shan't be making frequent changes. However, I find myself thinking about the Aeris DAC. That same Roy Gregory who touted my amp so accurately, has also written in strong terms about the excellence to be found in the Aeris. Since my present sources are no doubt restraining what my system can do, I'm dreaming about better digital. The Aeris costs too much to be an experiment so perhaps an OPPO BDP 105 would be sufficient to properly evaluate my Continuum. Can anyone offer an opinion about this without completely hijacking Tim's thread?
macrojack
1,292 posts
 
Audiozen - while I can't pretend to understand everything presented on the Pascal data sheets, I can state that the XPro 3 is 3 channel, the XPro2 is 2 channel and the XPro 1 is 1 channel.
Since I am unfamiliar with the D Sonic line, I do not know what an m3 - 1500m amp purports to do but I can tell you that the number of channels it embodies will indicate quite accurately which module it employs. In order for it to be stereo, it would have to utilize either the XPro 2 or two XPro 1modules.
Limited experience with my new amp and reports from the reviewing community have me believing in Pascal's message. Which amplifier do you use?
macrojack
1,292 posts
 
Guido - You flatter me by suggesting I blog about my new amplifier. I have neither the hearing acuity, comparative experience or verbal flourish to carry forth a worthy monologue. I will instead refer interested parties to the opinions of Roy Gregory who convinced me of the merits available in the Continuum S2. Perhaps others will be as motivated as I was.
Here's the link:
http://www.pascal-audio.com/downloads/M-PRO2_Datasheet-2_1.pdf

Anyone who has ever thought about buying that last amplifier should consider this one. It is solid, compact, beautiful, and uses little energy. Mine runs cool to the touch, remains dead silent, and appears able to drive any speaker. Until now I have harbored some regrets over having sold my Concentra integrated a few years back. Now those regrets have vanished.
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