NCore Amp

[cab]

what is the cost difference?

My fully bybeed Level 2 PDX costs about $5K (compared to $1.5K for the NAD) depending on what you can source the bybees for so its hardly surprising it bests the NAD which I also own.
Bill

Yeah, it should be no surprise....Thanks.

[bhobba]

I was trying to follow your chain of events and not sure if I understood what was connected when...Did all 3 DAC's go through the modwright when you were comparing?  I'm not a big fan of modwright gear, I've never heard a piece I thought was really transparent. If the PDX has variable outs and you can plug them into the 501's and Ncores, I'd be very interested in that comparison.

The three DAC's I tried it on were my the PD MPD-3, NAD, and a WFS.  The PD and NAD were done at my place direct connected using the volume control in the Audirvana Plus playback software for the PD.  At Rob's place we tried the NAD and his WFS both via the Modwright and direct connected.  IMHO the NAD was rather yucky through the Modright but very good direct connected with the only issue being a slight hardness - very very transparent.  We tried the WFS both direct connected and via the Modwright.  It sounded rather good via the Modright - none of the issues with the NAD were noted.  When direct connected detail increased but again there was the slight hardness.  However I owned a WFS for quite a while and its other issues valves tend to hide with that DAC were now evident - dryness, cold treble, and some sibilance.  I preferred that DAC through the Modright.

The PDX will be tried direct connected using Audirvana via the QOL Completion stage to do the balanced conversion.

Personally I don't like Modwright stuff either.

Thanks
Bill

[Werd]

Forgive my ignorance as chip amps are not my cup of tea, so I really have not been paying attention, but aren't the Ncores kits? And can these kits be built(implimented ) differently, with different results?
Just wondering.


mike

I asked the same question back on ac with no answer. It's a good question considering people are using different power supplies,chassis and assembling skills.

[Barry (NJ)]

Forgive my ignorance as chip amps are not my cup of tea, so I really have not been paying attention, but aren't the Ncores kits? And can these kits be built(implimented ) differently, with different results?
Just wondering.


mike

I asked the same question back on ac with no answer. It's a good question considering people are using different power supplies,chassis and assembling skills.

Yes, the NCore is a DIY-kit, but there is really minimal assembly needed. The Power Supply module is fully assembled, there is an umbilical between the Power Supply and Amplifier boards, it is supplied complete and just needs to be plugged in to each module. Parts needed are a case, a power cord, input connections (RCA, or Balanced), speaker connections of some sort. It's not a kit in the sense of the old Heath-Kits from back in the day, where you were suplied with bags full of resitors, caps, and transistors and had to solder it all to a board.

[Werd]

Forgive my ignorance as chip amps are not my cup of tea, so I really have not been paying attention, but aren't the Ncores kits? And can these kits be built(implimented ) differently, with different results?
Just wondering.


mike

I asked the same question back on ac with no answer. It's a good question considering people are using different power supplies,chassis and assembling skills.

Yes, the NCore is a DIY-kit, but there is really minimal assembly needed. The Power Supply module is fully assembled, there is an umbilical between the Power Supply and Amplifier boards, it is supplied complete and just needs to be plugged in to each module. Parts needed are a case, a power cord, input connections (RCA, or Balanced), speaker connections of some sort. It's not a kit in the sense of the old Heath-Kits from back in the day, where you were suplied with bags full of resitors, caps, and transistors and had to solder it all to a board.

Gotcha thanks 

[Bill O'Connell]

For those without any technical ability like myself.
Scott Nixon will build it for you.
He built my pair of mono-blocks and did a wonderful job.
I haven't had time to post pictures or take them and the photos he took and sent are in a weird format. Not that I would know how to post the photos anyway.

If your thinking of ordering them Scott will build them for you . You would have to talk price with him as I purchased the amps and their power-supplies and then also purchased the Furutech Gold IEC inlets and their female gold chassis mount XLR's with some WBT speaker binding posts. The IEC by Furutech are not standard size so he had to do some trim work to the chassis to get them to fit so you might want to let him order the associated parts that work with the chassis he builds them in.
Here is his phone number: 336-884-7394  if interested.
Just thought somebody would like to know.

They do sound fantastic.
Why did I buy them? After all the hype thought Eastern Electric might be interested in the OEM 1200's

[ampdesigner333]

Has anyone had a head-to-head comparison with a Cherry Amp yet?  No time to read through thousands of posts to find out.....

-Tommy O
Digital Amp Co

[richidoo]

The original Cherry stereo amp and N-Core monoblocks were at at a meet at my house last June. There is some discussion in the NC group section. There was not a direct back and forth comparison on same set of speakers with same music track.

The Cherry sounds like it has exaggerated bass response. That compliments my speakers. It also compliments the horn speakers of the Cherry amp's owner.

The N-Core sounded "too hot" when used to amplify tweeters in an active biamp system with line array speaker. But it sounded excellent when used in same speaker as woofer amp later in the day, with 6C33 tubes on the tweeters.

On my speakers, 95dB 3 way rear horn loaded N-Core sounded better than NAD M2, which had poor synergy with my speakers. Although I heard the NAD on its owners Peak Consult speakers and the combination was sublime - best classD amplified system I have heard to date. The Cherry was the best match of those 3 classDs to my speakers due to the fat bottom and very smooth treble. But the NCores sounded good too, just not as robust in the bass as the Cherry, and my speakers appreciate the extra bottom.

Is the Cherry deliberately tilted up in the bass?

[rollo]

Has anyone had a head-to-head comparison with a Cherry Amp yet?  No time to read through thousands of posts to find out.....

-Tommy O
Digital Amp Co

    Nope. We could arrange that for you if you like. Our Club the Audiosydrome is up for a comparison demo.
     


charles
     

[bhobba]

Nope. We could arrange that for you if you like. Our Club the Audiosydrome is up for a comparison demo.

That would be an interesting one and I would love to hear the outcome.

Since this is the NCore thread I have to say the Ncore is way out of its depth compared to the Arions - to my ears anyway.  The Ncore's are good for the money - but that's it - not the world beater some of the hype seemed to indicate.  Then again to be fair, the Arions upgraded with Duelunds, are way more expensive.  I think the Cherry will be a much better comparison.

Thanks
Bill

[bhobba]

Is the Cherry deliberately tilted up in the bass?

Based on my experience with the Arions my suspicion is probably not.  When I compared the Arions to the Mac 501's myself and others noticed a slight 'bloom' in the bass but after extended listening and chatting to some fellow audiophiles who also heard it the consensus was it simply had better bass grip - which is amazing considering the bass grip the Mac's have.  This was verified when I heard the 250w non monoblock version ML got in - which is also very good and I will do a separate post about it - and I heard the same thing - so my suspicion is it a characteristic of the better quality digital.  Didn't notice it on the Ncores though.

Thanks
Bill

[richidoo]

Based on my listening and others', we suspect it is EQ'd a tad.
I hope Tommy returns to participate in the threads he stirred.

[bhobba]

Based on my listening and others', we suspect it is EQ'd a tad.
I hope Tommy returns to participate in the threads he stirred.

Yes - really looking forward to his comments.

Thanks
Bill

[AcidJazz]

FWIW, an Ncore vs whatever comparison should be based on a higher quality build than the tour Ncore build. I heard the tour model on three systems, and as good as it sounded, I wasn't completely blown away.
I had a hand in a higher quality build, Paul/Occam's, which used a better chassis, better connectors and higher quality speaker/ac/input wiring. I had this build on my system for 5 days, and missed it after it was gone...didn't miss the tour amps after they were gone.
I heard the Merrill Audio model vs. the Occam model, and the Merrill Audio won that contest. Comparing a $6K+ commercial product to a DIY sub 2K$ product would not be fair unless you got the best(better) DIY build, or go up the scale to a commercial model like the Merrill Audio.

My 2 cents.

[topround]

Not to be a pain but wouldn't a sub 2K DIY amp cost 6K  if it were a commercial design?

We all know the business model in audio....right?