richieb Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 I'm not real big on the this vs. that thread but I do know there are many members who own and follow Class D power amps. I've been listening to my gain clone chip amp for several days with the Jubilees. Fifty watt integrated from Peter Daniel who builds the Audio Zone gear similar to the original 47Labs amps. Sounds better than I remember and might even give the First Watt F3 a run but I digress. So I have the opportunity to buy either Crown XLS 2000 drive core Class D monoblocks OR a single dual mono Hypex built nCore with two nCore 400 amplifier modules and two SMP power supplies, one per module. Same price for Crowns or nCore. Research tells me the nCore is the newest and best D Class yet, hands down. Tells me Crowns have a high noise floor and are best left for pro gigs and PA use. But that's what is said about Klipsch Cinema and LaScalla. Of course I do not need anywhere near this power but Good D Class can be pretty amazing with its dead black background and great first watts. I'm leaning heavily for the nCore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richieb Posted June 10, 2017 Author Share Posted June 10, 2017 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ole Dollar Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 I plan on using a pair of bridged XLS1500's on the bass bins of my Jubilees but won't be able try it for about 10 days. Am going to try both SS and tubes on the 402. I know that does not help now but I will follow up on what I learn as I am just starting this journey. I have several configurations to try. I use 1500's in my PA systems and they do sound good. I have compared them with Peavey, Behringer, QSC, and Pyle - the Crown's are, to me, better with vocals if not the whole range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 I know that I had a Crown XTI which may have similar amplifier typography and it sounded bad compared to my IcePowered amps, the Murano Audio or Bel Canto. I believe the NCores are in the same class as the IcePower amps. If you are not going to use it for mid/treble, the Crown may be good but I myself would not use the Crowns full range. Just my experience.... The NCore or IcePower amps are in another class altogether. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1101 Posted June 14, 2017 Share Posted June 14, 2017 I have a Crown Drive Core XLS 2502. I never tried it full range. I only use for Sub duty driving 684s at 4 ohms. Amp has nice flexibility, some DSP filtering, and seems to have decent power. Looks cool. Never heard a Hypex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 14 hours ago, mark1101 said: I have a Crown Drive Core XLS 2502. I never tried it full range. I only use for Sub duty driving 684s at 4 ohms. Amp has nice flexibility, some DSP filtering, and seems to have decent power. Looks cool. Never heard a Hypex. The XLS has gobs of power which is good for sub duty. There's a reason the NCore and IcePower demand their prices compared to the pro amps. There are some pro amps that look interesting though not having infinite resources, I haven't bought enough to know their sound. In earlier days I may have tried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark1101 Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 My experience in the past has been the pro amps do not produce the same low level micro detail as the home audio equipment. I use a few pro amps but just for bass cabinet and sub duty. However, in this case I have not tried the Crown drive core in a full range situation. My QSC 1104 and 1804 couldn't cut it full range for my taste but are marvelous on bass cabinets and subs. Still use them today for those applications. The Crown Drive Core has some handy DSP I require for my particular sub application. It seems to work well for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tromprof Posted June 15, 2017 Share Posted June 15, 2017 I have the XLS 2000 running my LR bass bins. It has done that wonderfully, but with my multi amp timed aligned setup I have not tried it full range. I do have all Crown amps in the system though and have been very happy with the results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 On 6/15/2017 at 9:52 AM, tromprof said: I have the XLS 2000 running my LR bass bins. It has done that wonderfully, but with my multi amp timed aligned setup I have not tried it full range. I do have all Crown amps in the system though and have been very happy with the results. Do you have Class D Crowns on the higher frequencies? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tromprof Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 2 hours ago, pzannucci said: Do you have Class D Crowns on the higher frequencies? No, I am using Crown D75A and D60 on the mid/high frequency. I do use class D, B+O Ice Power, on my Klipschorns though and it sounds glorious. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted June 19, 2017 Share Posted June 19, 2017 42 minutes ago, tromprof said: No, I am using Crown D75A and D60 on the mid/high frequency. I do use class D, B+O Ice Power, on my Klipschorns though and it sounds glorious. Yes, I've become an IcePower fanatic, from Bel Canto REF-1000s all the way down to Pioneer SC-1222k IcePower derivatives. Excellent sound at all their price classes. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Im looking for a couple of lower cost class D monoblocks to power my center and rears... anyone have any leads? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 Go back to the Wyred 4 Sound, lol. :https://wyred4sound.com/products/power-amps/mono/mamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schu Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 there are a bunch of mAmps for sale for a pair... right around 1000. thats not a bad deal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted June 21, 2017 Share Posted June 21, 2017 19 hours ago, Schu said: there are a bunch of mAmps for sale for a pair... right around 1000. thats not a bad deal I had a pair of Murano Audio P200s amps for sale in the Garage Sale section. Still have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richieb Posted June 21, 2017 Author Share Posted June 21, 2017 I went ahead and bought the nCore, Hypex built dual mono amp. I'll soon see how it stacks up with some of my best - FW F3, George Wright 2a3 and Dennis Had Inspire. This is not monoblocks like Claude raved on but similar in that each nCore module has its own power supply, all in one chassis. I have seen several DIY type builds where each module shares one power supply. I like the one to one better and that is actually built by Hypex is that much the better. Might be interesting -- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ole Dollar Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 On 6/11/2017 at 2:15 PM, Ole Dollar said: I plan on using a pair of bridged XLS1500's on the bass bins of my Jubilees I can officially say that these amps and the Jubilees are, umm lets say, less than optimal together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pzannucci Posted June 23, 2017 Share Posted June 23, 2017 richieb, Should be killer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul79 Posted June 27, 2017 Share Posted June 27, 2017 Best somewhat affordable class D I have heard so far, are the Nord One Up (NC500) with the Sparkos opamp. Sound very good to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclefred Posted July 31, 2017 Share Posted July 31, 2017 I'm pretty interested in the Hypex based Klipsch integrated coming out this fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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