Nord One Up Ncore NC500 amps, Class D ready for prime time .....

[George47]

Well the Sparkos has been in the amp for over a day or so and as Europe is about to be gripped by 'footie fever' I would say the score is:

Sonic Imagery 4 Sparkos 2

The Sparkos is warmer and has a weighter bass which in my system with a valved DAC is a little too much. The SI opamp has some real dynamics and excellent clarity without going all sterile and maintains a nice 3D image. Unlike some other SS amps the image has some weight and sounds like a human being rather than a cardboard cut-out. Some SS amps produce what is in effect a 2D cutout that is detailed but holds no interest as it ain't that real.

Enjoying Rhiannon Giddens latest album and the violin playing on Angel City is sublime and really emotional with her singing.

 

[MikeCh]

Hey George.....give the Sparkos op amps plenty of run time (100 hours or so) and you should be rewarded with a more accurate presentation....closer to the 994 yet retaining the Sparkos sweetness too.

 

[nc42acc]

All you guys that have heard world class amps where would you rank the Nords? If close to the best how close are they? 90%?

 

[PeteG]

Been running the Nord since Monday evening and I'm surprised how deep the bass is. I will keep the 994 in for a while, have along way to go with break-in.

 

[a.wayne]

Installment 27:

I had a couple of recording engineer friends around and obviously we put on the hifi. The one thing they are really good at is hearing a problem (I can do that) but then suggesting a good solution, it is what we do for a living. One of them said your left speaker needs a bit more toe-in maybe 20 degrees. So I did that and the stereo image improved.

Anyway when I mentioned about the amps both said 'so what, Class D amps are used everywhere including really fussy studios' 'what audiophiles are just finding that out'......I mentioned the op-amp swap and one said 'Ah.....Sparkos, we do not use them but they are notorious for needing a long burn-in'. Which sparked (sic) a 'debate'. With one saying 'what the hell is burning in, it is just a dam chip' and the other saying that trusted ears had told him they do. The outcome was I was advised to try the Sparkos again and let it burn in for 1) A day 2) A week and then form a proper judgement.

The beer then came out and the conversation moved onto music and women......

What has been people's experience?

usually the women first then the beer/wine comeout ....

 

[MikeCh]

All you guys that have heard world class amps where would you rank the Nords? If close to the best how close are they? 90%?

Hi Marty,

I think your number of 90% is pretty accurate. I've heard amps that cost 20x what the Nords cost sound better and sound far worse than the meager Nords. Granted, those other amps were not heard side by side (rather, at shows.....RMAF for example) with the Nords but I have no doubt the Nords wouldn't embarrass themselves if they were directly compared.

 

[George47]

I have followed the advice given and put the Sonic Imagery 994 back in and I am letting it run and fully burn in and then I will try the Sparkos and let it burn in. The comparison willl then be more 'apples to apples'.

So far the 994 is a bit warmer and more organic then when brand new. Not a dramatic change but there it is.

I have to admit I still prefer my Audniote M6 and Conquests but they are somewhat more expensive. The Nords are more truthful but boy can the valves put a real 3D person in the room.

 

[a.wayne]

Hi Marty,

I think your number of 90% is pretty accurate. I've heard amps that cost 20x what the Nords cost sound better and sound far worse than the meager Nords. Granted, those other amps were not heard side by side (rather, at shows.....RMAF for example) with the Nords but I have no doubt the Nords wouldn't embarrass themselves if they were directly compared.

Do you guys play classical music when listen to the Nords? Piano and classical music is where class-D Lets me down, I find they tend to change the timbre of instruments , other than , i would agree with 85-90% of the best.


If the Nord's or other NC500 amps dont , then its a win, win ......

 

[colmon]

Do you guys play classical music when listen to the Nords? Piano and classical music is where class-D Lets me down, I find they tend to change the timbre of instruments , other than , i would agree with 85-90% of the best.


If the Nord's or other NC500 amps dont , then its a win, win ......

As it happens I listen to classical a lot mainly violin but piano also and the Nords sound fine not like some of the older class D amps that I have had.
I have the Nords with Rev C and Sonic Imagery op amps and as soon as I heard Brahms Violin concerto I thought this is the best it has ever sounded to me very realistic.

 

[MikeCh]

Do you guys play classical music when listen to the Nords? Piano and classical music is where class-D Lets me down, I find they tend to change the timbre of instruments , other than , i would agree with 85-90% of the best.


If the Nord's or other NC500 amps dont , then its a win, win ......

Yes. The majority of my listening is to classical of all sorts. Instruments are very natural sounding....all of them if the recording allows.

 

[George47]

Do you guys play classical music when listen to the Nords? Piano and classical music is where class-D Lets me down, I find they tend to change the timbre of instruments , other than , i would agree with 85-90% of the best.


If the Nord's or other NC500 amps dont , then its a win, win ......

I have pretty wide tastes in music and play a lot of classical music including Opera (when the wife is out as she hates it). Classical piano music is very difficult to correctly reproduce. I find the Nords are very truthful and will show where the recording is done naturally or has been messed about with mics on the lid or 'fill-in' microphones.

Pop pianos have a wide range of tones with very dry being favoured to add impact but there are very few really natural recordings. I find with a lot of SS amps that it can be difficult to tell whether the piano is real or electric.

Classical piano is not only a stringed instrument but a precussion instrument with a large wooden sounding board that can echo well in a hall. The Nords play well recorded pianos really well and maybe only miss a little of the weight of the piano. Although with burn in that is getting better. So the answer to your question is the amp plays well recorded piano well and if you want to be picky maybe misses a little of the weight of the piano. For me that makes it one of the better SS amps. It can really highlight how much other SS amps mess up something simple like the frequency response or make instruments sound fuzzy and indistinct.

I have recently really enjoyed recordings of Maria Callas and a lot of SS amps can make her powerful voice sound edgy, especially when she really lets go. The Nord rarely if ever does that. Her voice is very, very clear. It really lets you know that although she may not have been the most technically brilliant singer the emotion in her voice can on occasions be off the scale good.

 

[George47]

Is there anybody out there?????






I have written a review about the amp and hopefully it will be on the web soon.......It is favourable......big surprise there......

 

[joeinid]

Hi George47,

Summer can be a little slow.

I am so happy that you like the Nords. I agree that they play well above their price point and depending on op amp chosen and preamp used, you can really tailor the sound to your liking. I've been very impressed at the level of performance the Nords achieve.

 

[boggit]

Look forward to your review, do I get a sneak preview?

 

[boggit]

Thought I'd share some internal shots of todays build on test before it leaves to Singapore.

 

[joeinid]

Looks awesome Colin.

 

[tane0019]

Cool !! Can't see clearly what opamp is there .................... :amazing:

 

[nc42acc]

These are Colins new op amp less versions. :exciting:

Cool !! Can't see clearly what opamp is there .................... :amazing:

 

[boggit]

I can confirm they sound amazing the noise floor is particually low, they are available to special order at a Naim upgrade price levels:snicker:

Yes I took the photo without Op Amps it was a significant build number and thought I would update the website to reflect our latest wiring with them. He did spec Sparkos Op Amps listening to them now before I pack them up ready to be shipped to Singapore.

Have any of you guys got thoughts, views on either ICE power amps or Pascal based amps?

 

[jalejos]

Some measurements with PCB V2 and various opamps.

PCB V3 smd