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

joeinid said:
I have both the 994's and Sparkos. Lately preferring the 994's and either a tube preamp or my STP-SE. Can't go wrong either way. Both different flavors of great.

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Yes, absolutely. Can't go wrong with any one. The great thing about it is the ability to role op-amps to get that final tweak in sound to our liking. I wish Collin had designed the input board to take a wide variety of op-amps - I hear the Sitos and Weiss are great ones to be had with the NC500.
 
I've had similar experiences with single ended vs balanced cables. When I bought the Nord I planned to use some RCA Nordost Tyr interconnects I had been using with my previous amp by adding a pair of Neutrik adapters but I also bought a pair of Colin's balanced cables to try. To my surprise a set of interconnects that cost considerably more than the Nord amp were no match for the performance delivered by Colin's balanced cables. A friend loaned me a set of Colin's RCA to XLR adapter cables to try but again the performance was much poorer than the balanced cables. I have since tried various makes of balanced cables and eventually settled on Nordost Tyr2 which sound superb. I suspect the balanced architecture of the NC500 modules works at its best when driven from a balanced source?
 
Alex 54 said:
I've had similar experiences with single ended vs balanced cables. When I bought the Nord I planned to use some RCA Nordost Tyr interconnects I had been using with my previous amp by adding a pair of Neutrik adapters but I also bought a pair of Colin's balanced cables to try. To my surprise a set of interconnects that cost considerably more than the Nord amp were no match for the performance delivered by Colin's balanced cables. A friend loaned me a set of Colin's RCA to XLR adapter cables to try but again the performance was much poorer than the balanced cables. I have since tried various makes of balanced cables and eventually settled on Nordost Tyr2 which sound superb. I suspect the balanced architecture of the NC500 modules works at its best when driven from a balanced source?
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My experience has been that the Nords/NC500 reacts to the change in cables (both IC and Spkr) more than other Amps in my system. If you upstream components are all true balanced design, then a balanced connection is much preferable. What preamp are you using with the Nords ?
 
Devg said:
My experience has been that the Nords/NC500 reacts to the change in cables (both IC and Spkr) more than other Amps in my system. If you upstream components are all true balanced design, then a balanced connection is much preferable. What preamp are you using with the Nords ?
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I have a Linn Klimax DSM Mk3, transformer balanced output stage.
 
First proper customer feedback review on our new £749 MP Amp range.

Hi Colin
My little review (Nord SE MP NC500) as it is at the moment, of which is my honest opinion (even if i was trying it and had not bought yet)-

When I first installed it and had it running (less then a couple of hours running) I didn’t like the sound, it was flat had no rhythm or sparkle and was just a bit boring, I was hoping it would get better. This was comparing to my Marantz and what I remember from listening to your NC500’s at the HiFi show.

After about 5ish hours it started to open up, sounded less flat and it had a bit more behind it. So after this initial listening I had it on as much as possible even to have the radio on in the background.

So after about 15-20 hours I put on some records that I know well and honestly It sounded like a completely different amp. In short it sounds absolutely fantastic. With a bit of Dire Straits the guitar work was so clear, with great drive and rhythm never heard it sound like this before. Now onto some Pink Floyd the bass on the wall album I could feel the bass with great depth and the way it holds onto the bass notes are quite astonishing even turned up to unsocial levels it never got to much with great clarity on all the instruments of which I didn’t know some was subtlety in the background, I do now. It also does subtleness and emotional songs really well.
I didn’t realise amps could change so much in this day and age of tight tolerance components, so if you are demoing this amp make sure it has at least 20ish hours on it as i can’t see anyone not being impressed.
I think the combination with the IPL S4’s (what a great combo) is hard to beat even after listening to some silly priced speaker amp combos at HiFi shows. It also shows how much more my speakers had to give, I wouldn’t think twice buying this combo again cracking amp and cracking speakers (I am glad I built them and listened to Ivans comments about your amps).

I have read a lot about D class amps online and this little amp doesn’t sound anything like people say they should, great high frequencies and very very musical. At this price as well this must be the best amp anywhere and I believe you when you say its close to your daddy amp. I will be keeping this for a very long time, unless you build a better one .

I will let you know more as it beds in, I am not sure if it can get better.

Thanks for great workmanship, I still think the case is stunning.

Ashley



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Hey folks is anybody using any of these amps on 110 volts? And if so what is your opinion?

Thanks in advance for any help.

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So these amps really do sound this good even on 110 volts.

I know I have been in this thread about four times tossing this around. As the prices climb higher and higher.

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Curious why 110V is so important. Do you have low voltage?



RonDiy said:
So these amps really do sound this good even on 110 volts.

I know I have been in this thread about four times tossing this around. As the prices climb higher and higher.

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Ron

With the Brexit situation the prices haven't climbed and may still be down from when I purchased in the Spring. Any slight increase Colin may have made to account for supply costs has been offset by the currency devaluation.
 
I am noticing that the Euro is recovering a bit. It is way up from the middle of December. Not as high as when you jumped in however.

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joeinid said:
Curious why 110V is so important. Do you have low voltage?
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And to answer your question. No not low voltage. In fact I have pretty good power to my house. In fact it holds at about 122 volts. I was just using the standard 110 volts US as opposed to 220 in Europe. Should have been more specific. Sorry about that.



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