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

joeinid said:
General preference? Haha, to a certain extent maybe. I'd love to try the Hattor and Music First but it becomes a logistical problem. I've done enough buying and selling that I don't want too much exposure anymore. I had and loved the Wyred STP-SE. How it compares to the others, I'll never know at this point. Ultimately and in the end, I still prefer, overall, an active preamp, but the passives are wonderful. With the Nords, my ultimate preference is the 994 op amps with a quiet tube preamp.
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Joe, you have lots of equipment many with tubes. what do you listen to regularly in your home? nords all the time or do you switch around all your equipment?
 
Everything goes through a 2-3 week rotation. I've had my JBLs hooked up since I got them about 10 months ago and only briefly swapped in/out some of my bookshelf speakers. I hope to move the Strads back in this week, but I try and make a point of swapping gear in and out to keep it fresh. When I want something new, It certainly helps to swap in a piece I have not heard in a while and lets me not obsess as much anymore.
 
joeinid said:
I have to be honest. I really don't like "the truth" in my music. I prefer a little warmth, but with balance. Highs, especially, need to be a little rounded.
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I really like the way you put it. That pretty much sums up my tastes as well. [emoji106]
 
Thank you :)

It's not that I don't want detail, I do. But if it comes with an aggressive nature that some systems have, it's not for me.

I heard a vinyl setup this past weekend that was just absolutely superb. I melted into the chair and could not believe how wonderful it sounded.

kkfan said:
I really like the way you put it. That pretty much sums up my tastes as well. [emoji106]
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I just have to add my final thoughts to the preamp discussion as I finally got my regular signal cable today (after an RCA to XLR switch) and it all fell into place again. If I had even the slightest doubt or concern yesterday, those are ALL gone. It's amazing what a cable can do for the synergy in the system. I also believe I still have quite a few hours to work on both the Nord and my new DAC, but what I'm listening to right now is simply stunning. I will definitely keep the preamp in mind for the future as I probably cannot avoid looking for possible upgrades, but for now I just need to sit back, relax and enjoy for as long as I can (usually not that long to be honest, haha!), I believe the volume control in the Lampi is much more than "good enough" for the moment. The Nord is now delivering at a level I did not expect, and certainly didn't see for the first weeks... Wow!
 
Huge plus one!

As much as I hate to admit it, cables can make or break a system.

Congratulations.

The Lampi is a different animal and I have no doubt your are in heaven (for now). :)



George47 said:
Hey good news and remember what it is about ENJOY THE MUSIC....oh and have fun....
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Hello everyone.I am new on this forum but have read the whole thread with interest.As i am owner of the nord 500 up dual mono version for quite a while already and got some questions which i can't stop thinking of.As there is quite big owners comunity on this forum already someone should be able to clarify my question.So-my nord amp is the dual mono version with the latest rev buffer boards with sonic imaginery opamps.I am runing it at the moment straight from a nad m51 dac with some albedo xlr silver cables.As the source using a youtube which works surprisingly well.Not long ago have purchased an antimode dualcore 2.0 bass equaliser because i have always had problem with acoustic in my room (bass mainly)-and it works qiute well.It is conected with some dh labs optical cabe.Speakers are pmc ob1i.I have had a musical fidelity m6 preamp in the past which was better overal sounding but the dac itself as a pre was not far of so i've sold it.My first question is what preamplifier will suit the nord and be a noticable upgrade to the m51 and mf m6pre?Next question is as i was thinking for a while to get rid of everything what i have maybe except the speakers and buy a devialet d200? Are there anyone who had actually compared the nord with devialet? and maybe changed it the other way round?As i have had oportunity to compare my system but to a devialet d250 and found it better than nord could you clarify please if buying a proper preamp?(which one) will take nord to another level and beat at least the devialet 200 or don't bother and get devialet.Would preciate any input about this matters.Thanks.
 
A quick return with my decision and purchase of XLR cables for my Pre-->Nord that I was posting about a few pages back. Ok, so I'd had great results with the Audience OHNO at £350 and even slightly better (and preferred) the Vovox Vocalis at £333 that was recommended by Alto. Both these cables were tried for a good week or so and had chance to settle.

The purchase decision was pretty much done, but, then Alto also encouraged me to try the more expensive Vovox Textura, which are available from £692. That's the price for 0.75m, it's nice that they offer this length as well as 1m , as 0.75m is enough for a lot of people (note the Vocalis is only in 1m upwards).

The Textura is pushing the budget in my own system, but it's clear my system can benefit from it and it will not be out of place even after some serious upgrades elsewhere. So, I have chosen the Textura. It is more extended at the low end, and marginally better all round. Note that the Textura I noted took a couple of days to settle, the extra touch of low end extension was apparent immediately but it took a couple of days to really open up (it was initially questionable until opening up after a couple of days, but I am finding XLRs do take a little while to settle in general).

If anyone is using a Nord with other relatively modest separates, the Vocalis is a great buy, and completely worth it over cheap cables. If you are one of the club that is using the Nord with much higher value sources, dacs, pre-amps, it could be worth going the extra mile.

I don't think anyone could go too far wrong with any of these 3 XLR Interconnects, but I will say there is zero doubt in my mind the bang for buck you are getting by using something good over something cheap. I thought it common to think XLR cables are XLR cables and only single ended RCA ones benefit from being higher end, I now do not think that is right at all.

Thanks Alto.

If anyone is interested in buying any of the Vovox, give Alto a shout, he's a genuinely helpful, a pleasure to meet and deal with. I should say he also supplies Lumin Streamers which I've had the pleasure to hear which could be of interest to Nord owners (I'm told Colin uses a Lumin now).
 
Great recommendations guys, glad you are happy mfin. It's really important to experiment and really pick the best cables for your taste and system. It was made clear to me one day when Brucelet and I had a cable shootout. At the time I thought my Cardas Golden Ref was awesome until I heard much newer Kimber, Siltech and Audioquest cables. Siltech won that round but the others had their place depending on system.
 
No one had any experience with devialet versus nord??? Any advice about preamp pairing with nord???
 
I had a Devialet D400 and prefer the Nords. Use a sweet solid state or tube preamp with the 994 op amps (my preference) and enjoy.

winiar550 said:
No one had any experience with devialet versus nord??? Any advice about preamp pairing with nord???
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Thanks Joe.Would you be able to clarify what nord been better in to the devialet? I have heard a devialet 250 in my system and room and felt it was noticably better -more spaciounes bigger soundstage.At the time i had been runing my nord with a musical fidelity m6 pre.
 
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