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

300 or 400 hours at least. I’m fairly certain the high end hardness is gone for me, either by burn in, Sparkos or both. Of course, my high end is probably mid range, objectively. The sound stage continues to amaze me.
 
OK, I think I’m ready to commit. Since my AR integrated amp in 1969, I’ve owned many. Until last Summer, I used McIntosh for 20 years. Recently, I tried a Kinki EX M1, and a Rotel beast, the RB 1590: both are lovely with pleasing sound and great sound stage. Sadly, I started reading the contentious class D postings all over the internet and got curious. Nord rose to the top, and I thought, why not? Why not, indeed! My mk ii had better definition and soundstage right out of the box than anything I’d ever heard or owned. But, the top (I’m a senior with chronic tinnitus, so keep in mind that likely means mid range) seemed hard, and aggravated my tinnitus at times. Now, this began to lessen around 200 hours and seemed to vanish when I went to Sparkos op amps! I’m certain I now have the most pleasing amp I’ve ever owned, and likely heard. Jayt, the definition is so good I can EASILY distinguish outstanding recordings from good ones, and good ones from poor ones! You can clearly hear strings plucked, acoustic guitars slapped, performers breathing, and even someone turning away from a mic! Mother of God! I really envy the guys who can buy the nc1200 version, but the cats have to eat, and I’d be into their food to make ends meet. And, here is the kicker: Colin is a great guy, who never sleeps, and answers email quickly. I’m very happy to have found excitement in the hobby again, and can only imagine what lies ahead for us. That Minvera guy may be a p...., but he is likely right that this class of amp will convert many of us! Did I mention the bass...?
 
Thanks for the updates and comments Samoyed.

With all the other changes I've made in the past several weeks - new preamp and lots of new cables in addition to the Nord amps - I think there is still some more room for improvement with break-in. The sound seems to continue to change a bit day by day. Today, most of what I listened to sounded pretty damn good. I've recently read a couple of old forum posts indicating that the Parasound JC-2 also takes a lot of hours to break in, so this could also be a factor.

At any rate, I'm still going to give it another couple weeks before I decide whether I want to try the Sparkos op-amps.
 
I agree with Samoyed 100%.
For me, coming from a 300B amp, the Sparkos are much better. Much less "digital", if it makes dense.
I think you should try them JayT.
Regards
 
I found each to have amazing sound stage and detail. I suspect Colin would do well to suggest that seniors get Sparkos, but that might start some flapping and hissing! 😱
 
A week or so ago I took possession of my Nord One UP NC500 3 Channel Mk II with SI 990 Op Amps.

This is intended to replace my EAR Yoshino 534 main amp plus an old bolt together Naim NAP 250 that I use for center channel duties.

Source = Linn Klimax DS/1 Renew, LP12/Aro/Geddon or Oppo 105D
Preamp = EAR Yoshino 868
Speakers = Focal 1008be II + BK XXLS-400DF Sub.

The things that I immediately noticed were the detail resolution and the linear subterranean bass. Along with this I also noticed that some of the magic had disappeared from the mid-range, more anon.

The Oppo acts as pre-amp, stream renderer & DAC, using the ESS Sabre DAC chips. I was taken with just how good this is. Historically I have tried using it as just a DAC, and started threads noting what good VFM it is, and this is more than reconfirmed here; have I wasted money on my Linn & 868? For me the short answer is NO, but the gap I would note would be in shrug territory for the female members of my household. With the Linn + 868 I gain 3D soundfield and texture. But, as I sit here typing this I am listening to the Oppo very happily.

When I first started playing the Nord on of the tracks I played was Alicia Keys, Girl on Fire, Brand New Me. Now as the track progresses it shifts gears and just blossoms, at least it does via the 868/534. With the 868/Nord all the detail was there, and more, but the that dynamic shift of gears just failed to appear, at least to the extent I am used to. So, time to exercise some patience and play the amp in.

I am probably 50 hours in, in terms of playing music and AV through the amp, and there are definite changes, not night and day. The bass and detail are still remarkable, but as it plays in a certain mid/high frequency sharpness is relaxing; and Alicia Keys? Well, the dynamics does grow, what doesn't quiet get to the same level is the vocal magic I get with the 534.

A friend of mine has a Naim uber system: CD555/PS555DR > 552/555DR > 500 > Focal 1028be. This is probably the best sounding Naim system I have heard, although I have listened to more expensive setups. The one area that my system bests his has been female vocals. I believe currently with the Nord this aspect has moved back a shade, but in the area of detail and bass heft it has moved forward.

So, pleased or disappointed? Very pleased. The amp may eventually replicate all the strong points of the 534, if it does GREAT. My suspicion is that it has its own strengths and that it will perform well in other areas which are the 534's strengths. It will be VERY interesting in a few weeks to re-connect the 534.

As a side note: The Nord is brilliant for AV as well.
 
Hi Samoyed, I have read your thoughts with interest. It is extremely good, but no better than the 868/534 - although rather more detailed and precise. Here is where the 868 shines over using the Oppo. The Oppo tends to be flatter & rather 2D, the EAR gives you a 3D sound field. M
 
Well, I can reconcile it this way: your underlying equipment is much better than mine, and the Nord takes what I have to the limits of the underlying equipment. As our frog friends say, plus ca change, cest le meme chose. 🤯
 
The 3 channel Nord is less than half the price of the EAR534. Now this is a power amp that I just fell in love with and got me to abandon the 250s I had been using for twenty years. That the Nord is more than holding its own, being better in terms of low bass and detail, I think it is a huge thumbs up. The Focals are known for the superb imaging, and both 534 & the Nord make use of this ability to the full. This morning I listened to my LP rip of DSOTM via the Oppo, wow. Here is where the quieter Nord allows all sorts of detail to very clearly shine through. However, I am not going to fool myself into believing that it will be a slam dunk win by the Nord over the EAR; they are both superb bits if kit, but one is clearly also excellent VFM.
 
Yes, I understand. Your underlying equipment is “better” than the Nord, hence the Nord limits your system marginally, whereas the Nord is my equipment’s ceiling and brings out the most it is capable of.... You have a floor, I have a ceiling: I’d rather be you. Yes, the Nord is one of the industry’s greatest values! 😻
 
Mr Underhill said:
A week or so ago I took possession of my Nord One UP NC500 3 Channel Mk II with SI 990 Op Amps.

This is intended to replace my EAR Yoshino 534 main amp plus an old bolt together Naim NAP 250 that I use for center channel duties.

Source = Linn Klimax DS/1 Renew, LP12/Aro/Geddon or Oppo 105D
Preamp = EAR Yoshino 868
Speakers = Focal 1008be II + BK XXLS-400DF Sub.

The things that I immediately noticed were the detail resolution and the linear subterranean bass. Along with this I also noticed that some of the magic had disappeared from the mid-range, more anon.

The Oppo acts as pre-amp, stream renderer & DAC, using the ESS Sabre DAC chips. I was taken with just how good this is. Historically I have tried using it as just a DAC, and started threads noting what good VFM it is, and this is more than reconfirmed here; have I wasted money on my Linn & 868? For me the short answer is NO, but the gap I would note would be in shrug territory for the female members of my household. With the Linn + 868 I gain 3D soundfield and texture. But, as I sit here typing this I am listening to the Oppo very happily.

When I first started playing the Nord on of the tracks I played was Alicia Keys, Girl on Fire, Brand New Me. Now as the track progresses it shifts gears and just blossoms, at least it does via the 868/534. With the 868/Nord all the detail was there, and more, but the that dynamic shift of gears just failed to appear, at least to the extent I am used to. So, time to exercise some patience and play the amp in.

I am probably 50 hours in, in terms of playing music and AV through the amp, and there are definite changes, not night and day. The bass and detail are still remarkable, but as it plays in a certain mid/high frequency sharpness is relaxing; and Alicia Keys? Well, the dynamics does grow, what doesn't quiet get to the same level is the vocal magic I get with the 534.

A friend of mine has a Naim uber system: CD555/PS555DR > 552/555DR > 500 > Focal 1028be. This is probably the best sounding Naim system I have heard, although I have listened to more expensive setups. The one area that my system bests his has been female vocals. I believe currently with the Nord this aspect has moved back a shade, but in the area of detail and bass heft it has moved forward.

So, pleased or disappointed? Very pleased. The amp may eventually replicate all the strong points of the 534, if it does GREAT. My suspicion is that it has its own strengths and that it will perform well in other areas which are the 534's strengths. It will be VERY interesting in a few weeks to re-connect the 534.

As a side note: The Nord is brilliant for AV as well.
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Listen again after the Nord has a few more hundred hours (600 +/- hours play time for OneUp NC500 in mine and others' experience) and you might be tickled further.

Also, my NC500 monos stay powered on 24/7 so as to avoid thermal cycling/required warm-up of the chassis and components. Do you leave your amp on?.... or power off daily?
 
Hi Chaps, I am not at ALL disappointed. I think it is doing most things very well, some things brilliantly, and a couple of things not quite as well as the 534. As it happens, for me, vocals are key, so the couple are important. But, I am VERY aware that the amp has further to break in. I think a key question is: Even if the Nord developed no further would you prefer to use this or the 534? Now that would be a bloody difficult question to answer; I could live with either. M
 
Christ, man, I can’t afford to stand in the same room as a 534 so I have no basis in fact for an opinion. But, I will say this, if the Brexit ship hits the sand and you find you need dough, drop me a line. ��
 
;-D I think one of the things the UK and the USA have in common is that party politics is broken on both sides of the pond. Frankly, I was depressed two years, things have proceeded as I expected since then ......until we didn't fall out of the EU. I still suspect we will end up with the hardest of hard Brexit's; but, I live in hope. Until then I will listen to some more music. M
 
Say, Mr Underhill, want to give the Nord a workout? I just discovered and suggest the mqa version of George Strait’s Honky Tonk Time Machine. Hold your nose, put on the music and listen to the vocals and sound stage. :)
 
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