Nord One Up Ncore NC500 amps, Class D ready for prime time .....
- Thread starter joeinid
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Jack
Active member
I agree, it appears as if a section (conclusion) must be missing between where his part ends and the user comments begin.
alto
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alto
New member
Luke357sig
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- Jan 22, 2017
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Re: nord amp review
Anybody hear these with Maggies?
Anybody hear these with Maggies?
VoicesInMyHead
New member
I actually think if was a nice review, of course discussing some of the known issues with early class D and other similar products as expected. There is only a short quote from a reader at the end, and then something like a conclusion or ending words comes right after it, which was not very clear and probably causes some confusion.
Reviews are reviews though, it's not often that you actually read a bad one. I did not get disappointed with this one though... but then again, I have yet to hear the Nord myself...
Hi everyone. I am trying to see if I can get some feedback or information from users of the Nord One Up with Sparkos stereo amp which I bought a few months ago from Colin.
I encountered instances of the power button getting stuck in it's "on" position every so often, even though the power has turned off. Initially, pushing the button on/off several times would pop the button back to it's original "off" position. But after a few times, this will not work and I have to dismantle the power switch from the inside to "pull" the button back out. Once the amp is powered on, everything works fine. I noticed a slight pop sound and greenish light spark sometimes when I push the power switch and Colin has said this is not unusual. He thought it was just a case of a sticky switch, sent me a replacement. Unfortunately, the same problem came up again after less than 15 power ups/down. I bought a third switch myself just to be sure I wasn't just terribly unlucky but it happened again, this time it actually tripped my home ECB. I then sent my unit back to Colin but he has said he cannot measure anything wrong.
Can I know if anyone has encountered a similar instance of this with your Nord amp? Otherwise, does anyone have any idea why this is happening to my amp. I really hope some solution to this and I appreciate any help from members here. Thanks.
I encountered instances of the power button getting stuck in it's "on" position every so often, even though the power has turned off. Initially, pushing the button on/off several times would pop the button back to it's original "off" position. But after a few times, this will not work and I have to dismantle the power switch from the inside to "pull" the button back out. Once the amp is powered on, everything works fine. I noticed a slight pop sound and greenish light spark sometimes when I push the power switch and Colin has said this is not unusual. He thought it was just a case of a sticky switch, sent me a replacement. Unfortunately, the same problem came up again after less than 15 power ups/down. I bought a third switch myself just to be sure I wasn't just terribly unlucky but it happened again, this time it actually tripped my home ECB. I then sent my unit back to Colin but he has said he cannot measure anything wrong.
Can I know if anyone has encountered a similar instance of this with your Nord amp? Otherwise, does anyone have any idea why this is happening to my amp. I really hope some solution to this and I appreciate any help from members here. Thanks.
I mentioned previously I would compare a couple of XLR interconnects which I have tried feeding the NordOneUP-SE with…
So, I started with making some Mogami Star-Quad with Neutrik XLRs, I made two sets up with two different Mogami cables after reading and reading what people thought was good. Both cables gave very, very similar results, no real preference and I was up-and-running.
I then, as mentioned before, was intrigued to try some other XLR cables. I'd read that when using RCA Interconnects you get differences which you don't get with XLRs. I'd had much experience with RCA interconnects, but not with XLR, the Nord being the first time I've had a fully balanced design power amp. (Note here, that my Pre-Amp is a fully balanced design ATC SCA2).
So, I did not expect much. The first thing I tried instead of the Mogami was a Missing Link Alaqeia which they do sell as XLR, I reterminated an RCA one I had. So, was it different to the Mogami. Yes, clearly, a difference. It was more open, more dynamic you might say. Preferable to the Mogami, but my thinking was maybe it was a little harsh when certain tracks let loose.
Not knowing what might happen, I got hold of some Audience OHNO XLR (£350) to try. Well, the difference now was not just a difference, it was a good and pleasant one. There was no harshness, it was more musical, more enjoyable, strings and horns, drums etc all much more coherent. Vocals were excellent, minute subtleties of voices were there and completely enjoyable and right there in the room. Complex passages were kept more in control. I had this cable in place for over a week and when I took it out, I wanted it back, there was an obvious downgrade without it. It had a smooth quality to it, but often when smoothness results in a lack of detail (which it can do) I will be the first to rip a cable out and not want it. That was not the case the Audience OHNO. This made me realise the Nord deserved a decent XLR cable.
So, Alto on here got in touch and asked if I'd like to try a Vovox Vocalis (£333) and of course I was interested to do so. So, just over a week of that cable what did I think? Well, this cable was in familiar territory to the Audience OHNO, but, the Vocalis sounded more open than the Audience, I preferred it on some levels but there were a couple of little niggles with it. Note at this point I had not had niggles with the Audience OHNO as such. I was leaning towards the Vocalis though, it just seemed a little more revealing, strings and horns and drums were all great again, but maybe a little more air around them. Vocals I might say weren't displaying that last percent of intricacies that the Audience OHNO was though, but maybe that was nitpicking. So… the niggles, or moment of wonder in picking the Vocalis or Audience OHNO was a thinking that the Vocalis might actually be being more transparent and showing off any weakness further up the chain. A quick experiment dropping in a great cable (one I might not ever get, a Vovox Textura RCA) in place of the RCA Alaqeia I had feeding Dac —> Pre then showed my guess was correct. Everything immediately became the best I've heard it (took out a little bit of harshness that was finding its way through, harshness that the smoothness of the Audience OHNO I believe was smoothing off on its way to the Nord).
So… what do I think. Two cables £333 or £350, are they worth it? Hands down they are in my opinion. Which would I choose? Well, in my system I'd choose the Vocalis as I will address the other interconnect feeding my Pre at a later date. It's a great interconnect is my conclusion.
That said, don't dismiss that Audience OHNO, that is great too. If the only interconnect in your system is the one feeding your Nord and you are wondering if things could sound more coherent and listenable, giving more detail but not introducing an 'edge', it's great.
If your source is really good, I am thinking the Vocalis is more revealing. Just as musical as the Audience OHNO, but it isn't going to hide anything (not that the Audience does, the Vocalis is just that touch more open). If your source is not quite as good, maybe the Audience's smoothness will win. Let me be clear, these interconnects are close in my system and either will do a great job. If your system is a bit edgey and you want to tame it back, the Audience is good. If you're confident your system and source is great, maybe go for the Vocalis over the Audience though.
When trying out both these cables the system has never sounded better, and minutes before writing this I am back to listening with the Mogami and the system is obviously worse off for it.
A couple of side notes for anyone interested. Both cables opened up after a day or so, both allow me to play my system significantly louder than before before it gets too much. The last thing is that even though the cost is somewhat out of proportion with my system, Alto is going to be providing me Vovox Textura XLR to try, this is sensible for me as I might end up changing components more and wishing I'd invested in an even higher end cable in the future, so I might head that off right now. I will report back on this, but this cable is definitely financially overkill for my current system.
Oh, one last thing. I do not believe in spending any money on cables, only on what I can hear, so if someone gave me a £50 XLR that did as well as these cables, I would be able to assess it on its merits, but I can only report on the cables I have heard in my system and don't go by reviews really. What I can say, is that I wouldn't hesitate to say that either of these £333/350 cables are worth the performance they give over my Mogami cables!
PS. If you're in the UK, Alto can supply Vovox, and Dave Jackson of Highendcable.co.uk can supply Audience. Bear in mind too, that if you need more of them and run RCA anywhere, the Audience OHNO becomes cheaper, in that format it is only £169.
....so, as mentioned above, I'll return with opinions of the Vovox Textura soon, and will let people know what I end up purchasing.
So, I started with making some Mogami Star-Quad with Neutrik XLRs, I made two sets up with two different Mogami cables after reading and reading what people thought was good. Both cables gave very, very similar results, no real preference and I was up-and-running.
I then, as mentioned before, was intrigued to try some other XLR cables. I'd read that when using RCA Interconnects you get differences which you don't get with XLRs. I'd had much experience with RCA interconnects, but not with XLR, the Nord being the first time I've had a fully balanced design power amp. (Note here, that my Pre-Amp is a fully balanced design ATC SCA2).
So, I did not expect much. The first thing I tried instead of the Mogami was a Missing Link Alaqeia which they do sell as XLR, I reterminated an RCA one I had. So, was it different to the Mogami. Yes, clearly, a difference. It was more open, more dynamic you might say. Preferable to the Mogami, but my thinking was maybe it was a little harsh when certain tracks let loose.
Not knowing what might happen, I got hold of some Audience OHNO XLR (£350) to try. Well, the difference now was not just a difference, it was a good and pleasant one. There was no harshness, it was more musical, more enjoyable, strings and horns, drums etc all much more coherent. Vocals were excellent, minute subtleties of voices were there and completely enjoyable and right there in the room. Complex passages were kept more in control. I had this cable in place for over a week and when I took it out, I wanted it back, there was an obvious downgrade without it. It had a smooth quality to it, but often when smoothness results in a lack of detail (which it can do) I will be the first to rip a cable out and not want it. That was not the case the Audience OHNO. This made me realise the Nord deserved a decent XLR cable.
So, Alto on here got in touch and asked if I'd like to try a Vovox Vocalis (£333) and of course I was interested to do so. So, just over a week of that cable what did I think? Well, this cable was in familiar territory to the Audience OHNO, but, the Vocalis sounded more open than the Audience, I preferred it on some levels but there were a couple of little niggles with it. Note at this point I had not had niggles with the Audience OHNO as such. I was leaning towards the Vocalis though, it just seemed a little more revealing, strings and horns and drums were all great again, but maybe a little more air around them. Vocals I might say weren't displaying that last percent of intricacies that the Audience OHNO was though, but maybe that was nitpicking. So… the niggles, or moment of wonder in picking the Vocalis or Audience OHNO was a thinking that the Vocalis might actually be being more transparent and showing off any weakness further up the chain. A quick experiment dropping in a great cable (one I might not ever get, a Vovox Textura RCA) in place of the RCA Alaqeia I had feeding Dac —> Pre then showed my guess was correct. Everything immediately became the best I've heard it (took out a little bit of harshness that was finding its way through, harshness that the smoothness of the Audience OHNO I believe was smoothing off on its way to the Nord).
So… what do I think. Two cables £333 or £350, are they worth it? Hands down they are in my opinion. Which would I choose? Well, in my system I'd choose the Vocalis as I will address the other interconnect feeding my Pre at a later date. It's a great interconnect is my conclusion.
That said, don't dismiss that Audience OHNO, that is great too. If the only interconnect in your system is the one feeding your Nord and you are wondering if things could sound more coherent and listenable, giving more detail but not introducing an 'edge', it's great.
If your source is really good, I am thinking the Vocalis is more revealing. Just as musical as the Audience OHNO, but it isn't going to hide anything (not that the Audience does, the Vocalis is just that touch more open). If your source is not quite as good, maybe the Audience's smoothness will win. Let me be clear, these interconnects are close in my system and either will do a great job. If your system is a bit edgey and you want to tame it back, the Audience is good. If you're confident your system and source is great, maybe go for the Vocalis over the Audience though.
When trying out both these cables the system has never sounded better, and minutes before writing this I am back to listening with the Mogami and the system is obviously worse off for it.
A couple of side notes for anyone interested. Both cables opened up after a day or so, both allow me to play my system significantly louder than before before it gets too much. The last thing is that even though the cost is somewhat out of proportion with my system, Alto is going to be providing me Vovox Textura XLR to try, this is sensible for me as I might end up changing components more and wishing I'd invested in an even higher end cable in the future, so I might head that off right now. I will report back on this, but this cable is definitely financially overkill for my current system.
Oh, one last thing. I do not believe in spending any money on cables, only on what I can hear, so if someone gave me a £50 XLR that did as well as these cables, I would be able to assess it on its merits, but I can only report on the cables I have heard in my system and don't go by reviews really. What I can say, is that I wouldn't hesitate to say that either of these £333/350 cables are worth the performance they give over my Mogami cables!
PS. If you're in the UK, Alto can supply Vovox, and Dave Jackson of Highendcable.co.uk can supply Audience. Bear in mind too, that if you need more of them and run RCA anywhere, the Audience OHNO becomes cheaper, in that format it is only £169.
....so, as mentioned above, I'll return with opinions of the Vovox Textura soon, and will let people know what I end up purchasing.
VoicesInMyHead
New member
I'll just chim in a few words about my new Nord One UP SE amp... I think I owe it to this thread if not else...
I've only had it playing for a few days, but I can clearly say it has already exceeded my quite high expectations. Dull, flat, boring, lifeless? What are all the words associated with Class D now again? No matter what, that's not what I'm hearing... rather the opposite, the complete black background, the details, the power, the feeling of "being there". Very musical and truly amazing.
Someone said in this thread that his LampizatOr Golden Gate was a perfect match with the Nord. That helped my decision alot and I really want to re-iterate that statement. I think the Nord is very transparent and will expose what the source is capable of (or not). I've tried it with a Lampizator Golden Atlantic with balanced and volume control and also a standard LampizatOr Atlantic with a Schiit Sys ($49 volume control) and I think both were excellent and a huge step in the right direction from where I came from! A perfect match for sure. Still waiting for my "real cables" though...
A great product with enormous value and highly recommended by me....
I'm glad I found this forum and this thread and that I took the decision to buy without even hearing it first. Thanks!
I've only had it playing for a few days, but I can clearly say it has already exceeded my quite high expectations. Dull, flat, boring, lifeless? What are all the words associated with Class D now again? No matter what, that's not what I'm hearing... rather the opposite, the complete black background, the details, the power, the feeling of "being there". Very musical and truly amazing.
Someone said in this thread that his LampizatOr Golden Gate was a perfect match with the Nord. That helped my decision alot and I really want to re-iterate that statement. I think the Nord is very transparent and will expose what the source is capable of (or not). I've tried it with a Lampizator Golden Atlantic with balanced and volume control and also a standard LampizatOr Atlantic with a Schiit Sys ($49 volume control) and I think both were excellent and a huge step in the right direction from where I came from! A perfect match for sure. Still waiting for my "real cables" though...
A great product with enormous value and highly recommended by me....
I'm glad I found this forum and this thread and that I took the decision to buy without even hearing it first. Thanks!I'll just chim in a few words about my new Nord One UP SE amp... I think I owe it to this thread if not else...
I've only had it playing for a few days, but I can clearly say it has already exceeded my quite high expectations. Dull, flat, boring, lifeless? What are all the words associated with Class D now again? No matter what, that's not what I'm hearing... rather the opposite, the complete black background, the details, the power, the feeling of "being there". Very musical and truly amazing.
Someone said in this thread that his LampizatOr Golden Gate was a perfect match with the Nord. That helped my decision alot and I really want to re-iterate that statement. I think the Nord is very transparent and will expose what the source is capable of (or not). I've tried it with a Lampizator Golden Atlantic with balanced and volume control and also a standard LampizatOr Atlantic with a Schiit Sys ($49 volume control) and I think both were excellent and a huge step in the right direction from where I came from! A perfect match for sure. Still waiting for my "real cables" though...
A great product with enormous value and highly recommended by me....
Good stuff, you likely will find it will improve too over the next two or three weeks. Enjoy!
Welcome back Mark
Cheers Joe
Day left on the auction if anyone is interested. Almost new Nord One SE NC500DM,Sonic Imagery 994 Op Amp, Neotech wiring + i'll include 1m XLR cables made up by Colin - £1,400 (cost just over £1,800 with the cables)
Hi. Not sure if its cool to post a direct on here, but if you search 'Nord amplifier' on e bay you'll find it.