AUDIOPHONICS MPA-S250NC Amp Review

[F1308]

RCA inputs...?

Not interested, thanks.

 

[AdamG]

The overall price to value for what you get here is incredible. We’re talking about $2 bucks +/- a few cents per watt. All while landing in the Excellent category for SINAD.

We are in the land of “Field of Dreams” for Amplification. So much performance for so little. Allowing the cost concise folks to achieve 2ch excellence on a tight budget. What’s not to like here. Great product and great review Amir. Thank you sir for your dedication to the Audio world. The SINAD Geek Club is overjoyed.

 

[Talisman]

It's exactly my power amp, I bought it on the trust of hypex and audiophonics, and I see I made a good choice.
I use my Cambridge audio cxa61 as a pre-amplifier and the performance is fantastic.

 

[VintageFlanker]

RCA inputs...?

Not interested, thanks.

... Check post #12...

 

[D700]

That is very competent performance as far as noise+distortion (SINAD):
View attachment 290341

Zooming in:
View attachment 290342

@amirm
I've held off for a long long time out of respect for the volume of great content. I'm sorry, I'm going to have to report you to the Bar Graph Police. They have some wonderful diversion programs for recovering Microsoft Excel users. Its not too late.

Regards
D

 

[Fahzz]

Picture's data field says Parasound 2125, is this a wrong picture or wrong text?

I replaced that same Parasound with one of these. I actually laughed out loud when I took the Audiophonics out of the box. The Parasound weighs about ten times more, and is four times the size. You can put one of these things anywhere.

 

[PeteL]

@Audiophonics never said it was. As for other NC-MP modules, in-house "implementation" design isn't a thing.

Sure, I did not suggest they were.

 

[Deleted member 48726]

Why do most of these amps have power on/off noise?

Why don't they implement a delayed output relay like we know from A/B class?

It detracts greatly from the quality impression if I were to hear a pop everytime I turn on my amplifier.

 

[Rja4000]

You'd be surprised.

Apollon Audio Class-D Amp Build Quality

read again :) Ok, is the difference ... got it. Sorry.

www.audiosciencereview.com

The power increase is minimal with two power supplies. Around 40 watts of difference @2Ohm and @4Ohm and better headroom within the power supply. Two NCx500 modules are hitting the upper peak of one SMPS1200. There is slightly better crosstalk in a dual mono design with two power supplies. But not much.

Interesting.
(And, for once, the Apollon is even cheaper.
Usually, it's quite opposite)

 

[IamJF]

There seems to be significant 60Hz hum in this amp - tha Hypex module doesn't do that. And 5dB difference between the channels in S/N ... one of them is not working to it's full specs.
I built mono amps with the 250W module from Hypex - you get 123dB S/N out of these in the original state and even more with modifications.

A weighted noise of the original module:

 

[Hiten]

If not proper soft start, wouldn't a low value high voltage film capacitor on power switch or NTC help in somewhat taming down on off noise ?

 

[F1308]

... Check post #12...

I know, I know...
Thanks.
But the reviewed one is RCA.

 

[VQR]

Two amps measured in a row? We're eating good. Hopefully we see more amp measurements soon.

 

[F1308]

It might have been a great option years ago, not now, in my humble opinion.

I think it might be the time to revise those ranges in the amplifier arena: lots of amplifiers delivering astounding SINADs.

 

[Acerun]

How do you mod the powerlight? I just stuck black tape over mine.

Me too

 

[Acerun]

RCA inputs...?

Not interested, thanks.

Works great with a Denon AVR, three of them lets you shut off the internal amps for 5.2.

 

[Acerun]

Why do most of these amps have power on/off noise?

Why don't they implement a delayed output relay like we know from A/B class?

It detracts greatly from the quality impression if I were to hear a pop everytime I turn on my amplifier.

I use three of them and do not hear a pop when I trigger on via my Denon AVR

 

[Deleted member 48726]

I use three of them and do not hear a pop when I trigger on via my Denon AVR

That's good for you. But most reviews show it so it is a thing. And maybe trigger on is different than using the switch.

 

[daftcombo]

I have been using this amp to power one of my pairs of Focal Aria 906 since december 2019. Even at a few centimeters from the tweeters, it produces zero noise (hiss, hum...). The pop on on/off is there but I don't care about it much. As for power, it is sufficient for me.
It is a lot smaller than your typical amp (if you except all the small amps by Topping, SMSL, etc.). For example you can lay it on a computer tower.

Thanks Amir for your review!

Edit: I have the XLR version. Thanks @VintageFlanker. And perhaps it's the 252 I have in fact... hmm I have to check! I have the S500NC also, by the way, and without complain neither, but it is a lot bigger of course.

 

[sarumbear]

That's good for you. But most reviews show it so it is a thing. And maybe trigger on is different than using the switch.

3mV is around 20dB below 5W, maybe you are not hearing it.