Steve Dallas
Major Contributor
Not all buyers care about cosmetics. A lot of amps go into a cabinet or closet, never to be seen again.That’s one f.ugly amp. Could have spent just a few dollars on trying to give some kind of style, you’d think.
Not all buyers care about cosmetics. A lot of amps go into a cabinet or closet, never to be seen again.That’s one f.ugly amp. Could have spent just a few dollars on trying to give some kind of style, you’d think.
You have to distinguish which DIY look,cause taking a middle ground DIY case (not top of the top,not bottom too) looks like this:
None of my electronics are visible as anything but shapes behind the perforated metal screens in the doors of our Salamander racks.Not all buyers care about cosmetics. A lot of amps go into a cabinet or closet, never to be seen again.
I am enjoying the sound and look of my Buckeye Amps 2-channel NC502MP with a Clear (Aluminum) anodized top panel and Bronze anodized bottom panel. Thank you for sourcing an enclosure manufacturer willing to create a 'one-off' for your customers.FWIW from the ugly camp (those who think the enclosures ugly, not those I’m calling ugly) the cases I use are manufactured in Canada. From day one I chose this company due to their closeness and ability to allow modifications (color, cutouts, etc) at low volume.
Recently I have looked at the idea of switching to a more pleasant looking case similar to what a lot of others offer, but this would impact the ability to offer a wide range of customization. And, just as important to me, take the location of case manufacturing to the other side of the globe.
As always, there are trade offs.
Much nicer. DIY doesn't have to look like scrap metal.I made my NC502MP and NC252MP with these enclosures : (I use it for most of my DIY amps, 10mm front / 4 mm rear)
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And did my NC250MP dual MONO with a Vintage enclosure.... but found it ugly )))
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Does that interfere with IR remote controls?None of my electronics are visible as anything but shapes behind the perforated metal screens in the doors of our Salamander racks.
Does that interfere with IR remote controls?
Nope. No issues whatsoever, and there's been several different pieces of equipment since we assembled it when we moved into this new house in 2004.Does that interfere with IR remote controls?
If I walked into your place and saw that, I definitely wouldn't think the rack was ugly. It's got a great flow and look to it! Industrial is a nice aesthetic.I've been running mine with a Freya S and Revel M16 speakers and the combo is killer. No issues and my digital and vinyl playback sound stellar. I did leave the amp on "auto" during the summer and the amp itself would make a pop noise when it turned itself on; no pop noise through the speakers though. I leave the amp on all the time now since I'm in the living room everyday with the cooler weather and I forget it's there.
Yes, it's simple in design but for the price/performance and shipping from a domestic company, I think it's a great starter amp for a HiFi under $1000. My next amp upgrade will probably be something that looks a little sexier but for my apartment now, this amp works perfectly.
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DIY allows you to save money.... my nc252mp cost me less than 400eMuch nicer. DIY doesn't have to look like scrap metal.
Thanks, I did put a lot of time to assemble a HiFi with great measuring AND sounding equipement that visually made sense together. A bit brutatlist but I can always mix it up in the future when I build another system. Probably will go the silver route and add more natural wood elements with a plant or two. If I ever sell the Buckeye, a silver Benchmark amp would look great on this rack or even a McIntosh but that's way above my price range as long as I live in NYC. Ha, ha.If I walked into your place and saw that, I definitely wouldn't think the rack was ugly. It's got a great flow and look to it! Industrial is a nice aesthetic.
I must compliment the cut little Charmander. I used to keep a Ho-Oh and Calumon on my phono stage!
Or a silver LA90.a silver Benchmark amp would look great
FYI, $575 in 2023 is equivalent to $136 in 1979 and $245 in 1990.
That doesn't help much... what is the median salary in the USA in 1979 and that in 2023? What is the difference in purchasing power between 1979 and 2023?
As you know, I have the audiophonics 250nc which is basically the same amplifier as this one, and I havent found any class A/B amps sounding nearly as good in this pricerange.One poster above claims the 20Hz and switch-on 'pops' performance is sub standard... I'd like to respectfully remind them that thirty odd years ago, the worst case distortion performance here in this amp was common in the MIDRANGE of the best reviewed amps back then and so many 'enthusiast' and commercial less expoensive far eastern made amps back then often fell over at anything less than a four ohm load, leading to the rise and rise of huge amps able to drive almost a short circuit with massive power!
I'd say this is a great little power amp for normal usage domestically with plenty of power for most domestic concerns. I'd ask if any countersunk screws and holes were available for the side screws in an attempt to neaten appearance slightly, but that's it really for the price!
Have you done some blind AxB testing of that? Sounds unlikely that amps within their performance envelope should have "a sound".As you know, I have the audiophonics 250nc which is basically the same amplifier as this one, and I havent found any class A/B amps sounding nearly as good in this pricerange.
No I havent - I use long therm listening to avoid any blind testing nocebo* bias, and I can sometimes hear differences between amplifiers. Thats not strange at all if one amp has a SINAD of 65 and the other 95.Have you done some blind AxB testing of that? Sounds unlikely that amps within their performance envelope should have "a sound".