Nuprime amps? experience? opinions?

[longplayer]

I'm wondering about some of the smaller nuprime power amps. They seem to offer their own form of class D.

Anyone got any experience of them good or bad? Views on sq, speaker matching?

thanks!

 

[newlash09]

I'm wondering about some of the smaller nuprime power amps. They seem to offer their own form of class D.

Anyone got any experience of them good or bad? Views on sq, speaker matching?

thanks!

I've got a pair of nuprime STA-9 mono block amps. I run them in bridged mode, outputting 295 Watts each. These are the only amps that managed to bring alive my pmc twenty 26 speakers. The other amps I've owned and tried included a 190 w Devialet D- premier, 160 W parasound halo integrated, 100 W Krell KSA100 mk2 and tube amps from 100 W KT88 tubes to 34 W 845 tubes. Considering the more expensive competition the nuprime beat hands down, they make incredible value in my opinion. I have 2 other friends running the same amps with ATC SCM 40V2 speakers. It is a match made in heaven. Both have subsequently upgraded to a pair of nuprime evolution amps and a gryphon callisto integrated. Iam itching to have a listen to the nuprime evolution amps, as they supposedly sound superior to my current nuprime amps.

 

[longplayer]

Thanks, that's very interesting that they are good with ATC. I'd been looking at either the ST-10 or the AMG (a single unit) to drive a pair of Argon 3S. I was previously aiming at SCM 11s, but the 3S came by at a fair price on PFM, although there have been some very reasonably priced 11s on WAM recently, but too late for me! Nuprime don't seem very well known here and there are only two dealers in the country afaics. The evolution looks very promising but is way above my spend zone. From your experience two STA-9s might be a good alternative option to the more expensive ST-10 or AMG. I guess you've read the evolution review on the HFA website?

 

[hifinutt]

Hegel go well with 3 s .think i did try some class d with them but nothing special . I really love the argon one . There are so many class d amps now and we used to hear more about nuprime

I guess now with bel canto , nord , kjf audio and march audio as well as many others the market is very crowded

 

[newlash09]

Thanks, that's very interesting that they are good with ATC. I'd been looking at either the ST-10 or the AMG (a single unit) to drive a pair of Argon 3S. I was previously aiming at SCM 11s, but the 3S came by at a fair price on PFM, although there have been some very reasonably priced 11s on WAM recently, but too late for me! Nuprime don't seem very well known here and there are only two dealers in the country afaics. The evolution looks very promising but is way above my spend zone. From your experience two STA-9s might be a good alternative option to the more expensive ST-10 or AMG. I guess you've read the evolution review on the HFA website?

Unfortunately I haven't heard the argon 3S speakers, but their sensitivity at 87 dB certainly warrants a powerful amp. I just checked up on the evolution review, after your good selves mentioned it
I wouldn't exactly call it a enamoured review as such. Though I don't believe much in reviews lately, but a audition is a definite must sir.

But as @hifinutt has mentioned, I would definitely try the KJF audio, and Nord class D amps, before considering the nuprime, if I were in the UK. If my memory serves me right @Lurch is pleased with the Nord amps too. So maybe you can consider these alternatives too.

The newer class D amplification, seems to be gravitating towards the newest purifi and GAN designs. I haven't heard either. But class D is moving real fast, as are dacs and streamers. And when innovation happens at such a frantic pace ( or at least claimed), I tend to sit on the fence, till the euphoria fizzles out, and till there is a semblance of sanity. I don't like investing my hard earned money chasing the state of art, only to see it superseded in a quarter of a year. So if I were in the UK, I would buy a KJF or a Nord as of today

Just my 2 cents sir

 

[longplayer]

Unfortunately I haven't heard the argon 3S speakers, but their sensitivity at 87 dB certainly warrants a powerful amp. I just checked up on the evolution review, after your good selves mentioned it
I wouldn't exactly call it a enamoured review as such. Though I don't believe much in reviews lately, but a audition is a definite must sir.

But as @hifinutt has mentioned, I would definitely try the KJF audio, and Nord class D amps, before considering the nuprime, if I were in the UK. If my memory serves me right @Lurch is pleased with the Nord amps too. So maybe you can consider these alternatives too.

The newer class D amplification, seems to be gravitating towards the newest purifi and GAN designs. I haven't heard either. But class D is moving real fast, as are dacs and streamers. And when innovation happens at such a frantic pace ( or at least claimed), I tend to sit on the fence, till the euphoria fizzles out, and till there is a semblance of sanity. I don't like investing my hard earned money chasing the state of art, only to see it superseded in a quarter of a year. So if I were in the UK, I would buy a KJF or a Nord as of today

Just my 2 cents sir

Thanks for your further thoughts. I felt the Evolution STA (rather than the Evolution One) review read quite positively, but there are always caveats and personal weightings. In the end he's saying it's an amp and it sounds different from his reference. There's a surprise.

Since you write "if I were in the UK", I guess the try Nord/KJF before Nuprime is as much about price, availability and relative vfm. Nuprime make sense where you are and Nord/KJF less so, while vv. here. OTS class D does seem to need dressing up - we see Nord's input buffers and op-amp options, for example, not very clear what KJF do, while Bel Canto definitely do something but say very little - partly perhaps to differentiate, but also to pre and post process to address designer perceived issues in the sound profile. Nuprime's class D is home grown tho', so it's probably what they want it to be. There are quasi naked versions of Purifi cheaper but the most reasonable dressed Purifi appears to be the NAD. Reviews seem a bit mixed as do experiences/perceptions of build quality here on WAM (tho' I could not point you to the posts that created that impression).

I sympathise with the "sit on the fence" but at the same time there is always something new round the corner; it comes down to personal priors (in the Bayesian sense) about when to jump. The GaN developments are certainly interesting but, apart from Orchard Audio (which also suffers from the US premium here in the UK), most are beyond what I'll consider. I did briefly pursue the Cherry amp in 2H2021, but the company folded after the death of owner in December that year. That seemed and Orchard Audio seems both a bit cottage industry, which is of some concern if there are problems. Another plus in going for KJF/Nord here. I'm starting to think I'll either stay with what I've got (but it's an itch) or get a stop-gap until "the euphoria fizzles out", assuming it ever does!

atb!

 

[It Cost How Much!?!]

A friend had a pair of monos about 8 years back and they were pretty poor with his speakers, got moved on within a month.

 

[Cable Monkey]

I’ve got one of these. This review gives a reasonably balanced view of performance. It’s heritage is B&O, they pop up second hand occasionally. They were initially very popular amongst the AV crowd.

 

[longplayer]

Thanks for your further thoughts. I felt the Evolution STA (rather than the Evolution One) review read quite positively, but there are always caveats and personal weightings. In the end he's saying it's an amp and it sounds different from his reference. There's a surprise.

Since you write "if I were in the UK", I guess the try Nord/KJF before Nuprime is as much about price, availability and relative vfm. Nuprime make sense where you are and Nord/KJF less so, while vv. here. OTS class D does seem to need dressing up - we see Nord's input buffers and op-amp options, for example, not very clear what KJF do, while Bel Canto definitely do something but say very little - partly perhaps to differentiate, but also to pre and post process to address designer perceived issues in the sound profile. Nuprime's class D is home grown tho', so it's probably what they want it to be. There are quasi naked versions of Purifi cheaper but the most reasonable dressed Purifi appears to be the NAD. Reviews seem a bit mixed as do experiences/perceptions of build quality here on WAM (tho' I could not point you to the posts that created that impression).

I sympathise with the "sit on the fence" but at the same time there is always something new round the corner; it comes down to personal priors (in the Bayesian sense) about when to jump. The GaN developments are certainly interesting but, apart from Orchard Audio (which also suffers from the US premium here in the UK), most are beyond what I'll consider. I did briefly pursue the Cherry amp in 2H2021, but the company folded after the death of owner in December that year. That seemed and Orchard Audio seems both a bit cottage industry, which is of some concern if there are problems. Another plus in going for KJF/Nord here. I'm starting to think I'll either stay with what I've got (but it's an itch) or get a stop-gap until "the euphoria fizzles out", assuming it ever does!

atb!

Oh, I'm forgetting that Nord are now boxing up the Orchard audio devices, so that probably qualifies as the most affordable GaN amp available. Has anyone spied a review?

 

[longplayer]

Thanks all for your input. I picked up a s/hand AMG at half RRP so am giving that a go. Not as night-and-day as I was expecting, but perhaps my expectations of difference were wrong. It is however teasing out nuances and detail and providing new levels of space, depth and attack compared to what I had before. I don't doubt tho' that is in part my looking for (and finding!) justification. No issues with bass lightness (as hinted in the HFA review), since I run 2.1 with a Dynaudio 18S for the bottom end.