Mytek slams Hypex in Stereophile Amp Review

@erik_squires
NC1200 is for select customers only, and has been mostly replaced by NC500. They have the same power specs for 4 and 8ohms, the 2 ohm power output rating is higher for nc1200 .Datasheets can be easily googled. Bruno Putzeys designed all n-cores with "the same sonic signature", which did not help the NC1200 "high-end" priced unit.
Icepower 1200AS has a peak power rating of 1250wpc (4 ohm, 1kHz, THD1%) however "continuous output power without thermal shutdown" is 280 wpc for the same signal (page 11 of the manual). The test is conducted with the module mounted on an additional heatsink with Rth=0.8 K/W, free airflow (page 11).
Let’s keep in mind 1kHz sinewave is not music. AES/IEC recommend pink noise over a decade (IEC 40hz-5kHz) with a crest factor of 6dB to imitate a typical musical program.

Helomech: My experience is with Rogue’s Hypex-based Sphinx and Pharaoh. Neither could produce the lowest octave of my Monitor Audio Silver 8s (not the most efficient speakers, but certainly not anywhere near the worst). The same applied with my Epos Epic 2s - fairly efficient speakers. My $300 Yamaha embarrassed those amps when it came to bass.

I'd like to share a contrasting viewpoint to Helomech's.  I've had several amps driving my Magnepan 1.6s/1.7s over the years.  Of course, these speakers demand lots of current from an amp.  I had never given much attention to Class D amps, as most that I had previously heard sounded somewhat sterile to my ear.  Then I dropped a Rogue Sphinx into my system and my jaw dropped.  It was not only musical, but had excellent dynamics and power.  This was especially true in the bass.  It was difficult for me to believe that such a budget amp could mate so well with the Maggies.  I attribute some of the musical nature of this amp to the tube preamp section.  Some of the dynamic power may be due to its hefty linear (as opposed to switching) power supply.  In any case, it's an amp worth auditioning even if your budget can afford more.  BTW - I also tried the Pharaoh in my system and found it wanting.  There's something special about the Sphinx, at least in my system's configuration.  It's certainly not lacking power, including in the bass region. The folks at Rogue are great to deal with as well. 

Let me add that I've always respected Yamaha products.  Great value for the money.  Back in the VHS days, I would only buy Yamaha players.  More recently I purchased a Yamaha sound bar for my family room's Sony TV.  However, I'd be somewhat shocked if one of their $300 amps can best the Sphinx.  A model number would be helpful...  

Best to all - Michael 

Pascal amps were a spin-off from IcePower as an OEM/Pro division. The conceptual design and the technology were very similar, only adapted to the Pro Applications.
The concept is indeed inferior to Hypex (Bruno Putzeys) as well as the sound quality.
It needs to be tweaked to sound better. Hypex (nCore in particular) is indeed a circuit better adapted to complex loads so the statement that caused a lot of comments here makes no sense and seems to be a desperate sales pitch fallacy targeted at a technically superior competitive concept. Not uncommon in "High-End" where the value-for-money factor is typically poor.
I have used extensively and tested a Pascal-based power amplifier that had been tweaked with a valve-based stage driving the modulator directly.
The tweak is possible with Pascal, not possible with Hypex (Being a closed design) and that is why companies like Mytek take Pascal, make (slight?) modifications and brag about nonexistent supremacies.
Try both and you'll be able to experience the differences. Use your own mind and your own ears. As simple as that.
I would also look at the Orchard Audio as Leonid (The designer) does not recycle someone else's IP but creates a unique circuit using new GaN devices. According to my humble opinion, an original approach well worth auditioning.

The tweak is possible with Pascal, not possible with Hypex (Being a closed design) and that is why companies like Mytek take Pascal, make (slight?) modifications and brag about nonexistent supremacies.

Was about to say this isn't true, but I just checked the nCore 400 spec sheet and you are right. I do know that ICEpower does offer low impedance inputs which bypasses their own input stage, allowing manufacturers to offer their own.

I’d like to share a contrasting viewpoint to Helomech’s. I’ve had several amps driving my Magnepan 1.6s/1.7s over the years. Of course, these speakers demand lots of current from an amp. I had never given much attention to Class D amps, as most that I had previously heard sounded somewhat sterile to my ear. Then I dropped a Rogue Sphinx into my system and my jaw dropped. It was not only musical, but had excellent dynamics and power. This was especially true in the bass. It was difficult for me to believe that such a budget amp could mate so well with the Maggies. I attribute some of the musical nature of this amp to the tube preamp section. Some of the dynamic power may be due to its hefty linear (as opposed to switching) power supply. In any case, it’s an amp worth auditioning even if your budget can afford more. BTW - I also tried the Pharaoh in my system and found it wanting. There’s something special about the Sphinx, at least in my system’s configuration. It’s certainly not lacking power, including in the bass region. The folks at Rogue are great to deal with as well.

Let me add that I’ve always respected Yamaha products. Great value for the money. Back in the VHS days, I would only buy Yamaha players. More recently I purchased a Yamaha sound bar for my family room’s Sony TV. However, I’d be somewhat shocked if one of their $300 amps can best the Sphinx. A model number would be helpful...

Best to all - Michael

Hi Michael,

The Yamaha amp in question is the A-S500. I’m not too surprised by your experience with the Maggies as their bass pretty much drops like a cliff below 40Hz. I was referring mostly to the lowest octaves. Still, on the whole, my A-S500 sounded more powerful and brawny than either the Sphinx or Pharaoh, even with the Epos Epics which also lack the lowest bass octave. The Yamaha measured as a fairly high current, low-impedence-stable amp in independent lab measurements. http://i.nextmedia.com.au/avhub/australian-hifi_reviews_2014_2014-02_yamaha_as500_amplifier_review_and_test_lores.pdf

The Sphinx, in Stereophile’s test, clipped at 155 watts into 4 ohms. It’s not a 200 watt amp as claimed.

I do agree that the Sphinx is the better of the Rogue hybrids, and IME, it actually sounded more powerful than the Pharaoh.