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NCore vs. Ice -- single or separate cases

Hey guys,

I've recently gotten a bug that I can't shake. I went to sleep thinking about it last night.

I want to try out a class D amp.

I've narrowed my choices down to something based on either the NCore NC400 or the IcePower 125asx2.

If I went the way of the NC400, I'll be building them myself. If I went the way of the Ice, I may build it myself or just buy the assembled units. Either way, the NC400 builds will run about twice that of the Ice builds.

Is there anyone out there that can comment on which is better? If the answer is that the NC400 is better, is it worth twice the price?

My next question is whether I should build the mono units into separate boxes or a single box? In other words, is it better to use a longer interconnect with a short speaker cable or vice versa?

Thanks.
tonyangel
wilsynet's avatar
wilsynet
264 posts
 
Agree. Assuming the sources (and amplifier) have appropriate impedance and voltage numbers, a passive can deliver state the art sound quality at a modest price.

Having said that, I think the dollars are adding up and the total price may now be beyond the original budget.

Yeah, it's complicated.

But bang for your buck, I think an integrated would be really appropriate here. An LFD Zero MK3 is available right now for $1800 asking on Audiogon, and it is a superb piece of equipment. It isn't quite as good as the NC400, but it's awfully close, and will blow away what the OP currently has.
jtwrace's avatar
jtwrace
443 posts
 
Single SMPS with (2) NC400 modules is fine but it will depend on what speakers. So, with that, what are the specs of your speakers, room size and usual SPL that you play at?
nsirkin
40 posts
 
Hi Tony, where do you live? I have a pair of NC400 amps that I am not using...
tonyangel OP
309 posts
 
Nsirkin, I'm in the New Orleans area.

My speakers are a pair of Silverline Minuet Supreme Pluses. They aren't hard to push, but they can take a lot of power.

I pulled out the old SPL meter the other night while I was listening and it looks like I'm in the 80 - 90 db range, with an occasional jump in the 95+db range. There are just some passages that I really like.

I really don't want to go with a passive. I want remote control and really don't want to rope myself into something that is finicky about what it wants to play with.

I've being thinking about getting into something like an Aragon 28K or something like that.

I'm just going to go ahead order the parts for the NC400 build/s and see what happens. I've been doing more reading and it appears that just plopping the 125asx2 modules into a box isn't going to get me what I want.

I just really hope that the NC400s sound at least as good as my Aragon 2004 does.
hifial's avatar
hifial
332 posts
 
Tony, if you do a great build of the NC400 you will be extremely happy with the sound you will get from NC400 for the money.

Good luck

PS Make sure you allow some time for break in. Also keep them on all the time except every three to four weeks turn them off for several hours then back on till the next time. Pull the power cord to do this if you do not have a main off switch.
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