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Pilliod Audio mono amplifiers with Hypex UCD400 HxR

I just received my new Pilliod Audio mono amplifiers with Hypex technology and wanted to post some photos and see if anyone else had experience with these. I purchase them to be an upgrade 
to my Auralic Merak mono amps. The Merak amps were about as refined and open as anyone could ever want so this is a tall order to fill.  My initial findings are they they're are at least as impressive but I will know more after the burn in. My source is a PS Audio Directstream DAC and Wyred 4 Sound STP-SE mod 2 with upgraded over and above the mod 2 upgrades, caps, regulators, Kiwame signal path resistors, Sparkos Labs descrete 3062 opamps and a few more that I will not mention. All playing from a Mac mini with upgrades and a separate regulated power source. 
128x128wideanglewatcher
erik_squires
16,123 posts
 
Very pretty case, and layout. Looks like they are NOT going with the Hypex PS but bulding their own linear supply.

Also interesting they went with the UCD instead of the latest nCore power amp. I’ve not heard either, but really want to listen to the nCore to compare against the ICEPower I currently use.

Best,


Erik
erik_squires
16,123 posts
 
By the way, I think you can get Kiwame discounted if you look for KOA at Mouser. Last I looked the oddly speced resistors were identical.

Best,

Erik
wideanglewatcher's avatar
wideanglewatcher OP
5 posts
 
These have a conventional power supply. Not the switching power supply that is normally used. These are the UCD400 HxR amps and the power supply board is
marked Hypex as well. I believe that the regulation is on the amplifier module. The sound pretty good so far. I would like to figure a way to mount the Sparko's labs SS3602 descrete opamps in place of the surface mounter LM4562 opamps that are mounted on the under side of the amp module. 
wideanglewatcher's avatar
wideanglewatcher OP
5 posts
 
I did find a black pair of these on eBay that are the Ncore amps with the switching power supplies.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pilliod-Audio-UcD200M-pair-200-watt-Mono-Amplifiers-Hypex-Ncore-NEW-/3218390...


torinf's avatar
torinf
7 posts
 
I have the same amps. The UCD 400 HXR with the UCD HG (non switching) power supplies.
Running them off an SP10 preamp into Analysis Omegas.
They are incredibly powerful, dynamic and resolving. In some respects, they’re the best amps I’ve listened too. But, I get an occasional sense of glare at the upper frequency extreme. It can be edgy and a little annoying at times. Are you feeling that too? I’m not sure, it’s recording dependent perhaps.
i will be comparing to a pair of VTL MB 450s soon which will be a nice comparison.
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