Hi Guido,
Excellent list of amps that are using the ncore nc1200 power modules. You are always a very good source of class D information.
I share your interest in all things class D and currently own a ClassD Audio SDS-4440CS that replaced my older Aragon 4004 class A/B amp last year. I'm still very pleased with its performance but I'm constantly tempted to try other class D amps in my system.
I'd would love to try some of the nc1200 based amps in my system but don't have a $10k plus budget. My budget's closer to $2-2.5k and, like some of the other posters, was thinking that a Hypex nc400 based amp from an amp builder would give me 90% of the Hypex nc1200 sound at a much less expensive price.
While Hypex ncore has been the performance bar setter in class D for some time now, there are some challengers stepping up lately like Abletech and Pascal from Scandinavia. Hypex amps require a separate switch mode power supply (smps)to power the nc400 or nc1200 power modules. The newer Abletech and Pascal boards combine their power modules with integrated, built-in switch mode power supplies and generally cost the same or less than Hypex power modules, especially when the price of the additional Hypex smps is included.
I've been considering, and the OP may also want to consider, trying one of the following amps:
1. Hypex- James Romeyn builds stereo($1500) or mono-block ($1893/pair) amps using nc400 modules with nc600 and nc1200 smps. He has a supplier in Hong Kong that supplies custom cases and the power modules, smps and related components are ordered directly from Hypex in The Netherlands. H charges less than $200 for the builds and he will even order the parts if you pay upfront. The stereo amp case is a plain case with either a black or silver aluminum face plate. Mono-blocks have "NCORE' laser etched on each front panel. Unfortunately, the case work is nothing to write home about. But James seems very knowledgeable, devoted and experienced at building good sounding amps.
2. Pascal-Aluminati Sound formerly custom built Hypex nc400 amps in beautiful solid aluminum cases but has recently ceased offering these. I talked to one of the owners, Matt Kraemer, and he said they will soon be offering new amp builds that will use the Pascal SPRO-2 board. He said:"it's a stereo board with a built in SMPS with auto voltage, so 115v or 230v. 250watts per channel and 500watts per channel, 8 ohms and 4 ohms respectively.
The amp case will be machined from a solid block of aluminum and will come in a very attractive anodized finish. WBT binding posts and a cool blue LED shining underneath the amp will make it something truly special".
"Jeff Rowland uses a Pascal amp board in their new integrated amp called the Continuum S2."
The big advantage of buying an Aluminati built amp is their casework. The owners are 2 former CNC machinists/fabricators. Their custom cases are milled from solid blocks of aluminum and have isolated sections to mount the power modules, smps and even channels for routing the connecting wires. They are not only beautiful externally, they're beautifully designed and milled internally for component separation and isolation for sonic benefits.
3. Abletec and Pascal- DSonic, in Texas, offers completed amps in stereo, mono-block and multi-channel configurations at reasonable prices. His top-of-the -line monoblocks, M3-1500M($1,375 each), uses a Pascal core module(probably an MPRO or XPRO mono model, not the SPro-2 stereo model) delivers 1x1500 watts @ 8 ohms and 2,400 watts @ 4 ohms. 6 Moons has very positively reviewed the previous M2-1500M amps and Dennis Deacon, owner of DSonic, has stated the M2 and M3 monoblocks are the exact same amps.
Other DSonic offerings use a combination of Pascal and Abletec modules along with Ice modules for some surround channels on multi-channel amps. I believe the less powerful DSonic M3-600M monoblocks (300watts @ 8 ohms, 600 watts @ 4 ohms) use very sonically similar Abletec boards and are priced at $975 each. DSonic also offers 3 stereo amps ($1,375-2,375) and 3 multi-channel amps ($2,675-3,175) but I'm unsure of the modules utilized in these.
FYI,
Tim
