I would love to listen to them. Merrill Audio seems to merge new technologies with old audiophile concepts - see their site: "Uses the latest in technology with highest quality components. Rhodium, Gold. When only the best will do. Cardas, Furutech, point to point wiring, 19 AWG OFC litz for audio lines, Synergistic Research Tunneling Fuses and Precision Basik Power Cord and more " "Merrill Audio encases the design in a solid billet aircraft grade aluminum chassis design for isolation of components and to minimize microphonic vibrations"
Better Than Class A amp?
- Thread starter dallasjustice
- Start date
I would love to listen to them. Merrill Audio seems to merge new technologies with old audiophile concepts - see their site: "Uses the latest in technology with highest quality components. Rhodium, Gold. When only the best will do. Cardas, Furutech, point to point wiring, 19 AWG OFC litz for audio lines, Synergistic Research Tunneling Fuses and Precision Basik Power Cord and more " "Merrill Audio encases the design in a solid billet aircraft grade aluminum chassis design for isolation of components and to minimize microphonic vibrations"
Hi Michael-I really recommend you give the NC1200 based Thetas a shot before you pull the final trigger. They take a fundamentally different approach with the linear PS...they sound incredible to me. Unfortunately, I have not had them stacked up to one of the SMPS NC1200 designs..I am personally curious to hear your opinion. Theta was totally off my map, but I looked into these, did what net armchair research I could, and don't regret making the choice. Please take a demo if you can find someone that will allow you...I am truly curious to hear your opinion!
B
B
I have had the Veritas for a couple of weeks. I haven't listened as much as I wanted so far. But there are some absolutes I could say at this point.
NCORE vs. Ucd
I have had some excellent Hypex Ucd amps in my room. I have always loved the bass. I am used to serious bass. My system delivers very accurate bass. Most audiophiles hear that and think, "It must me too lean an analytical." My experience with bass is very simple. The more accurate it gets, the more of it you hear; in that order. Yes, I know how to use a microphone.The difference between Ucd and NCORE is not the bass. It's the mid and highs. To me the mids and highs are far more sophisticated with the NCORE 1200 amps; Veritas and Atsah. How sophisticated? I put it up there with my former Krell 900e monoblocks. Those are serious amps and close to perfect for system. Even the premiere Ucd amps don't have this level of sophistication.
Atsah vs. Veritas
They are sonic siblings. It would be silly to argue otherwise. The basic designs are the same. They both use the same unmodified NCORE SMPS and NCORE 1200 module from Hypex. Sonically, I would give the nod to the Veritas. They are a little more resolving, but not by much and I don't have them side-by-side. So, if an Atsah owner calls me out on this, I won't fight back.
The big difference is the case and the parts. The Veritas case is a much better design, IMO. Over the long haul, small things like case design can become a really big deal. Folks need to know that the NCORE 1200 amps are NOT cool running amps like the Ucd amps. The Atsah case is really nice and totally solid with excellent binding posts. However, there isn't any meaningful ventilation. It's my understanding the case acts like one heatsink. The Atsah doesn't get Krell-hot, but it gets hot for sure. Especially after some Awolnation!
OTOH, the Veritas amps are made from solid billet and some serious effort has been made to isolate the SMPS from the NCORE 1200 module. I don't know how significant that isolation is but Bruno seems to agree with that approach, if one looks at the Mola Mola Kaluga photos. The Veritas case also has some well placed ventilation. Even after the most intense music, the Veritas barely get warm. Also, the Veritas binding posts are Cardas; enough said there. Merrill clearly thought things through and built a first rate product. I know he would stand behind any problems in the future. Talking to him, it's clear he is in this business for all the right reasons. These days, there are more and more venture capitalists looking at this hobby as a way to make a quick buck. Unfortunately, the world economy is moving back to a deflation, IMO. The high end markets are the last markets that can still be very strong due to many high income customers. It's really hard to know who you can trust these days. I have no doubt that John Young and Merrill are good folks and in this business for all the right reasons.
I plan on hearing the Mola Mola Kaluga amps before I make up my mind. My understanding is that the Mola Mola Kaluga should be shipping to the US distributor, Phillip, very soon. I look forward to hearing a pair very soon.
Michael.
I know what you are saying. The problem is that my local Theta dealer is someone I would never buy from. It's nothing personal. I just don't feel comfortable with paying retail for anything unless I have no choice.
How hot does the Theta run? I would expect it to run warmer than the versions I've had.
How hot does the Theta run? I would expect it to run warmer than the versions I've had.
Yes, I know. I took the plunge on a set of the Thetas based on some internet armchair research...and I absolutely love these things. I am anxious to hear someone that has had significant time with a SMPS version of the NC1200 to compare...
The cases are very nice. I am told they are built by same manufacturer as Burmester in Germany. It really shows. I would say the casework is up there with Soulution and Dartzeel.
Bruce B
WBF Founding Member, Pro Audio Production Member
Speaker cable to the woofer. They aren't very nice. It don't matter. I had expensive speaker cables to woofer and it didn't sound any different. I think they are acrolink; very short run.
The mola mola are designed to sound best with double runs. So I ran one to the woofers and the the nice speaker cable to the mids/tweeter.
Hi DallasJustice, the answer is no and yes... Sorry, pics do not do anything for me... Lost eyesight 30 years ago... Never mind.
Rather, I am interesting about Kaluga sound in your system... Break-in state, etc.... Have you had the opportunity of listening to other NCore NC1200 amps... E.G. Merrill Veritas... Differences??
I heard Kaluga last year at RMAF... I did like them very much, in spite of some peakiness that was probably caused by the amps beuing nearly fresh out of the factory... Besides, they were not production-level units.
Please do keep us posted!
GUido
Rather, I am interesting about Kaluga sound in your system... Break-in state, etc.... Have you had the opportunity of listening to other NCore NC1200 amps... E.G. Merrill Veritas... Differences??
I heard Kaluga last year at RMAF... I did like them very much, in spite of some peakiness that was probably caused by the amps beuing nearly fresh out of the factory... Besides, they were not production-level units.
Please do keep us posted!
GUido
Sorry Guido. I didn't know you couldn't see with your eyes. I bet you can see with your ears though.
I'll have a lot to say about mola mola.
I just saw Jeff Tweedy's new band with his son drumming on Sunday here in Dallas at Majestic Theater. Tweedy also did some solo stuff too. Now I am stuck on listening to all my Wilco music. I never get tired of Wilco. I've seen them a dozen times at least.
Earlier in this thread I talk about my demos with the Acoustic Imagery Atsah and Merrill Veritas amps, which are both ncore 1200 amps.
Michael.
I'll have a lot to say about mola mola.
I just saw Jeff Tweedy's new band with his son drumming on Sunday here in Dallas at Majestic Theater. Tweedy also did some solo stuff too. Now I am stuck on listening to all my Wilco music. I never get tired of Wilco. I've seen them a dozen times at least.
Earlier in this thread I talk about my demos with the Acoustic Imagery Atsah and Merrill Veritas amps, which are both ncore 1200 amps.
Michael.
By the pound or by the sound?
As Phillip O'hanlon asked me: Will they be judged by the pound or by the sound? Many audiophiles wouldn't consider these amps. They aren't big and heavy enough. They don't consume much power. They never need to be turned off. In other words, normal people would love them.
But even audiophiles who also appreciate great music might like stuff like elite engineering and super high-end design/quality. These amps also get pretty warm. So the class A lovers might like that too. The only ventilation is a paper thin gap between the rear plate and top plate. You wouldn't see it unless you looked at just the right angle and a caught a glimpse of the red lights inside.
The sound quality is so good they can be a little disorienting. For the last month or so, I've been using what I consider the best hypex UCD amps ever made. I can't mention the name because it would **** a lot of people off. But it's clear to me that the ncore 1200 amps are NOT merely one step better than their UCD ancestors. These amps are a huge logarithmic leap beyond anything before it. I can't pass final judgement for a while but the mola mola kaluga amps are for real!
As Phillip O'hanlon asked me: Will they be judged by the pound or by the sound? Many audiophiles wouldn't consider these amps. They aren't big and heavy enough. They don't consume much power. They never need to be turned off. In other words, normal people would love them.
But even audiophiles who also appreciate great music might like stuff like elite engineering and super high-end design/quality. These amps also get pretty warm. So the class A lovers might like that too. The only ventilation is a paper thin gap between the rear plate and top plate. You wouldn't see it unless you looked at just the right angle and a caught a glimpse of the red lights inside.
The sound quality is so good they can be a little disorienting. For the last month or so, I've been using what I consider the best hypex UCD amps ever made. I can't mention the name because it would **** a lot of people off. But it's clear to me that the ncore 1200 amps are NOT merely one step better than their UCD ancestors. These amps are a huge logarithmic leap beyond anything before it. I can't pass final judgement for a while but the mola mola kaluga amps are for real!
Hi dallasjustice,
I am eagerly waiting for your Kaluga report.
I need a good and powerful poweramp for my Magico S5, Mola Mola may be very suitable for this task.
BTW how warm is the Kaluga when they are kept turned on continuously?
I live in Hong Kong and the summer room temperature can be quite high, particularly when there is nobody at home and the air-conditioning is shut down in daytime.
Many thanks!
CK
I am eagerly waiting for your Kaluga report.
I need a good and powerful poweramp for my Magico S5, Mola Mola may be very suitable for this task.
BTW how warm is the Kaluga when they are kept turned on continuously?
I live in Hong Kong and the summer room temperature can be quite high, particularly when there is nobody at home and the air-conditioning is shut down in daytime.
Many thanks!
CK
Another great buy IMO are classe D SPEC integrated amps... they do not output tons of watts anyway.
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