Schiit Vidar vs NC502MP

(Lemme try to hijack this thread before it goes totally off the rails…) Since only the first few watts matter, how crazy would it be to try Schiit’s miniature Gjallarhorn amp in a situation similar to OP’s use case? I get that it won’t let rattle the neighbors’ windows, but I wonder about real-world listening at <75 dB (non-peak). It’s hard to get a sense of real-world performance from a power-distance-sensitivity calculator, especially when speaker sensitivity specs are suspect.

I currently use a C-Note build on my desk with an NC250MP (pseudo-DIY with a module off eBay). It’s… okay, I guess, but it doesn’t get super-loud and definitely lacks engagement at lower listening levels. I have doubts about the 130 W on the Hypex spec sheet, but don’t have a good way to measure it myself. And as long my LM3886 chip amp build remains in lack-of-time limbo, I don’t have a respected class AB amp to compare it to.

 

You can see some of my impressions on the Gjallarhorn Here. It did the trick on my speakers and was exactly what I was looking for in my use case. I ended up selling them to a buddy who desperately needed to replace his 45 year old Marantz and get something with a low noise floor to power his 4 ceiling speakers in his family room to ambient levels. I am now using some Purifi 1ET7040SA monoblocks and they are extremely impressive as well.

 

Of course an actual listening expense counts as research. Accurate measurements of S/N, THD, FR is usually the first step in choosing an amp to take home. Most dealers offer a home trial.

Where I disagree is the attitude in this forum that accurate measurements are dismissive. Everyone has an opinion. But accurate measurements are hard data.

 

The Purifi Eigentakt is going to be my next amp.

 

But what does it measure in relation to the purpose of the device?

An accurate measurement of 0-60 time is hard data. But it doesn't tell you shit about if a car is any good.
An accurate measurement of weight is hard data. But it doesn't tell you anything about how fat someone is.
An accurate measurement of latency is hard data. But it doesn't tell you where in the network the issues are.

What a weird hill upon which to make a stand.

 

I thought the same, once, but I've since learned my lesson after being disappointed enough times by making purchasing decisions solely on spec sheets.

@shortyg83 for what it's worth, I used to own the amp that purr1n thought was insipid, which was an NC1200 module with a bespoke input section. I also owned a VTV NC502MP amp at a later time and, for whatever reason, it was much less pleasurable to listen to (I actually really disliked it outside of powering bass woofers in a bi-amp setup). Nord Acoustics also agrees that the NC1200 modules are a step above the other Hypex offerings, even preferring it to Purifi's newer Eigentakt modules.

Regardless, you'll prob be better off with good class AB.

 

2ch is beyond me for now but if you knew how easy it was to screw up measurement processes...

I'm not just talking about things as coarse as transducer frequency response, but more things that are significantly more nuanced like skin conductance response (in the context of how these correlate with autonomic human responses) and the quantitative analysis thereof; things grow very convoluted very quickly even when you take pains towards perfect replicability and the weeding out of statistical noise.

Dammit @purr1n beat me to it cuz I left this draft on my PC lmao.

Anyway, continuing: measurements in audio are not yet at a point where you can comprehensively describe how something may perform. I'm getting into mics and recording gear and what I've learned on SBAF has translated fairly well there-- it's all the same shtick, but backwards. I bring that up because if you think that oversimplifying the complexity of human auditory experience is a massive problem on the playback side of things then y'all aren't ready for how much more "DSP FIXES EVERYTHING" things apparently are on the other end of the chain.

Yeah no it's never that simple, and those who seem to want to manifest that reality through sheer force of will and the power of anime are just there to affirm expenses already made and feel a sense of accomplishment knowing what they already know, never mind that that's a dead end as far as real scientific investigation goes.

 

I rarely shitpost so beg clemency here: f**k you I choked on my tea. Bad time to take a sip while reading that

 

Why, cause it measures well?
Hopefully you will listen to it too.
Dunno about Purifies, but the Pascal modules easily beats the Ncores for listening satisfaction and costs a lot less.

I think the sound is fuller and more pleasant, and their balance lasts better in hard driving than the Hypexs, which are somehow too clinical, thin and harsh.

 

I picked up a Lab Gruppen C20:8X from eBay over the weekend.
Its datasheet says it puts out 3.4A per channel when bridged to 500W/channel at 8Ohms.

Seems like the 25A might be some sort of specmanship...

 

I'd be lying if I said it didn't factor in a little... there's certain categories where the proof and flavor density is somewhat correlated; like life is too short for Scotch <46% abv.

Do you have any recommendations for brands that run them? I have an application where I am thermally limited and this might be the ticket for me.

 

@famish99 unfortunately I cannot say anything about the American market availability. I use IMG stageline amps that have those (Monacor). Here in Europe they are very competitively priced.

 

@famish99 I believe VTV make a line of Pascal amps: https://vtvamplifier.com/pascal/