Niles Audio Introduces Five New Amplifiers

[admin]

Niles Audio recently announced the launch of five new integration amplifiers that they claim provide the “ideal solution for every application.” While that may be going a bit too far, the SI-1230 Series 2 and SI-1650 multi-room amplifiers and the SI-250, SI-200, and SI-2150 2-channel amplifiers are sure to fit the bill for many installations.


Discuss "Niles Audio Introduces Five New Amplifiers" here. Read the article.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

2 yr warranty on amps. No specs like SNR, Crosstalk, THD, etc.

Outside of home integration for folks who know absolutely nothing about audio, who would buy these amps?

If I need a 12ch amp, I would naturally get the ATI AT6012 amp.

Oh, and if you need a speaker selector for your 12ch amp for different rooms, forget the Niles speaker selector because they have these sucky cheap a$$ connectors; instead get the Adcom speaker selector which has real gold plated banana connectors.

I can't believe the amps have no specs. SNR is probably -40dB, Crosstalk probably -30, rated power THD probably 1% @ 1kHz x 1ch driven, FR probably 20Hz-20kHz +/- 3dB.

[KEW]

I can't believe the amps have no specs. SNR is probably -40dB, Crosstalk probably -30, rated power THD probably 1% @ 1kHz x 1ch driven, FR probably 20Hz-20kHz +/- 3dB.

Sorry ADTG, but I have to take exception to your post!
Niles has historically made good rigorous amps with true high current design. I agree that the lack of specs is off-putting, but since some of these new amps are not yet listed on their site, the measurements may not have been made when the press release came out.

Here is a Niles amp spec from Home Theater HiFi:

Niles SI-250 Amplifier; Two channel amplifier; Rated output 125 watts/ch rms into 8 Ohms, 185 watts/ch rms into 4 Ohms, 250 watts/ch rms into 2 Ohms, both channels driven; Bridgeable to 395 watts rms into 8 Ohms; Frequency response 20 Hz - 20 kHz +/- 0.1 dB; THD<0.1%; Turn on modes: audio sense, constant, trigger; Two grounded AC outlets, one switched, one un-switched, 750 watts total; Two RCA jack unbalanced inputs; Two RCA jack cascade outputs (for daisy chaining to other amplifiers); 12 volt trigger output; 30 volt trigger input; Ground lift switch; Two pairs of 3-way binding posts; Size 5"H x 17"W x 15"D; Weight 25 pounds; black aluminum sheet metal chassis; $729; Niles Audio Corporation; P.O. Box 160818, Miami, Florida 33116-0818; Phone 305-238-4373; Fax 305-238-0185.

Product Review -

No spec on cross talk or SNR, but not many sub $1000 amps spec RMS power at 2 ohms, both channels driven!
I have a lowly SI-275 which is rated stable down to 2.67ohms and has always run quiet and cool. No hum, no pops, and no hiss. It has a toroidal transformer and 40,000uF of capacitance. Among inexpensive 75WPC amps it is very robust!
Niles is not a crap company unless they recently became one!

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I agree that the lack of specs is off-putting, but since some of these new amps are not yet listed on their site, the measurements may not have been made when the press release came out.

I was put off by the lack of specs on their website....and the 2 yr warranty.....and I hate their speaker selector.

Other than that, Niles is probably pretty good.

You don't see many guys buying Niles amps though.

I don't see any 3rd party measurements of any of their amps either.

I was going to say their amps look great aesthetically. I like it. I was just disappointed with the lack of specs. Probably premature on my part....probably over did it..... again...

[NorCalJason]

After doing a bit of research on 2ch amps, a lot of these amps appear to be the same basic design. For example:

Sonance 275
ATI AT602
Niles SI 250

All are 2ch, within a few watts at both 8ohm and 4ohm ratings. Each manufacturer rates them both channels driven, and the THD seems to fluctuate with the rating (less THD on the 60 watt model, slightly more on the 75 watt model).

Is it safe to assume they're all made by ATI?

I think so...

[slipperybidness]

After doing a bit of research on 2ch amps, a lot of these amps appear to be the same basic design. For example:

Sonance 275
ATI AT602
Niles SI 250

All are 2ch, within a few watts at both 8ohm and 4ohm ratings. Each manufacturer rates them both channels driven, and the THD seems to fluctuate with the rating (less THD on the 60 watt model, slightly more on the 75 watt model).

Is it safe to assume they're all made by ATI?

I think so...

I could probably find 10 other amps that meet this criteria. Is it safe to assume those would be made by ATI too?

[NorCalJason]

I could probably find 10 other amps that meet this criteria. Is it safe to assume those would be made by ATI too?

Not sure if this is sarcasm.

Take a look at these:

Sonance 275

Power Output
Both CHannels Driven75W RMS per channel @ 8 ohms, 125W RMS per channel @ 4 ohms, 135W per channel @ 2.7 ohmsPower Output (Bridged)(20Hz - 20kHz): 250 watts RMS @ 8 ohms, (1kHz): 270 watts RMS @ 8 ohmsTotal Harmonic Distortion<0.05% (20Hz-20kHz @ 8 ohms), <0.08% (20Hz-20kHz @ 4 ohms), <0.15% (20Hz-20kHz @ 2.7 ohms)Signal-To-Noise Ratio105dB below rated output ("A" weighted)

vs

Niles SI 275

POWER
Fully Discrete, High-Current Stereo Amplifier
2 X 75 Watts RMS/Channel Into 8 Ohms, .05% THD (Both Channels Driven)
2 X 120 Watts RMS/Channel Into 4 Ohms, .08% THD (Both Channels Driven)
Stable Into Low-Impedance Loads (2.66 Ohms)

vs

ATI AT602

2 X 60 Watts RMS/Channel Into 8 Ohms, less than .03%THD (Both Channels Driven)
2 X 90 Watts RMS/Channel Into 4 Ohms, Less than .05% THD (Both Channels Driven)

They're all nearly identical in design, looks, and weight.

AND... all three manufacturers carry the same lines. A approx 75 watt amp above, A approx 120 watt 2 channel amp (sonamp 2120 / ATI AT 1202 / Niles SI-2125), AND a 12 channel "multi zone" amp... All rated the same, consistently, above.

Knowing that OEM is a major part of ATI's business, and how similar all three of these amps are, I think it's reasonable to presume it's all ATI manufactured to the requirements of Niles/Sonance/etc.

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Not sure if this is sarcasm.

Take a look at these:

Sonance 275

Power Output
Both CHannels Driven75W RMS per channel @ 8 ohms, 125W RMS per channel @ 4 ohms, 135W per channel @ 2.7 ohmsPower Output (Bridged)(20Hz - 20kHz): 250 watts RMS @ 8 ohms, (1kHz): 270 watts RMS @ 8 ohmsTotal Harmonic Distortion<0.05% (20Hz-20kHz @ 8 ohms), <0.08% (20Hz-20kHz @ 4 ohms), <0.15% (20Hz-20kHz @ 2.7 ohms)Signal-To-Noise Ratio105dB below rated output ("A" weighted)

vs

Niles SI 275

POWER
Fully Discrete, High-Current Stereo Amplifier
2 X 75 Watts RMS/Channel Into 8 Ohms, .05% THD (Both Channels Driven)
2 X 120 Watts RMS/Channel Into 4 Ohms, .08% THD (Both Channels Driven)
Stable Into Low-Impedance Loads (2.66 Ohms)

vs

ATI AT602

2 X 60 Watts RMS/Channel Into 8 Ohms, less than .03%THD (Both Channels Driven)
2 X 90 Watts RMS/Channel Into 4 Ohms, Less than .05% THD (Both Channels Driven)

They're all nearly identical in design, looks, and weight.

AND... all three manufacturers carry the same lines. A approx 75 watt amp above, A approx 120 watt 2 channel amp (sonamp 2120 / ATI AT 1202 / Niles SI-2125), AND a 12 channel "multi zone" amp... All rated the same, consistently, above.

Knowing that OEM is a major part of ATI's business, and how similar all three of these amps are, I think it's reasonable to presume it's all ATI manufactured to the requirements of Niles/Sonance/etc.

You have a good point.

ATI does make A LOT of OEM amps for so many companies, most cannot be disclosed legally.

If ATI makes Amps for Niles, I'm going to look really bad b/c of my first post.

What is the price difference between these amps? A couple of hundred bucks or a thousand?

However, ATI has fabulous specs on their amps, like SNR of -120dB, crosstalk -100dB, rated RMS power @ 0.03% THD 20Hz-20kHz.

http://www.ati-amp.com/AT6012.php

We don't see these same amazing specs with Niles or Sonance, do we?

[slipperybidness]

You have a good point.

ATI does make A LOT of OEM amps for so many companies, most cannot be disclosed legally.

If ATI makes Amps for Niles, I'm going to look really bad b/c of my first post.

What is the price difference between these amps? A couple of hundred bucks or a thousand?

However, ATI has fabulous specs on their amps, like SNR of -120dB, crosstalk -100dB, rated RMS power @ 0.03% THD 20Hz-20kHz.

We don't see these same amazing specs with Niles or Sonance, do we?

Just curious, is this also the same ATI that makes motherboards, vid cards, etc?

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Just curious, is this also the same ATI that makes motherboards, vid cards, etc?

No. Amplifier Technologies Inc (ATI) has nothing to do with Array Technologies Industry (ATI).