Anthem >> Emotiva MPS-1?

[Josuah]

So, I heard a pair of NuForce Reference 9 monoblocks a week ago. I've always been satisfied with my Emotiva MPS-1, but never super happy. It has an undesirable noise floor, for one.

I'm wondering if anything from the Anthem line would sound better. I'm not really prepared to buy just to try, and not even sure I'd spend the money to do this anytime soon. But I was wondering if anyone had some opinions.

The reason I ask about Anthem is because I want something with enough volume that the price is more based on the quality than shipping volume. Anthem is one of the top-brands in that category. If people have other suggestions that'd be great, but please try to explain why you are suggesting that brand/model.

 

[DonBattles]

So, I heard a pair of NuForce Reference 9 monoblocks a week ago. I've always been satisfied with my Emotiva MPS-1, but never super happy. It has an undesirable noise floor, for one.

I'm wondering if anything from the Anthem line would sound better. I'm not really prepared to buy just to try, and not even sure I'd spend the money to do this anytime soon. But I was wondering if anyone had some opinions.

The reason I ask about Anthem is because I want something with enough volume that the price is more based on the quality than shipping volume. Anthem is one of the top-brands in that category. If people have other suggestions that'd be great, but please try to explain why you are suggesting that brand/model.

Well you could always visit these guys :

CENTURY STEREO
450 EL PASEO DE SARATOGA
SAN JOSE, CA
95130
408-341-1950

 

[Josuah]

I've been there before, but I'd feel a little guilty going in to listen knowing that I wasn't intending to purchase from them. Plus, it would still be hard to compare in their setup. I'm hoping someone might be able to comment in a way that could provide some comparison. Or comparison with other brands.

 

[Warpdrv]

If you seemed to have found joy in a high quality Class D amp, have you taken a look into D-Sonic or Wyred4Sound. The B&O modules that they put in their amps are the same ASP modules they use in Bel Canto and Jeff Rowland mono's and also offer them up in Multichannel HT amps as well...

With Wyred, you're getting a few modifications to the raw ICE modules and some other "tweaks" - it's a subjective thing as to if those mods are worth the price. The raw modules are excellent on their own. Bel Canto and Jeff Rowland doesn't do anything to them so that's good enough for me. D-Sonic adds no modifications and I find my 2000-5 to be fantastic, clean, transparent and extremely powerful. I do have a Wyred4Sound multichannel amp on the way, so I can judge the differences myself, to replace my Rotel 1095 that has always been a great amp for me, just runs too warm in my entertainment console.

http://www.d-sonic.net/
http://www.wyred4sound.com/

Wyred4Sound's parent company makes products for PSAudio as well, so they do have quite a history with IcePower Modules.

 

[DonBattles]

I've been there before, but I'd feel a little guilty going in to listen knowing that I wasn't intending to purchase from them. Plus, it would still be hard to compare in their setup. I'm hoping someone might be able to comment in a way that could provide some comparison. Or comparison with other brands.

Why feel guilty? I was actually there today and we had a 7 to 1 ratio going. I was the only consumer and seven sales people so not like I was keeping someone from making a sale. I went today to have a look and listen to the Integra DHC 9.9. I was very up front and told the sales person I was simply out getting a look and listen to things I've been curious about for a while as was not at all likely to make any purchase today. He was still very tentative with his time and at one point he had a client come back in for a follow up. He, with my blessing, left me in the McIntosh room listening to CD's. We were at the time discussing DAC quality and comparing transistor vs. tube amps. All in all a very nice time and very informative.

 

[Adam]

Sounds like Josuah and Don should head on down to the audio store and hang out with some amps.

BTW, Patrick - stop mentioning the D-Sonic amps!!! I'm going to break down and buy one if I keep reading your posts on them.

 

[Warpdrv]

Sounds like Josuah and Don should head on down to the audio store and hang out with some amps.

BTW, Patrick - stop mentioning the D-Sonic amps!!! I'm going to break down and buy one if I keep reading your posts on them.

Agreed, you guys should take a trip together - I find it inspirational and enlightening to have another persons point of view, corroboration and ideas to add to the joy of audio exploration....

What can I say Adam, I do have a passion for the IcePower amps... they just do everything right by me.... I'll be curious as to whether the Wyred4Sound has anything more to offer then the bliss I receive from the D-Sonic..... It is worth the entrance fee... Knowing that I will never want for another amp is a very peaceful feeling.

 

[Josuah]

I'd looked at the D-Sonic amps before, but was turned off by their web site, product photos, and the lack of information for 4 ohm and 2 ohm. My speakers are 4 ohms, and drop below that sometimes.

Wyred4Sound has looked a little interesting to me. I've only heard good things about them. I thought about the ST-500 stereo for my mains, but I wouldn't be able to pick up their MC5x250 for my surrounds at that price (used maybe). Anyone know what their THD+N is at full power? Let me know what you think when you get them.

Haven't been enamored of Rotel. Heard good things about Bel Canto but I think they're overpriced. And let's just say I have a little bit of a hard time trusting PS Audio because of products like the their cables or accessories.

Maybe I'll stop in Century Stereo again sometime soon. Too busy for anytime in the next couple of weeks.

 

[Warpdrv]

Well I'll be the first to tell you that D-Sonic is a stand up company, I have had mine unit for just about a year now, and I have nothing but praise for them.

Dennis is not a large company but certainly has good communication and stands behind his product. His customer service is top notch. From when I first purchased my order for a multichannel amp (500x3 250x2) there was a little delay as the 250w IceModules were being held up in customs, he straight up offered to change my order into a 500 x 5 amp at no charge to me. How many companies are willing to do that..? I actually told him to just waive the shipping charge instead.

I understand that his website leaves something to be desired, but as a small company I just think he hasn't gotten that far yet. Do know that Dennis from D-Sonic and Ej from Wyred4Sound are friends and communicate all the time and corroborate on designs.

I just wanted to add my single experience so you had a better feeling about D-Sonic.

As far as the 4ohm and 2ohm..... these modules are exactly the same ASP Modules used in Bel Canto's, Red Dragon, H2O Wyred4Sound & Jeff Roland's amps, they are stable down to 2ohms and have a FR below 10hz IIRC.

Also check the tread over at AVS, its a good read... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=855660

These thngs are tanks, here is a post with pics... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13064905#post13064905


Hope that helps.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I've always been satisfied with my Emotiva MPS-1, but never super happy. It has an undesirable noise floor, for one.

I'm wondering if anything from the Anthem line would sound better.

In my experience, Emotiva amps do have higher SNR than some other amps, including Outlaw, Parasound, Sunfire, Anthem, NAD, Bryston, etc.

So I'll bet any Anthem amp will have lower SNR than the Emotiva amps. However, you'll be paying a lot more too.

The Outlaw MCH amps have a lot better SNR than Emotiva, but I don't think the Outlaw amps look very sexy.

 

[Josuah]

Warpdrv, that's very good information so thanks for that. Puts D-Sonic, as well as Jeff Rowland, in a new light for me.

Any idea if any of these are fully balanced designs?

 

[Warpdrv]

Personally I wouldn't look any further then the D-Sonic, as the prices are far better..... here is a great example that I found.....
Look closely and see how much difference you can see between the two units, basically they are the same except for external connections outside of the B&O Ice Module. Is the Bel Canto or the Jeff Rolands units really worth an extra $1000.00? for the exact same thing. Different wrapper for the same piece of gum....



Bel Canto ref1000

D-Sonic 500M

 

[Warpdrv]

Here is a picture of the Multichannel amp innards...

They may not be the sexiest looking amp but they are very well constructed and def got it where it counts....

 

[Josuah]

Well, it looks like there might be some difference between the D-Sonic and Wyred 4 Sound amps. Plus, I'm somewhat interested in the difference between those and the NuForce.

Still wondering though if any of these designs are fully balanced.

Edit: I see now that the Wyred 4 Sound ones may be fully balanced. At least the MINI MC ones are listed as such.

 

[Warpdrv]

Well, it looks like there might be some difference between the D-Sonic and Wyred 4 Sound amps. Plus, I'm somewhat interested in the difference between those and the NuForce.

Still wondering though if any of these designs are fully balanced.

Edit: I see now that the Wyred 4 Sound ones may be fully balanced. At least the MINI MC ones are listed as such.

Read here on the B&O site describing the ASP modules Josuah.....
http://www.icepower.bang-olufsen.com/en/solutions/speaker/ASP_SERIES

All these companies just add the "Turnkey" module to a case and make the connections to whats already in the design of the module.

Balanced input and output
Soft start-up and mute/de-mute
Under-voltage protection
Stand-by mode
Comprehensive protection scheme (thermal, over-current, high-frequency)
DC-Bus output for driving additional amplifier channels (ICEpower A Series) and auxiliary circuits, i.e. preamplifiers, crossover networks, etc.
Compact and rigid mechanical package that tolerates up to 70G shocks in all directions

The ASP Series modules represent a turn-key approach to product development for assuring the shortest time-to-market for your end products. The ICEpower modules are:

* Pre-approved for Safety,
* Pre-approved for EMC,
* RoHS compliant.

 

[Josuah]

Yeah, I get that. But I read somewhere that Wyred 4 Sound changed the input impedances to 61K or something, instead of a lower value found on the D-Sonics. That's a good thing.

 

[Warpdrv]

Yes they did make some modifications, they are listed on the AVSforum thread. I should be getting my Wyred4Sound 3x500 4x250 MC7 amp in a week or 2, I guess we'll see how much those differences weigh in....

Good luck on your hunt...

 

[chjo100]

I went through a similiar situation with the xpa-2/xpa-5. I loved the dynamics and thought the sound was excellent but the noise floor (may have been specific to my unit) bothered me. I purchased a wyred 4 sound 7 channel amp, and couldn't be happier.

 

[Josuah]

I went through a similiar situation with the xpa-2/xpa-5. I loved the dynamics and thought the sound was excellent but the noise floor (may have been specific to my unit) bothered me. I purchased a wyred 4 sound 7 channel amp, and couldn't be happier.

Thanks for the info. Which amp did you purchase? They seem to have a new MINI MC amp. I'm not entirely clear on what the difference is between their MINI MC amps and the original ones.

 

[chjo100]

I got the multi channel amp with 250x3 and 125x4. It runs cool, provides more than enough power, and fits in my audio rack just perfectly. I will note that the xpa-2 had really great sound. Very dynamic and emotionally engaging. However, my particular unit seemed to cause some noise when music was not playing, which is absent with the W4S amp. I'm not familiar with the difference with the mini-mc amp. My guess is that it probably uses the less powerful asc modules, where the 250 watt and above in the multi channel amp uses the asp modules.