Ah, nCore. Bel Canto said amps noise level dropped by 10 dB when they switched from ICE to nCore in their refence line amplifiers.
He reviewed the BHK 300’s When they were introduced. I think a comparison to the BHK 300’s would of done more justice for most of forum members than the DartZeel and Boulder amps. Like others have stated Why compare $6k amps to 6 figure amps?
1 Like
I think Bel Canto were one of the companies that licensed versions of the NC1200 and its power supply from Hypex, long before they were available off the shelf. Because they were pretty exclusive and only available to a few companies, they were very expensive. They were also used by Putzeys in the Mola Mola Kalua, which is still pretty much state of the art 7 years later, as Putzeys has always been light years ahead of almost everyone else. They are about $8,000 on the used market - a pretty good deal if you need that much power.
Yeah, nCore took a while! Been familiar with the brand since 2010 when I bought a Resolution Audio integrated utilizing both Hypex UcD technology and some DNM technology.
Strangely, Bel Canto mentioned the availability of ICE as their reason for the move to trickle down nCore from their Black series to their Reference series.
Let’s get real about this: Steven - Agent of ASR!
What’s ASR?
Linking him to the clowns at ASR is probably an insult to them.
3 Likes
I’d forgotten about them.
Stereophile measures stuff and the main reviewer usually explains how the measurements relate to listening assessment. I find this very informative, especially as some measurements are important (e.g. measured power output) and others largely irrelevant (Class D distortion). Fremer doesn’t seem to bother, don’t recall him referring to the measurements at all.
That’s a little bit low.
I’ve always felt good measurements are the foundation, but not the endpoint of a good product.
Given the choice of taking to a desert island a dictionary or the complete works of Dickens, it would be Dickens 100% of the time. I’ve no doubt the measurement folk at ASR would take the dictionary.
With most Class D amps is not really an issue given it’s well known they generally measure well.
My statement that follows “Let’s get real” is every bit as informed and true as yours was.
I’m must admit I fail to understand many of your comments, including this one. I joined ASR ages ago because they were having a bash on Harbeth. My post was deleted and I was banned the same day. So I doubt I’m their agent.
My interest in good measurements go back to the late 1970s when I first subscribed to Gramophone. The audio section was always edited and written by experienced engineers and when I first bought hifi audible distortion was a critical issue, especially when on a tight budget. The best amps I had in those days were 20w solid state pure Class A, measured very well sounded great, but were a massive fire risk. A long way from 600w Class D that run cold.
“That’s a little bit low.”
Seriously? Do you ever take the time to read over what you type in with regard to its tone, civility and a general sense of propriety before hitting the “reply” button?
If @badbeef’s comment is “…a little bit low” in your opinion, how would you characterize this statement?:
“Let’s get real about this. Fremer is Paul’s personal friend of 40 years so there is a major conflict of interest. I also find Fremer’s writing style atrocious.”
EVERYONE, on this forum should be free to express their opinions and editorialize at will (ad hominem***** attacks aside), including you and @badbeef. (I hate the flagging and banning that often occurs here and in other fora because the idea that someone’s “bad speech” should be censored in the marketplace of ideas, offends me me more than the speech I find objectionable. Better to leave it for all to see and let other ideas be poured forth in an attempt to douse that which folks might find offensive or disagreeable. SPAM though…that’s a whole other thing…ban away.)
You are entitled to you opinion and your perspective. And, I often appreciate what you post. However, IMO, your posts too often are overly critical in a personal way. Frankly, BB’s retort violates my own sense of editorial civility (as much as yours did), but I am surprised you took umbrage with it given the personal animosity that often (it seems to me) accompanies your commentary.
Climbing down off of my soap box now…
*****Ad hominem (Latin for ‘to the person’), short for argumentum ad hominem , is a term that refers to several types of arguments, most of which are fallacious. Typically this term refers to a rhetorical strategy where the speaker attacks the character, motive, or some other attribute of the person making an argument rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself.
2 Likes
is the definition of our current administration’s outlook on life in general. 
5 Likes
Point taken. However, in my opinion (and I said it was my opinion) Fremer’s review is atrociously written. You only have to flick a few pages and read the review of the Cambridge Audio CXA81. Forget the product, the review is clear, informative, unambiguous - it really is superbly done.
The fact that Paul and Fremer have been friends for 40 years (Paul said so last week) is highly relevant. You just can’t assume any objectivity. I posted a link to a negative review Fremer gave to a Class D amp some years ago. Would Fremer have posted a negative M1200 review? Never. According to someone here who knows better, if it had turned out to have been a dog the review would simply have been dropped.
I’m sure the M1200 are good amps, it would be nice to read an objective review. Maybe somewhere else.
p.s. You could accuse me of being naive and my be more on the mark. Is this how the audio industry works? You just get your mates to do your PR in reviews? I mentioned recently I know of a product that was reviewed by the person after shown it appears to have been named. I know both individuals and they are log-term friends and both delightful people. Doesn’t make it right.
Understood, and I appreciated your “measured response”.
Really not trying to be, or come off as, condescending… 
“Why are there no negative reviews?” is a whole other can of worms. Suffice it to say that my opinion is that anything less that “good” is simply not reviewed or published for a host of financial, practical and legal reasons. Besides, why waste the space?
One thing I suspect you and I can absolutely agree on is that I find all reviews that fail to put a product in context with at least one of its market peers leave me wanting.
Regards,
Scott
Yes, I can certainly agree with that, as is the case with the CXA81 review. Comparable products listed in the very first column inch.
I read reviews to find out about a product. I don’t care for the reviewer’s personal opinion. Some reviewers just review the product and don’t include a subjective opinion. Fremer just doesn’t seem to cover the basics.
On reflection, and I do reflect, I feel sorry for Paul. Daren’s previous product, the phono-amp had an excellent independent review in the UK, which I suspect boosted sales. That’s what you want. If the review had more input from Daren about what the design objective was, how he went about doing it, what you are getting for $6,000, and why it’s a worthwhile product, then PS Audio might have cause to celebrate. Instead, he just plugs it into his zillion dollar system with 91db speakers and rambles on about his record collection.
The irony is that I’m going to listen to some Wilson’s this weekend. I have some Focal Diablo at home on demo, but they need a bit more power to go 100% and going dual mono with my stereo Devialet (which would then be 1,000w into 6 ohms) is expensive. The thinking is Wilson just don’t need much power, plus the wife likes them.
His name is Darren! Is it not time for you to do some work, make a living, instead of talking CRAP.
6 Likes
While I like Stevens writings at times and different angles he brings to discussions, i cant help but to notice that as earlier also mentioned,there is always some sort of bashing of PS Audio. I wonder why that is.
If I were Paul I would require anyone writing on this forum to own at least one PS Audio product. To keep sharks at bay.
1 Like
Agree that reviewing these amps with a Wilson Alexx speaker is nonsensical. That is a combination that will ever exist in precisely zero real-world systems, so what is the point? Review them with $5-10k speakers, and preferably across several. Same with comparisons to other similarly priced amps. Especially needed when PSA not available in US dealerships so that consumers cannot make such comparisons themselves. Oh well. It’s not PSA’s fault that Stereophile chose to do the review that way.