The Yamaha extends the decay of notes so that in complex passages there seems a halo in and around the music. The Hypex Nilai is clean and agile, yet also seems to have more body in the vocals. Which is more natural is arguable.
I could live with either, but I do feel the Hypex Nilai is the winner by a small margin in my opinion. The Yamaha has a slight graininess to the music and the Nilai is very clear and natural.
Out of curiosity I purchased & put together the Hypex Nilai DIY500 about 3 weeks ago. My opinion is that for the $1300 US i paid this amp is a ridiculous value. Whatever negative remarks people say about whatever Class D they listened to in the past this Nilai amp doesnt have it. Just forget about the whole Class topology and listen. Hook it up & at the end of the week ask yourself what more do i really need? Maybe the Mono Blocks was the only thing i could think of even though i dont need them..or maybe a nicer preamp. Anyway, I'm not trying to hype anything up..i just think if you are trying to put something good together you can't do better for the money & then some. My subjective opinion anyway. The better your equipment is the better this amp will sound to you 🤷
Great comparison! I was impressed with the warmth of the Hypex initially, but the Yamaha has more detail. I thought the female voice was better on the Yamaha. Guitar was good on the Hypex.
As of today, Yamaha A-S2200 cost $4500, while the Nilai500DIY stereo kit cost $1400 and also pumped out TWICE the power, the choice between the two is no a brainer.
@@TheAlphaAudio the Nilai also seems to be more detail, with midrange a bit more pronounced and forward, clearly for sure, it's a lot more transparent and clean without any coloration, very clean power.
it's simply astonishing how a class D DIY amp could sound, compared to a wonderful piece like AS 2200. Have to admit, I prefer the Hypex here, Yamaha is a bit too much coloured in the high frequencies and loose a bit of control in the mid-bass range. Of course nothing one can't live with, but nonetheless impressive fight, thanks so much! :)
Indeed … I am using bi-amping combo of Purifi Eigentakt and Hypex nCore NC502MP power amps for perfect sound reproduction with virtually unlimited headroom. Pair of my Quads 909s that I used before, were great too, but these guys are just stunning. DAC is SMSL SU-9n and preamp is Benchmark LA4.
@@milosdunjic8718 pozdrav druže, jel si iz Srb? Naišao sam ovde na tvoj komentar a baš gledam da menjam mog Unisona za nešto od ovih pojačala d klase a ne znam nikog ko ih ima...pa sam mislio da stupimo u kontakt da mi kažeš utiske...hvala, Dušan
Outstanding video comparison and editing! Very impressive work and I thank you for your efforts. Both amps sound very nice, however I think the Yamaha has the edge, a bit more dulcet, deeper bass and melliflous mid bass.
After many Class D and A-B comparisons, and tubes, I can affirm that : Well-built class D amplifiers can be marvellous, especially on speakers that aren't too analytical, or even with an output that isn't too high. On the other hand, class A, A-B and tube amplifiers are better suited to horn speakers, especially those with high output, offering a lighter listening experience, whereas class D can become a little aggressive after long listening sessions. It's also important to know what kind of music you prefer, as this too can make or break your choice of amp. And don't ever rely on technical specifications in figures, because that's really the last point on which the listening experience depends.
Both excellent. Hypex is more anylitical which I prefer to be honest. Yamaha would certainly be a great pairing for a slightly cool sounding speaker though, and Hypex for a more warm sounding speaker. Class D just has that edge with upper frequency detail, and god it's come a long way. Been using a Crown XLS since my beloved amplifier died suddenly and haven't found anything to change it with yet in 3 year's. Looking at the monoblocks of these, or a Technics SU-G700M2, the Hypex seem like the way forward, paired with RME ADI2 Dac as a preamp, the RME even has parametric EQ, so you can tailor the sound as desired, win win.
Listening through my Fiio M 11 pro with Final B3 iem the difference is noticeable. I can hear a distinctive class D sound in the positive way. But o can hear also a obviously class AB sound in also a positive way. No amp is " better " than the other ,like the same concert in different concert hall's. What I like the most ? Don't know, depends on the whiskey, the friends and the hormonal state of my wife at that time.
I can't believe there aren't more reviews of the Nilai out there. I got the stereo version, and once I heard it immediately bought the mono block version. These are stunning amplifiers.
@@TheEchelon Maybe slightly better soundstaging from the mono blocks from having separate power supplies, but that's it. For my Focal Sopra 2, either the stereo or mono are fantastic.
I have just bought and built the Nilai500DIY mono blocks … they are incredible. Like you, I’m surprised there aren’t more reviews. I doubt there is anything better in the price range (and somewhat higher)
I purchased the Stereo DIY to see what the fuss was about. I don't believe there is a better performing amp anywhere near it's price. I understand that's a bold & subjective statement but the amp has qualities that would normally cost much more. The top end (& bottom) is good & nothing dry or analytical about this class D amp. My opinion would be to just buy a Nilai & and put the savings you would have otherwise spent on a more expensive amp towards some other piece of gear.
I'm not listening with a very good system right now, but my first impression is that you've squeezed the Yamaha into a narrow space and you're listening from there. When you switch to Hypex, it relaxes and seems to exceed its limits.
After hearing a few class d amps at the local hifi show the other day...all i can say id that they have become extremely good and they are here to stay. I think my future upgrade will be the hypex pre-power combo
They were close together until the last song. But with the last track, wow definitely more punch and grip with the Hypex amp. For me, that's a class difference and that's with the price difference. I'd like to have a comparison with the Icepower 2000AS2 HV. Thanks for the test!
For the first time I hear no difference between class D and class AB! In my previous comparison listening tests I could almost always hear the difference in class D and AB and I always favored the class AB, it was simply smoother warmer and more musical, in this situation I'm just amazed. Finally getting closer to owning a class D amp! Thank you for the video, and thank you Bruno!
I prefer the nilai500 as the sounds is not congested, also more relax in the high treble. The Yamaha seems to have the sound concentrated to the center therefore I hear more congested than nilai500. Yamaha also seems to be fatigue but not the nilai500. Nilai500 has bass hit harder than Yamaha. This is one of the videos that makes me decide to purchase nilai500.
I can't believe how nuanced, rich, balanced and controlled the Nilai comes across here. The Yamaha is pretty spectacular, but the Nilai is way more natural, with better transient information and overall presence. Honestly, even through this platform you can here clear differences between the two. Of course, still taking into account the level of the associated equipment,, but that Nilai is presenting with attributes found in amps many, many times more expensive. I need to get one, period.
The bass of the Yamaha has this bloom that kind of lingers a little longer and seems to fill the room more. But the Hypex has a fast and clean bass that doesn't fill the room with blooming sound. More than likely the Hypex has a higher damping factor. I preffer the clean puchy fast and not lingering bass.
Modern class D amplifiers do indeed have a ridiculously high damping factor. The several years old NC502MP module (2x500W, with integrated PSU) for example has an output impedance of 1 mOhm under 1kHz. At an 8 Ohm load, that's a damping factor of 8000. 😂 That's where the very noticeable bass control comes from. It's so much, for many people, who are used to "slower", much less dampening amplifiers, the bass sounds "dry" and "less round". Because it is. Precision and good control of the speakers means less mud, which can be perceived as "less" overall.
Intriguing comparison . Via the RUclips feed (which is restricted in sound quality) there appears little between the two . The Yamaha has a tad more detail and finesse, but not markedly so . With the availability of a mono block Nilai (the same power supply with a single amplification board) there must be room for further improvement in sound quality . I am assuming both the Nilai pre and power amps were constructed as per the instructions . Simple modifications like adding damping material as the DIY construction went along would further increase sound quality . Both cases sounded a bit rattly . As for the preamp - how about going down the route as one option of more single ended inputs (another 2 pairs), a home theatre by-pass, sub-woofer output and another balanced input rather than adding a DAC as most considering a quality pre-amp will have an adequate DAC anyway or likely to add a quality separate one . Same applies to a disc stage .
Having heard the more recent Nilai vs Pass power amp comparisons as part of your group speaker test (which was great btw), both using your Pass pre-amp IIRC, it would seem the Nilai pre-amp in this test vs the Yamaha may have been a limiting factor. I finished assembling my Nilai last night. Will try with my Athena pre today incl vs my LFD class A/B Mosfet amp. Can't wait and thanks again for the reviews and recommendations team Alpha 😊
@@eliagiacomini4466 The Nilai is very good for class D - the usual attributes of great speed, bass impact and control, effortless power but also a pretty refined midrange. The LFD a liltle smoother and more body, but less resolving, a lot less power. Some tweaks re internal shielding of components using coppper and graphite foil helped add a little more refinement, less glare, as well as vibration damping. I’ve since had to go to a Pass Labs XA25 power amp to get the best of both worlds, retain the resolution and dynamic scale, but adding a bit more richness in the midrange, a bit more texture.
Nilai goes dyper. Better clarity and inteligability goes to the as2200. With the right dac- filter and by adding a paire of Rel sub, the Yammy became superb
could you try which dac and preamp or dac preamp combo(up to similar price) match with hypex nilai and jbl 1600? starting from wiim ultra, shiit freya plus or kara, cambridge exn100, bluesound icon etc British audiophile says that its very dificult to get right preamp from different manufacturer, and some say that preamp make bigger impact on speaker paring than amp itself. would be nice if you build fully working system(exchanging nilai preamp because nilai amp with nilai preamp its around 2500 pounds, and here in uk yamaha as2200 time after time goes on sale for around 3000 pound)thanks .
If Yamaha is 100% then Hypex+Nilai is 95%. I hear a difference without looking at the info on a screen, and when I like how it sounds I switch the browser tab. Each time Yamaha plays at that moment. Its sound is fuller, tonally more attractive.
I felt the differences were audible. Deeper with more authority on Yamaha. Speed, attack, & dynamics on Nilai. I preferred the male voice of Nilai..female was a toss up. Better on Yamaha at certain times. Yamaha seemed slower and a tad compressed in comparison when things got busy. 2nd track with all instruments going strong I was super impressed with hypex. That Yamaha is a well regarded amplifier.
There is a very audible difference in many regards if you know what to listen for. Without letting preference or bias intervene I am wondering: Do the measurements of both amps on paper differ as much as is audible? Perceptually there a big shift in how all elements in the music relate to each other, spacially and frequency perception wise, perhaps also timing? But I am sure both measure within tens of a percent of each other in frequency response as well as distortion. Which would mean we still don't measure all the needed parameters to accurately define an amps characteristics or really minute differences are very very audible. I would love to see such a comparison with for example a c298 or m23 and the pass labs - (I have seen the live stream but I love these more direct a/b switches tests). thank you for the excellent tests again!
Well … “knowing what to listen to” is probably the biggest snake oil hifi salesman argument imo. After close to 40 yrs of very passionate denial and resistance of class D designs, and being an owner of pair of amazing Quad 909 power amps, I can say that my latest Purifi and Hypex nCore nc502mp based amps sound as good, if not even better, plus they are effortless, brutally honest and provide loads of power and headroom. You can’t go wrong with Purifi, nCore being 2nd best … not sure about ICEPower class D though. My two cents
@@milosdunjic8718 Knowing what to listen can be that but it can also mean knowing which characteristics you value. Sometimes perfection can become really boring. I had the c298 eigentakt in home and while it was in certain aspects technically better than my accuphase e650, I didn't enjoy it as much. While my accuphase is great and it fits my taste, it's certainly not the perfect piece of equipment. I do admit that I like my sound objectively imperfect - adjusted to my taste. Just as i can enjoy the imperfections of analog photography over digital perfection. I can tune my digital images to be as technically imperfect as I want though. I would like to do that with my audio setup, have a perfect (class d) power amp amplifying a - to my tastes suited imperfect pre-amp or digital dsp-ed input chain. I'm really looking forward to try a nilai out. I believe class d will be / already is the future.
Both are pretty good but the Hypex is more neutral, effortless, transparent and like a window to the music. I'm running the Hypex Nilai now at home and it sounds a bit like my High End Van der Veen KT88 tube amp which has that same transparency and flow. Like the tube amp a little bit better still though 😊 But this makes it even more clear that it's not at all about which class but all about implementation!
sounds like the yamaha is a bit more "in you face" but more musical while the nilai takes a step back with a more smooth presentation. my ears would prefer the nilai but i understand why some would go for the yamaha, some nice gear for sure!
I've got an AS-2100 and thinking of buying another amp for the kitchen and a pair of LS50. Should I go with the 2100 or class D? Is there a big difference between the 2100 and 2200?
Thank you for this. Now I can use the best of worlds with my Cambridge CXA-61 (class A/B) as preamp to the Hypex Nilia power amp and get great sound, stage and transparency.
Song "Bert":-- Yamaha has the body in the music(but nilai is not too far), however misses out on the minute detailing in the music, however Nilai manages to put out the detailing...but for the price difference i will opt for HYPEX Nilai over Yamaha..
Nilai has better balance, control and timing. Yamaha sounds fuller in vocals. Feels a bit more in the front as well. But that fullness isn't there in instruments, or back sounds. Actually I felt Yamaha suits more to the speakers, more enjoyable, slightly more dynamic but Nilai sounds more effortless, balanced and relaxed. I'd choose Nilai
Both are good but the Yamaha smears the sound which makes it sounded fuller. Some people might like that, but it's just less precise and clean compared to the Hypex. That one wasn't fazed by anything no matter how complex the music is.
@@TheAlphaAudio the Nilai is such a great find. What an amazing channel you have. Very useful. Something that would be great is a test of the Genelec 8361, coaxial active speakers with room correction and integrated DAC
Hypex has a fuller less analytical sound. You can feel the sound jumping from just above the heart to just below the ears when it changes to to Yamaha. I wonder how much of that is the pre-amp and how much the power amp.
Excellent comparaison, you gotta have a really good pair of headphones to ear a difference, what about a comparaison between the Hypex Nilai and the Purifi eval1 1ET400A??
What is considered as good headphones? I couldn't tell any difference with my Denon AH-D9200, original 3m cable, Antelope Orion Studio Synergy Core (Studio Interface) headphone out, Neotech 1020 NEUB USB Cable, Ifi purifier 3 usb Cleaner, Nuprime SW8 modded 19A version, cat 8.1 cables, Nuprime PSU to SW8, Edgerouter-x, Power connected to PS AUdio Dectet. And i mostly can hear differences between gear when i do it with my speakers. But this time nothing is different, but i have tinnitus, and one ear is a bit worse on hearing tests also hearing, that can make these youtube comparisons a bit harder for me to notice. But i should have heard just tiny bit of difference anyway, but not this time. I will resliten some day later this weekend, and like training my ears up again, so my brain adapts to what i really hear. I really believe that the difference is there, and not because so many comments say that, class A/B should really sound a bit different than D.
The most obvious difference can be heard, in my opinion at the switch right after 8:14. The bass has a pluck that we can hear right at the beginning of the note, then there's the extension, so 2 different bass types. When switching to Yamaha, the pluck is no longer clearly differentiated, there is a lack of articulation in the bass area, bass sounds muddy and longer than it should be. There are other differences but this one can be heard even by an untrained ear. If the bass is muddy on the recording, I can only imagine what the difference in real life is... Even so, there are people who prefer this type of long, slow, bloated sound...gives some sort of warmth to music, makes it easier to listen to.
I hear more detail and nuances in the Yamaha. The sound is more "live" like. The Nilai has a bit more weight and warm. Both sound wonderful, but the Yamaha wins for me.
Vraagje , de hypex komt ongeveer op het zelfde bedrag uit als de naim xs 3 , waar zou u voorkeur naar uitgaan , ik snap wel geluid is persoonlijk , wat is u voorkeur.
Ik zal proberen iets duidelijker te zijn , ik had de Denon 1600ne , die heeft een bas , niet leuk meer , ik heb seas odin combi seas bas gedeelte trym speakers, klinkt goed , er zit super veel bas in met de denon , wordt rommelig , ik heb 3000 euro om wat anders te kopen , welke amp heeft een mooie bas controlle , ik hoor het graag van u
@@TheAlphaAudio oké dat gevoel had ik ook al , ik snap alleen niks van die 3pins aansluitingen , ik zie meerdere aansluitingen op de hypex amp , maar het zegt me niks , en op de eind versterker zie ik er maar 2 , vind was makkelijker 😀
Почти не отличить вернее очень трудно отличить , что тут говорить на выходе транзисторы этим все сказано , тест ловля блох , хайпекс нилай хорошо играет ! Но в целом на более живых треках хайпекс конечно лучше !
Hypex: Cleaner but leaner. AS2200: Bolder, slightly narrower soundstage (might be because of separation not being as clean). I had the NAD M10 (hypex) in my system. Amazing with electronic music and pop to some extent. But vocal based music and rock/metal leave a bit to be desired. Rock/Metal doesn't have as much body. And vocals just sound a bit lean. Overall, still a fantastic amp, especially for all in one. Since I mostly listen to rock, I switched to an Anthem receiver and everything sounded much more natural to my ears, and bolder for sure. It was missing a bit of clarity, especially in the upper frequency. Some people will prefer one to another, depending on their music choice. I also noticed that my previous 50wpc yamaha was much more powerful than 100wpc NAD. For me personally, I would rather go with a lower wattage class A, A/B amp, rather than 150wpc class D.
Ik ben al jaren een trouwe fan van jullie en mis geen video, ook dit vergelijk is weer perfect gedaan 👍🏻 Ooit was ik zelf een trotse eigenaar van een Yamaha C4/M4 combi, maar toen ik ze verkocht was dat om dezelfde reden als dat ik tegenwoordig geen fan meer ben van Yamaha. Alle reviews van de huidige Yamaha modellen zijn lovend, maar voor mij zit er geen “soul” in die machines, op het steriele af. Er zit geen ruimte in de muziek en de instrumenten krijgen geen lucht. Ik heb telkens de neiging om hem zachter te zetten. Dat is voor mijn oren ook het verschil met de Hypex, daar ademt de muziek meer, daardoor is er meer beleving, meer “soul” en is het prettiger om te beluisteren. Maar zoals altijd, over smaak valt niet te twisten ☺️
Yes, Hypex is something better than Yamaha A-S2200 Question Hypex Pre: attenuator, without gain. Nail500: low, medium or high gain? H2 After seeing your measurements, at 1 watts and 50 watts: H3 > H2.
Amir at Hypex Nilai500DIY Amplifier Review: [ Edit: in the original review I had the top open so I could change the gain settings. Alas, it turns out that doing so allowed some noise pick up around 10 kHz. I re-tested with the lid closed and that issue went away. As a results, we have slightly better performance especially in high-gain. ]
The Nilai is the technically better amp. Higher resolution. Better focus. Wider stage. Blacker background. Better control. And it's musically boring - I couldn't live with it. So, I'll have to take the Yammy.
Prefer the Yamaha over time, the Hypex sounds a bit sterile (although very clear ) in the timbre after a while although on first listen I preferred the Hypex
To me we can perceive the difference with human voice. Yamaha has depth. Class D are truncated , Yamaha sounds more natural. Again human voice is the key !!!! At ruclips.net/video/dkUgStoRzvs/видео.html
Let's see how long the Hypex keeps working, I found out Class D like to eat through electrolytics because of high frequency switching and are an absolute pita to recap the multi layer lead free boards. Considering some choose the Yamaha (which to me is a mid range amp) and we're comparing it to one of the best D offerings, I'd say Class D is not there yet, and probably never be....because it's too clean! Our ears don't like a ruler flat, ultra low distortion sound, because it's dead and sterile. It's the clever use of harmonics that makes something sound full and pleasant. For example, Nelson Pass knows that. Why do you think people tinker with various input buffers in Class D amps? Because they need the added distortion to soften up the sound to pleasant levels. It would be interesting to hear the Nilai with a heavily colored tube preamp like Conrad Johnson. I also don't understand their fetish for switch mode PSU's, except it's just cheaper to manufacture to keep the profit margin high. A linear PSU will always remain the more robust and longer lasting optin.
The class A/B Yamaha is superior in every aspect! The sharpness of the class D is still there. Many people confuse it with clearer, more distinct sound, better resolution and etc. The lack of dept is also oftenly confused with better bass control, texture and etc. Unfortunately, the music on the class D is more lifeless and usually becomes fatiguing in time, unless you have very refined speakers. It is a good option if you are looking for a budget solution, but not as an alternative to amplifiers like this Yamaha, Denon PMA-1700ne and Marantz Model 40n. Suppose that this is the reason why Marantz Model 40n is class A/B again. Unlike the Model 30.
the yamaha sounded distorted compared to the Nilai,...any body who thinks the yamaha sounded better is biased ..no pun intended. the difference is so noticable
![Lil Uzi Vert - Chill Bae [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/D7F42F_JM3U/mqdefault.jpg)
The Yamaha extends the decay of notes so that in complex passages there seems a halo in and around the music.
The Hypex Nilai is clean and agile, yet also seems to have more body in the vocals.
Which is more natural is arguable.
I heard otherwise, Yamaha has more body and natural sounding.
I could live with either, but I do feel the Hypex Nilai is the winner by a small margin in my opinion. The Yamaha has a slight graininess to the music and the Nilai is very clear and natural.
Impressive video. Excellent work with the level matching. Both are so good. Going to build that Hypex amp for my tube pre.
What’s your pre?
Primuluna is my current preferred pre amp. @@alexg4284
Did you build them and what do you think? What did you have before and what are your other components?
Out of curiosity I purchased & put together the Hypex Nilai DIY500 about 3 weeks ago. My opinion is that for the $1300 US i paid this amp is a ridiculous value. Whatever negative remarks people say about whatever Class D they listened to in the past this Nilai amp doesnt have it. Just forget about the whole Class topology and listen. Hook it up & at the end of the week ask yourself what more do i really need? Maybe the Mono Blocks was the only thing i could think of even though i dont need them..or maybe a nicer preamp. Anyway, I'm not trying to hype anything up..i just think if you are trying to put something good together you can't do better for the money & then some. My subjective opinion anyway. The better your equipment is the better this amp will sound to you 🤷
Great comparison! I was impressed with the warmth of the Hypex initially, but the Yamaha has more detail. I thought the female voice was better on the Yamaha. Guitar was good on the Hypex.
As of today, Yamaha A-S2200 cost $4500, while the Nilai500DIY stereo kit cost $1400 and also pumped out TWICE the power, the choice between the two is no a brainer.
Indeed. But the amount of power is irrelevant. Its the quality of the power.
@@TheAlphaAudio the Nilai also seems to be more detail, with midrange a bit more pronounced and forward, clearly for sure, it's a lot more transparent and clean without any coloration, very clean power.
The Yamaha is a integrated which includes a preamplifier, so it is not completely fair...
Power is has no bearing on this comparison since they can bith drive the speaker easily.
@@TheAlphaAudioYamaha has indeed a better choice.
it's simply astonishing how a class D DIY amp could sound, compared to a wonderful piece like AS 2200. Have to admit, I prefer the Hypex here, Yamaha is a bit too much coloured in the high frequencies and loose a bit of control in the mid-bass range. Of course nothing one can't live with, but nonetheless impressive fight, thanks so much! :)
Indeed … I am using bi-amping combo of Purifi Eigentakt and Hypex nCore NC502MP power amps for perfect sound reproduction with virtually unlimited headroom. Pair of my Quads 909s that I used before, were great too, but these guys are just stunning. DAC is SMSL SU-9n and preamp is Benchmark LA4.
@@milosdunjic8718 pozdrav druže, jel si iz Srb? Naišao sam ovde na tvoj komentar a baš gledam da menjam mog Unisona za nešto od ovih pojačala d klase a ne znam nikog ko ih ima...pa sam mislio da stupimo u kontakt da mi kažeš utiske...hvala, Dušan
@@milosdunjic8718 And the speakers are?
What a fantastic test! Thank you so much
Outstanding video comparison and editing! Very impressive work and I thank you for your efforts.
Both amps sound very nice, however I think the Yamaha has the edge, a bit more dulcet, deeper bass and melliflous mid bass.
put down the thesaurus
@@Smood47 😂
Err no not what I hear via headphones Bass is better controlled and deeper with Hypex but its still small differncies not night and day..
After many Class D and A-B comparisons, and tubes, I can affirm that :
Well-built class D amplifiers can be marvellous, especially on speakers that aren't too analytical, or even with an output that isn't too high.
On the other hand, class A, A-B and tube amplifiers are better suited to horn speakers, especially those with high output, offering a lighter listening experience, whereas class D can become a little aggressive after long listening sessions.
It's also important to know what kind of music you prefer, as this too can make or break your choice of amp. And don't ever rely on technical specifications in figures, because that's really the last point on which the listening experience depends.
Both excellent. Hypex is more anylitical which I prefer to be honest.
Yamaha would certainly be a great pairing for a slightly cool sounding speaker though, and Hypex for a more warm sounding speaker.
Class D just has that edge with upper frequency detail, and god it's come a long way. Been using a Crown XLS since my beloved amplifier died suddenly and haven't found anything to change it with yet in 3 year's.
Looking at the monoblocks of these, or a Technics SU-G700M2, the Hypex seem like the way forward, paired with RME ADI2 Dac as a preamp, the RME even has parametric EQ, so you can tailor the sound as desired, win win.
Listening through my Fiio M 11 pro with Final B3 iem the difference is noticeable. I can hear a distinctive class D sound in the positive way. But o can hear also a obviously class AB sound in also a positive way.
No amp is " better " than the other ,like the same concert in different concert hall's.
What I like the most ? Don't know, depends on the whiskey, the friends and the hormonal state of my wife at that time.
I can't believe there aren't more reviews of the Nilai out there. I got the stereo version, and once I heard it immediately bought the mono block version. These are stunning amplifiers.
Yes they are!
Any noticeable difference between the stereo and monoblock versions?
@@TheEchelon Maybe slightly better soundstaging from the mono blocks from having separate power supplies, but that's it. For my Focal Sopra 2, either the stereo or mono are fantastic.
I have just bought and built the Nilai500DIY mono blocks … they are incredible. Like you, I’m surprised there aren’t more reviews. I doubt there is anything better in the price range (and somewhat higher)
I purchased the Stereo DIY to see what the fuss was about. I don't believe there is a better performing amp anywhere near it's price. I understand that's a bold & subjective statement but the amp has qualities that would normally cost much more. The top end (& bottom) is good & nothing dry or analytical about this class D amp. My opinion would be to just buy a Nilai & and put the savings you would have otherwise spent on a more expensive amp towards some other piece of gear.
I think I would choose the Yamaha. It has balance control and tone control, and those lovely VU meters.
I wish one of the Purifi or Hypex OEM's would make a version with VU meters.
its not the case, its about sound quality, not mention output power and price, sn ratio
I'm not listening with a very good system right now, but my first impression is that you've squeezed the Yamaha into a narrow space and you're listening from there. When you switch to Hypex, it relaxes and seems to exceed its limits.
thank you, i think hypex hit a homerun with the nilai. how does the sound stage compare ?
Both very nice!
After hearing a few class d amps at the local hifi show the other day...all i can say id that they have become extremely good and they are here to stay. I think my future upgrade will be the hypex pre-power combo
They were close together until the last song.
But with the last track, wow definitely more punch and grip with the Hypex amp. For me, that's a class difference and that's with the price difference. I'd like to have a comparison with the Icepower 2000AS2 HV. Thanks for the test!
For the first time I hear no difference between class D and class AB! In my previous comparison listening tests I could almost always hear the difference in class D and AB and I always favored the class AB, it was simply smoother warmer and more musical, in this situation I'm just amazed. Finally getting closer to owning a class D amp! Thank you for the video, and thank you Bruno!
So good, Hard to pick one, the bass on the Nilai is so controlled, but the soundstage I feel with the yamaha is very good. Excellent video!
I prefer the nilai500 as the sounds is not congested, also more relax in the high treble. The Yamaha seems to have the sound concentrated to the center therefore I hear more congested than nilai500. Yamaha also seems to be fatigue but not the nilai500. Nilai500 has bass hit harder than Yamaha. This is one of the videos that makes me decide to purchase nilai500.
I can't believe how nuanced, rich, balanced and controlled the Nilai comes across here. The Yamaha is pretty spectacular, but the Nilai is way more natural, with better transient information and overall presence. Honestly, even through this platform you can here clear differences between the two. Of course, still taking into account the level of the associated equipment,, but that Nilai is presenting with attributes found in amps many, many times more expensive. I need to get one, period.
The bass of the Yamaha has this bloom that kind of lingers a little longer and seems to fill the room more. But the Hypex has a fast and clean bass that doesn't fill the room with blooming sound. More than likely the Hypex has a higher damping factor. I preffer the clean puchy fast and not lingering bass.
Not even close. The DF is at least three times higher than Yamaha's.
Modern class D amplifiers do indeed have a ridiculously high damping factor. The several years old NC502MP module (2x500W, with integrated PSU) for example has an output impedance of 1 mOhm under 1kHz. At an 8 Ohm load, that's a damping factor of 8000. 😂
That's where the very noticeable bass control comes from. It's so much, for many people, who are used to "slower", much less dampening amplifiers, the bass sounds "dry" and "less round". Because it is. Precision and good control of the speakers means less mud, which can be perceived as "less" overall.
Listened with my eyes closed every time I preferred the sound I opened my eyes to see hypex, definitely warmer and better control of sibilance.
Intriguing comparison . Via the RUclips feed (which is restricted in sound quality) there appears little between the two . The Yamaha has a tad more detail and finesse, but not markedly so . With the availability of a mono block Nilai (the same power supply with a single amplification board) there must be room for further improvement in sound quality . I am assuming both the Nilai pre and power amps were constructed as per the instructions . Simple modifications like adding damping material as the DIY construction went along would further increase sound quality . Both cases sounded a bit rattly . As for the preamp - how about going down the route as one option of more single ended inputs (another 2 pairs), a home theatre by-pass, sub-woofer output and another balanced input rather than adding a DAC as most considering a quality pre-amp will have an adequate DAC anyway or likely to add a quality separate one . Same applies to a disc stage .
I preferred the Yamaha because it sounded the clearest and sharp edged.
Having heard the more recent Nilai vs Pass power amp comparisons as part of your group speaker test (which was great btw), both using your Pass pre-amp IIRC, it would seem the Nilai pre-amp in this test vs the Yamaha may have been a limiting factor.
I finished assembling my Nilai last night. Will try with my Athena pre today incl vs my LFD class A/B Mosfet amp. Can't wait and thanks again for the reviews and recommendations team Alpha 😊
Happy listening. And thanks!
Did you do the comparison?
@@critic86 Not yet, but now I’ve run the Nilai in for a few weeks I will soon, likely this weekend.
@Wharakiki Any update about the comparison you mentioned?
@@eliagiacomini4466 The Nilai is very good for class D - the usual attributes of great speed, bass impact and control, effortless power but also a pretty refined midrange. The LFD a liltle smoother and more body, but less resolving, a lot less power. Some tweaks re internal shielding of components using coppper and graphite foil helped add a little more refinement, less glare, as well as vibration damping. I’ve since had to go to a Pass Labs XA25 power amp to get the best of both worlds, retain the resolution and dynamic scale, but adding a bit more richness in the midrange, a bit more texture.
Nilai goes dyper. Better clarity and inteligability goes to the as2200. With the right dac- filter and by adding a paire of Rel sub, the Yammy became superb
could you try which dac and preamp or dac preamp combo(up to similar price) match with hypex nilai and jbl 1600? starting from wiim ultra, shiit freya plus or kara, cambridge exn100, bluesound icon etc
British audiophile says that its very dificult to get right preamp from different manufacturer, and some say that preamp make bigger impact on speaker paring than amp itself.
would be nice if you build fully working system(exchanging nilai preamp because nilai amp with nilai preamp its around 2500 pounds, and here in uk yamaha as2200 time after time goes on sale for around 3000 pound)thanks
.
If Yamaha is 100% then Hypex+Nilai is 95%. I hear a difference without looking at the info on a screen, and when I like how it sounds I switch the browser tab. Each time Yamaha plays at that moment. Its sound is fuller, tonally more attractive.
Wanted to love the Yamaha more, but for me it's just the exact opposite.... Well, depends all on personal listening preference.
I hear no difference whatsoever
@@milosdunjic8718 thats good for you, saves you money 👍
Nobody can hear a 5% difference.
I felt the differences were audible. Deeper with more authority on Yamaha. Speed, attack, & dynamics on Nilai. I preferred the male voice of Nilai..female was a toss up. Better on Yamaha at certain times. Yamaha seemed slower and a tad compressed in comparison when things got busy. 2nd track with all instruments going strong I was super impressed with hypex. That Yamaha is a well regarded amplifier.
There is a very audible difference in many regards if you know what to listen for. Without letting preference or bias intervene I am wondering: Do the measurements of both amps on paper differ as much as is audible? Perceptually there a big shift in how all elements in the music relate to each other, spacially and frequency perception wise, perhaps also timing? But I am sure both measure within tens of a percent of each other in frequency response as well as distortion. Which would mean we still don't measure all the needed parameters to accurately define an amps characteristics or really minute differences are very very audible. I would love to see such a comparison with for example a c298 or m23 and the pass labs - (I have seen the live stream but I love these more direct a/b switches tests). thank you for the excellent tests again!
Well … “knowing what to listen to” is probably the biggest snake oil hifi salesman argument imo.
After close to 40 yrs of very passionate denial and resistance of class D designs, and being an owner of pair of amazing Quad 909 power amps, I can say that my latest Purifi and Hypex nCore nc502mp based amps sound as good, if not even better, plus they are effortless, brutally honest and provide loads of power and headroom.
You can’t go wrong with Purifi, nCore being 2nd best … not sure about ICEPower class D though.
My two cents
@@milosdunjic8718 Knowing what to listen can be that but it can also mean knowing which characteristics you value. Sometimes perfection can become really boring. I had the c298 eigentakt in home and while it was in certain aspects technically better than my accuphase e650, I didn't enjoy it as much. While my accuphase is great and it fits my taste, it's certainly not the perfect piece of equipment. I do admit that I like my sound objectively imperfect - adjusted to my taste. Just as i can enjoy the imperfections of analog photography over digital perfection. I can tune my digital images to be as technically imperfect as I want though. I would like to do that with my audio setup, have a perfect (class d) power amp amplifying a - to my tastes suited imperfect pre-amp or digital dsp-ed input chain. I'm really looking forward to try a nilai out. I believe class d will be / already is the future.
Both are pretty good but the Hypex is more neutral, effortless, transparent and like a window to the music. I'm running the Hypex Nilai now at home and it sounds a bit like my High End Van der Veen KT88 tube amp which has that same transparency and flow. Like the tube amp a little bit better still though 😊
But this makes it even more clear that it's not at all about which class but all about implementation!
sounds like the yamaha is a bit more "in you face" but more musical while the nilai takes a step back with a more smooth presentation. my ears would prefer the nilai but i understand why some would go for the yamaha, some nice gear for sure!
Impressive from Hypex, one of the few times that I slightly prefer Class D over AB.
I imagine the nilai 500 with a preamp that has more flavour could be a huge giant killer. Preamp is a little boring.
I've got an AS-2100 and thinking of buying another amp for the kitchen and a pair of LS50. Should I go with the 2100 or class D? Is there a big difference between the 2100 and 2200?
We cannot answer that question. It is all about what you are looking for, Synergy with the speaker and the room...
Reckon this is one of the closest comparisons I have heard from you guys. But for me the Yamaha just shades it more open sound and a little warmer.
This was very close indeed
Thank you for this. Now I can use the best of worlds with my Cambridge CXA-61 (class A/B) as preamp to the Hypex Nilia power amp and get great sound, stage and transparency.
They're so sclose objectively. I can say that it's a matter of preference, but for me the Nilai sounds more relaxed, neutral.
Don't bother too much with the electronics - the E2s are easy to drive and sound just perfect with whatever you throw at them 🥰
Song "Bert":-- Yamaha has the body in the music(but nilai is not too far), however misses out on the minute detailing in the music, however Nilai manages to put out the detailing...but for the price difference i will opt for HYPEX Nilai over Yamaha..
Drums seem more intense with the Yamaha on the first track.
Nilai has better balance, control and timing. Yamaha sounds fuller in vocals. Feels a bit more in the front as well. But that fullness isn't there in instruments, or back sounds. Actually I felt Yamaha suits more to the speakers, more enjoyable, slightly more dynamic but Nilai sounds more effortless, balanced and relaxed. I'd choose Nilai
Agree with the vocals. (That's how it sounded to me). By a smidge. The Nilai is one heck of an amp!
Both are good but the Yamaha smears the sound which makes it sounded fuller. Some people might like that, but it's just less precise and clean compared to the Hypex.
That one wasn't fazed by anything no matter how complex the music is.
Indeed. Nilai stays very, very controlled.
Excellent comment. I would also add the bass of the Nilia has more texture, agility and clearer transient response.
@@TheAlphaAudio the Nilai is such a great find. What an amazing channel you have. Very useful. Something that would be great is a test of the Genelec 8361, coaxial active speakers with room correction and integrated DAC
@@topkho Genelec is hard to get for us... Unfortunately.
@@TheAlphaAudio thank you. that’s unfortunate, looks like next gen, technologically
Anybody heard the grains coming out from Nilai?
The cresendo hit when the yamaha started, I cant take the 1st part of this test serious also what is the burn in time for these components
Is there a review coming for the Hypex preamp?
Yes. Expect it very soon.
@@TheAlphaAudio do you have a link ?
Hypex has a fuller less analytical sound. You can feel the sound jumping from just above the heart to just below the ears when it changes to to Yamaha. I wonder how much of that is the pre-amp and how much the power amp.
Do Hypex Nilai would be good pairing for Dali Rubicon 2? thanks
Sure. Why not... :-)
Speechless!!!!!!!!!!
TheAlphaAudio, what is your verdict?
That is not important. It is about what you think.
@@TheAlphaAudio To me its important, that is why I asked. But who cares...
Excellent comparaison, you gotta have a really good pair of headphones to ear a difference, what about a comparaison between the Hypex Nilai and the Purifi eval1 1ET400A??
Check our livestream. We compared them. Along with ICEpower.
What is considered as good headphones? I couldn't tell any difference with my Denon AH-D9200, original 3m cable, Antelope Orion Studio Synergy Core (Studio Interface) headphone out, Neotech 1020 NEUB USB Cable, Ifi purifier 3 usb Cleaner, Nuprime SW8 modded 19A version, cat 8.1 cables, Nuprime PSU to SW8, Edgerouter-x, Power connected to PS AUdio Dectet.
And i mostly can hear differences between gear when i do it with my speakers. But this time nothing is different, but i have tinnitus, and one ear is a bit worse on hearing tests also hearing, that can make these youtube comparisons a bit harder for me to notice. But i should have heard just tiny bit of difference anyway, but not this time. I will resliten some day later this weekend, and like training my ears up again, so my brain adapts to what i really hear. I really believe that the difference is there, and not because so many comments say that, class A/B should really sound a bit different than D.
Soooo how does the Nilai compare to the Passlabs?
The most obvious difference can be heard, in my opinion at the switch right after 8:14. The bass has a pluck that we can hear right at the beginning of the note, then there's the extension, so 2 different bass types. When switching to Yamaha, the pluck is no longer clearly differentiated, there is a lack of articulation in the bass area, bass sounds muddy and longer than it should be. There are other differences but this one can be heard even by an untrained ear. If the bass is muddy on the recording, I can only imagine what the difference in real life is... Even so, there are people who prefer this type of long, slow, bloated sound...gives some sort of warmth to music, makes it easier to listen to.
Bass and imaging are the two things that are very different with these amps.
Was Yamaha powered up at least 30 min prior to recording?
Yes... more than that... We always warm up the equipment before playing.
I hear more detail and nuances in the Yamaha. The sound is more "live" like. The Nilai has a bit more weight and warm. Both sound wonderful, but the Yamaha wins for me.
As 2200 👍
Are both solutions more or less at the same price level?
Vraagje , de hypex komt ongeveer op het zelfde bedrag uit als de naim xs 3 , waar zou u voorkeur naar uitgaan , ik snap wel geluid is persoonlijk , wat is u voorkeur.
Ligt helemaal aan de combinatie.
Oké , dan deze setup , de yamaha en de hypex , wat is u voorkeur
Ik zal proberen iets duidelijker te zijn , ik had de Denon 1600ne , die heeft een bas , niet leuk meer , ik heb seas odin combi seas bas gedeelte trym speakers, klinkt goed , er zit super veel bas in met de denon , wordt rommelig , ik heb 3000 euro om wat anders te kopen , welke amp heeft een mooie bas controlle , ik hoor het graag van u
@@kartidioot Nilai is superstrak en gecontroleerd. Dat lijkt me in dit geval nodig.
@@TheAlphaAudio oké dat gevoel had ik ook al , ik snap alleen niks van die 3pins aansluitingen , ik zie meerdere aansluitingen op de hypex amp , maar het zegt me niks , en op de eind versterker zie ik er maar 2 , vind was makkelijker 😀
What speakers are being used please?
TAD Evolution 2
@@TheAlphaAudio thanks
wa ballanced cable used for nilai?
Grimm Sqm
Yamaha romps ahead here. The hyped combo sounds choked in comparison. Not just the highs, but bass has way more tone on Yamaha
Почти не отличить вернее очень трудно отличить , что тут говорить на выходе транзисторы этим все сказано , тест ловля блох , хайпекс нилай хорошо играет ! Но в целом на более живых треках хайпекс конечно лучше !
Hypex: Cleaner but leaner.
AS2200: Bolder, slightly narrower soundstage (might be because of separation not being as clean).
I had the NAD M10 (hypex) in my system. Amazing with electronic music and pop to some extent. But vocal based music and rock/metal leave a bit to be desired. Rock/Metal doesn't have as much body. And vocals just sound a bit lean. Overall, still a fantastic amp, especially for all in one. Since I mostly listen to rock, I switched to an Anthem receiver and everything sounded much more natural to my ears, and bolder for sure. It was missing a bit of clarity, especially in the upper frequency. Some people will prefer one to another, depending on their music choice. I also noticed that my previous 50wpc yamaha was much more powerful than 100wpc NAD. For me personally, I would rather go with a lower wattage class A, A/B amp, rather than 150wpc class D.
It would be nice to hear this with JENA Labs cabling... nothing more natural on the planet.
id also be afraid to put it against the Pass
Songs?
They will appear in the description asap. RUclips does that automatically.
@@TheAlphaAudio are the transients good enough on the Nilai?
@@topkho Yes... definately. Check our livestream and review for all info.
Ik ben al jaren een trouwe fan van jullie en mis geen video, ook dit vergelijk is weer perfect gedaan 👍🏻 Ooit was ik zelf een trotse eigenaar van een Yamaha C4/M4 combi, maar toen ik ze verkocht was dat om dezelfde reden als dat ik tegenwoordig geen fan meer ben van Yamaha. Alle reviews van de huidige Yamaha modellen zijn lovend, maar voor mij zit er geen “soul” in die machines, op het steriele af. Er zit geen ruimte in de muziek en de instrumenten krijgen geen lucht. Ik heb telkens de neiging om hem zachter te zetten. Dat is voor mijn oren ook het verschil met de Hypex, daar ademt de muziek meer, daardoor is er meer beleving, meer “soul” en is het prettiger om te beluisteren. Maar zoals altijd, over smaak valt niet te twisten ☺️
Shut my eyes and I could not tell difference's
Yes, Hypex is something better than Yamaha A-S2200
Question
Hypex Pre: attenuator, without gain.
Nail500: low, medium or high gain? H2
After seeing your measurements, at 1 watts and 50 watts: H3 > H2.
There is no gain-switch on Nilai. So you can't change it.
Not sure what you mean by H3, H2... ?
Amir at Hypex Nilai500DIY Amplifier Review:
[ Edit: in the original review I had the top open so I could change the gain settings. Alas, it turns out that doing so allowed some noise pick up around 10 kHz. I re-tested with the lid closed and that issue went away. As a results, we have slightly better performance especially in high-gain. ]
H2, H3... harmonics. Yamaha A-S2200 is H3 dominant in your measurements.
diyclassd
[ Gain adjust in 3 steps (11,8 - 21,8 - 27,8) ]
@@TheAlphaAudio There is a gain jumper on the Nilai. It's on the board.
The Nilai is like a painting of a painting. The Yamaha is like a painting, still wet, almost done, just missing a few details.
actually it's the other way, Yamaha adding something to sound , Nilai is clearl and transparent
Can't believe
Xypex is better...
Fortunately my mental hearing capabilities are not good enough to remember differences.
The Nilai is the technically better amp. Higher resolution. Better focus. Wider stage. Blacker background. Better control. And it's musically boring - I couldn't live with it. So, I'll have to take the Yammy.
Prefer the Yamaha over time, the Hypex sounds a bit sterile (although very clear ) in the timbre after a while although on first listen I preferred the Hypex
Not much difference but the Yamaha sounds more nice not only in my eyes 😊.
The eyes 👀 👂 🙉 to decide what we like....😮
To me we can perceive the difference with human voice. Yamaha has depth. Class D are truncated , Yamaha sounds more natural. Again human voice is the key !!!! At ruclips.net/video/dkUgStoRzvs/видео.html
With my eyes closed I can’t tell them apart with AirPod Pro.
Lucky you
Let's see how long the Hypex keeps working, I found out Class D like to eat through electrolytics because of high frequency switching and are an absolute pita to recap the multi layer lead free boards.
Considering some choose the Yamaha (which to me is a mid range amp) and we're comparing it to one of the best D offerings, I'd say Class D is not there yet, and probably never be....because it's too clean! Our ears don't like a ruler flat, ultra low distortion sound, because it's dead and sterile. It's the clever use of harmonics that makes something sound full and pleasant. For example, Nelson Pass knows that.
Why do you think people tinker with various input buffers in Class D amps? Because they need the added distortion to soften up the sound to pleasant levels.
It would be interesting to hear the Nilai with a heavily colored tube preamp like Conrad Johnson.
I also don't understand their fetish for switch mode PSU's, except it's just cheaper to manufacture to keep the profit margin high. A linear PSU will always remain the more robust and longer lasting optin.
Is this the day Class AB died? ;)
Hardly but in he coming years most likely. Not today .
It’s now officially the day ; )
I just finished assembling my recently arrived Nilai last night. Will use it with my Athena pre and let you know 😊
@@Wharariki How did that match work out: Nilai with Athena?
Yamaha has more body on vocals, nilai seems like thinner.
👍🎶👏
Can't tell a difference...
it is very close indeed
I personally would get bored of the vintage look. Prefer modern
Yamaha is more natural sounding.
I would just get the cheapest one and call it.
У yamahy более яркий звук,у hypex сцена больше,баса больше,или мне показалось
Highly biased sound test the yamahas played the most thru the cresendos once again this test is worthlesss for me
You got to listen to some nice music though.
Nilai a bit more open and percussive, just a bit
Yamaha is more better.
The class A/B Yamaha is superior in every aspect!
The sharpness of the class D is still there. Many people confuse it with clearer, more distinct sound, better resolution and etc.
The lack of dept is also oftenly confused with better bass control, texture and etc.
Unfortunately, the music on the class D is more lifeless and usually becomes fatiguing in time, unless you have very refined speakers.
It is a good option if you are looking for a budget solution, but not as an alternative to amplifiers like this Yamaha, Denon PMA-1700ne and Marantz Model 40n.
Suppose that this is the reason why Marantz Model 40n is class A/B again. Unlike the Model 30.
You know your shit
No difference worth mentioning
I don't see any point of this video.
I don't see any point in this comment.
the point is not to be seen, it is to be heard, mate - but probably not on your phone
It fills in time until your life comes to an end 💀
@@aussie8114 philosophical ;o)
the yamaha sounded distorted compared to the Nilai,...any body who thinks the yamaha sounded better is biased ..no pun intended. the difference is so noticable
Stop saying nonsense, Yamaha is better, you're the kind of golden ear wanna be