Hi amigos,
I would like to share a review of my New Pascal Double Mono amplifier Class D (2x245W / 8 ohms).. I generally turn to DIY Double Mono type because I find this kind of configuration more holographic.
In this test (please read with hindsight because my subjectivity is evident); I confront my double Mono Hypex Ncore (NC250MP) with a double Mono Pascal (Pro 1).
Concerning Pascal (Ex Ice Power), which immediately caught my eye : these are the prices charged by the big brands, example :
Gato Audio DIA400
Rouge Audio Alauda
Jeff Rowland 535
Dynaudio Core XX
All these amplifiers cost on average more than 2000 euros on the market (at very least) and I add that these are not double Mono configurations ! My god !
I wanted to push the vice a little further, and see what two Pascal modules could give ...
On paper, the Hypex Ncore seem more interesting but what is it in real ? I tell myself if large manufacturers use Pascal modules is that there must be a reason, And I read a lot of good about it.
About the measures, everything is said here :
https://www.pascal-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/U-PRO12_Data_Sheet-1_1.pdf
What about listening to the human ear ? let's see how a Double Mono Pascal behaves in front of the Hypex Ncore (NC250MP or NC500MP).
Setup :
Amplifier Pascal double Mono Pro1
Ampliier Hypex Ncore NC250MP / 500MP
Speakers : high end Speakers 93DB / 100W RMS 2.5 way with Ribbon tweeter (made in France)
DAC : Double AK4497 + Quad Dac Sabre
Source : V30 streamer / APTX HD
Music : HD Audio Playlist, Classical, World Music and Jazz
Felt Listening test :
Bass :
The bass is not too invasive, they are not aggressive and I find them rather pleasant to listen to. I would say that we generally find the grain "Hypex Ncore". The amp has a huge power reserve ... at 20% of the volume of my DAC, I happily cover my 30m2 room.
May be a little less colored than Hypex Ncore anyway
Mediums :
Excellent ! the voices are airy and stand out incredibly well from the instruments, whether in the Jazz register or through Word Music. It is a very good surprise! I love ) We live up to my TPA3255 (360 Customs design based)
Like the majority of Class D, we are hugely dependent on the quality of the source.
Trebles :
Quite similar to the Ncore hypex, everything is well transcribed with a surprising detail. The cymbals, the hihats or the high notes are really audible, the amp goes very well with my ribbon tweeter.
Soundstage :
Everything is pleasantly audible. The notes stand out well, the instruments too. We are always up to the Hypex Ncore. The soundstage is airy. Depending on the distance at which I am from the speakers, we have the impression of bathing in the public! Great
Power :
Unsurprisingly, huge reserve of power. No need to push the volume ... It is a very powerful amp we are largely up to the NC500.
Conclusion :
It is an interesting, precise and powerful amp. The price could put off a few portfolios, at least the price charged by the manufacturers. On a purely sound level, it is an excellent alternative to Hypex Ncore. If you have the opportunity to test it in a DIY project, frankly you can go for it is very good! 🙂
I would like to share a review of my New Pascal Double Mono amplifier Class D (2x245W / 8 ohms).. I generally turn to DIY Double Mono type because I find this kind of configuration more holographic.
In this test (please read with hindsight because my subjectivity is evident); I confront my double Mono Hypex Ncore (NC250MP) with a double Mono Pascal (Pro 1).
Concerning Pascal (Ex Ice Power), which immediately caught my eye : these are the prices charged by the big brands, example :
Gato Audio DIA400
Rouge Audio Alauda
Jeff Rowland 535
Dynaudio Core XX
All these amplifiers cost on average more than 2000 euros on the market (at very least) and I add that these are not double Mono configurations ! My god !
I wanted to push the vice a little further, and see what two Pascal modules could give ...
On paper, the Hypex Ncore seem more interesting but what is it in real ? I tell myself if large manufacturers use Pascal modules is that there must be a reason, And I read a lot of good about it.
About the measures, everything is said here :
https://www.pascal-audio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/U-PRO12_Data_Sheet-1_1.pdf
What about listening to the human ear ? let's see how a Double Mono Pascal behaves in front of the Hypex Ncore (NC250MP or NC500MP).
Setup :
Amplifier Pascal double Mono Pro1
Ampliier Hypex Ncore NC250MP / 500MP
Speakers : high end Speakers 93DB / 100W RMS 2.5 way with Ribbon tweeter (made in France)
DAC : Double AK4497 + Quad Dac Sabre
Source : V30 streamer / APTX HD
Music : HD Audio Playlist, Classical, World Music and Jazz
Felt Listening test :
Bass :
The bass is not too invasive, they are not aggressive and I find them rather pleasant to listen to. I would say that we generally find the grain "Hypex Ncore". The amp has a huge power reserve ... at 20% of the volume of my DAC, I happily cover my 30m2 room.
May be a little less colored than Hypex Ncore anyway
Mediums :
Excellent ! the voices are airy and stand out incredibly well from the instruments, whether in the Jazz register or through Word Music. It is a very good surprise! I love ) We live up to my TPA3255 (360 Customs design based)
Like the majority of Class D, we are hugely dependent on the quality of the source.
Trebles :
Quite similar to the Ncore hypex, everything is well transcribed with a surprising detail. The cymbals, the hihats or the high notes are really audible, the amp goes very well with my ribbon tweeter.
Soundstage :
Everything is pleasantly audible. The notes stand out well, the instruments too. We are always up to the Hypex Ncore. The soundstage is airy. Depending on the distance at which I am from the speakers, we have the impression of bathing in the public! Great
Power :
Unsurprisingly, huge reserve of power. No need to push the volume ... It is a very powerful amp we are largely up to the NC500.
Conclusion :
It is an interesting, precise and powerful amp. The price could put off a few portfolios, at least the price charged by the manufacturers. On a purely sound level, it is an excellent alternative to Hypex Ncore. If you have the opportunity to test it in a DIY project, frankly you can go for it is very good! 🙂
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Hello Danibourn,
I hope you don't mind my asking how you did the evaluation, which technique did you use?
Cheers - Jem
I hope you don't mind my asking how you did the evaluation, which technique did you use?
Cheers - Jem
Hi,
No particular technique if it is not a long listening on my HD Playlist, with the two amps alternately. It is an appreciation test, without acoustic measurements since anyway they are available on the manufacturers website.
I have lots of class D amps, the Pascal, the Hypex Ncore and the TPA3255 (360 Customs with PBBF) are among the best !
The idea is just to discover the very little known double Mono Pascal.
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Have you tried a buffer in front of the Pascal modules. It seems you go directly in the board with no buffer?
I bypass the buffer indeed, I wanted a direct signal (like my Hypex Ncore).
The amplifier, in this mode, is absolutely dead silent by the way )
Hello Danibourn,
Hmmmm With the greatest respect I suspect that your evaluation is, I'm sorry to say, meaningless.
This is the culmination of several days listening done by Mr Linsley Hood and I quote from the end of his article
..... The "Williamson" (state of the art valve amplifier) and the present class A (4 transistor amp) design were both better than the other valve amplifier, and so close in performance that it was almost impossible to tell which of the two was in use without looking at the switch position. In the upper reaches of the treble spectrum the transistor amplifier has perhaps a slight advantage.
The evaluation can be read here it is on the last page of the eight that can be downloaded here.
JLH 1969 Original Article.pdf - Google Drive
This was done by hearing alone, but, switched so that amps could be changed instantly. You will note should you read the above that evaluations by memory are actually valueless.
Until I started doing this I fell into the same trap. Now I do switched evaluations, the results are quite surprising.
Cheers - Jem
Hmmmm With the greatest respect I suspect that your evaluation is, I'm sorry to say, meaningless.
This is the culmination of several days listening done by Mr Linsley Hood and I quote from the end of his article
..... The "Williamson" (state of the art valve amplifier) and the present class A (4 transistor amp) design were both better than the other valve amplifier, and so close in performance that it was almost impossible to tell which of the two was in use without looking at the switch position. In the upper reaches of the treble spectrum the transistor amplifier has perhaps a slight advantage.
The evaluation can be read here it is on the last page of the eight that can be downloaded here.
JLH 1969 Original Article.pdf - Google Drive
This was done by hearing alone, but, switched so that amps could be changed instantly. You will note should you read the above that evaluations by memory are actually valueless.
Until I started doing this I fell into the same trap. Now I do switched evaluations, the results are quite surprising.
Cheers - Jem
I just shared a little review, subjective test. Meaningless or not, I can tell you that it's a good amp. )
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Dear Danibourn,
If you would be good enough to download Mr Linsley Hood's article you find that his evaluation was also a 'subjective' one, but, one done properly.
It's well worth trying all you need is a double pole double throw switch and some wire and you can do it in double mono using the outputs from one channel from each amp and the same single source, surprising what that turns up as well.
Cheers and good luck - Jem
If you would be good enough to download Mr Linsley Hood's article you find that his evaluation was also a 'subjective' one, but, one done properly.
It's well worth trying all you need is a double pole double throw switch and some wire and you can do it in double mono using the outputs from one channel from each amp and the same single source, surprising what that turns up as well.
Cheers and good luck - Jem