How to: Build your own Hypex UcD amps

ss397 · « **Reply #100 on:** 12 Jun 2005, 05:45 am »

i am interested in building an amp, so i would be in for 2 modules and power supplies.

CornellAlum · « **Reply #101 on:** 12 Jun 2005, 03:18 pm »

I am curious...has anyone tried the prebuilt power supplies that Hypex is now selling? It appears they pretty much have everything you need to build these units minus the various connectors and case. Just curious as to how well it worked...though the battery powered option would also be killer!

JoshK · « **Reply #102 on:** 12 Jun 2005, 03:22 pm »

Hypex is supplying two PSU unit, the standard and the high grade. The high grade uses BG Aerovox Split Foil caps, apparently just about as good as it gets and has premium rectifiers, etc. I'd imagine it is pretty hard to beat and the price is reasonable, although not dirt cheap. The standard grade PSU is probably quite good too.

I built my first UcD400 based amp with cheap, easily available PSU parts just to see if I could get it running and to hear it. It is quite surprising how good these guys sound. I'd imagine an all out assault would yield really good results.

Gordy · « **Reply #103 on:** 12 Jun 2005, 03:44 pm »

Hello CornellAlum,

You might try asking or doing a search here... http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=49 for more info on the Hypex power supplies.

Gordy

CornellAlum · « **Reply #104 on:** 12 Jun 2005, 04:05 pm »

I am the allout assault type

I plan on doing a lot of reading today, then placing some orders in preperation for my first Audio, DIY project, wish me luck!

Rocket · « **Reply #105 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 01:18 am »

Hi Josh,

I was wondering if your diy hypex amp sounds as good as your spectron musician amplifier sounded?

Regards

Rod

JoshK · « **Reply #106 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 01:48 pm »

Quote from: Rocket

Hi Josh,

I was wondering if your diy hypex amp sounds as good as your spectron musician amplifier sounded?

Regards

Rod

It is a bit hard to say at this point because I only got to listen for a little while before I blew a channel. Not sure what the cause was precisely at this point, but it happened still. Not too expensive to fix though.

My first impressions were that the midrange was a bit more present, which I like and the bass is still commanding. I did some tweaks to my speakers at the same time, so I can't comment to the specifics of the bass. My speaker upgrade itself added a ton of midbass punch and smoother highs, but the midrange presence was certainly the amp.

ken_diyzone.net · « **Reply #107 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 02:53 pm »

Hi,

How about this for a group buy idea:

2 * UcD 400AD (the version with input buffer AD8620)
400Wrms amplifier-module based on UCD-technology with special input buffer AD8620

1 * UcD supply HG
High-grade supply for 2 x UcD400 or 2 x UcD180. 4 x HYPEX Slit Foil capacitors 10.000uF mounted on this board. Additional DC-output 12-0-12 for pre-amplifiers and DC-protection.

2 * UcD signal cable
2-wire twisted shielded hi-end input cable. Length is 50 cm with 4-pins plug for the UcD module. This cable can be used for balanced input signal. There is an additional wire to switch the module on/off. The module will switch on upon connecting this wire.

1 * Our E100 Power Amp chassis with an upgraded 10 mm front plate, with all accessories.

1 * Power supply- avel lindberg Y23 Range Transformer Specifications - 500VA 40 + 40

I have this one working in my system, and I think this must be the best audio bargain of the year.

Total price: $650 vs. around $800 if you buy all these parts separately (plus all that individual shipping fee!).

Please let me know if there is any interest, and I can work on the details for a delivery date.

Thanks
Ken

CornellAlum · « **Reply #108 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 02:58 pm »

That surely works for me unless we can find a beter price directly!

JoshK · « **Reply #109 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 03:28 pm »

Wow, what a great deal! Thanks Ken.

I myself only need the modules though. I have everything else already. For most of the people here this is a no brainer.

ken_diyzone.net · « **Reply #110 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 03:42 pm »

Hi Josh,

Is it more appropriate to put this idea in the Market Square?

Thanks
Ken

JoshK · « **Reply #111 on:** 13 Jun 2005, 03:49 pm »

To generate interest in such a group buy I think you should post in the Market Square but I think your response in this thread was appropriate.

Gordy · « **Reply #112 on:** 30 Jun 2005, 03:27 am »

Hi All,

I've removed and jumpered the input caps (c23 and c24) on my ucd400's with excellent results! I'm feeding the amps with a Response Audio moded Ming Da at the moment and have no dc problem at all. Technically speaking, I'm hearing mo' betta clarity/tone listening to Natalie McMaster's fiddle playin'... It's only my 2nd CD and quite obvious

I think I've also finally settled on the caps I like best in the battery supply and, grudgingly, have to admit that using bypass caps does help! I'm hearing a better jump, timing(?) factor and even better mids... I was absolutely sure they would only help with rectifiers, &^#$%^&.

Gordy

Occam · « **Reply #113 on:** 1 Jul 2005, 12:38 pm »

Gordy- and what caps might they be? I've this sinking feeling that they're Auricaps..... what values? While not as expensive as film and foils, the Auricap metalized caps are up there, but they do sound quite lovely in ps bypassing, which has me quite flummoxed. Larry has been taking lead in cap bypassing in the Felicia, and his results are quite counterintuitive. When all is said and done, these caps in Felicia aren't in the direct signal path. They're not even in the powersupply. They're just 'accross the line' caps, and they've a massive impact on sound quality. Go figure.

Dazed and confused,
Paul

Gordy · « **Reply #114 on:** 1 Jul 2005, 03:47 pm »

Hello D&C,

I started out using some 1.0uf 400v Solen's that were left over from the 3886 amps. I had these bypassing two (8 actually) 4.7K Nichicon KG's. Once I gave up on the less is more approach to the supply caps (trying both 100uf and 1000uf), I drew on Larry/tianguis's experience and his pm'd suggestions to me plus what I've been reading elsewhere and ended up using just about everything I had tried in the past to build some Franken'plies. I now have the two 4.7k KG's plus a 1.0k and a .5k Panasonic FC . I then pulled the Solens out and replaced 'em with 1.0uf/200v Auricaps (only had 2-400v caps left) and added some .o1uf/400v as well... The hodgepodge of sizes seems to have given me the speed I didn't know I was missing and swapping in the Auri's really seems to add to that, plus clean/clarify it some????

D&C II

JoshK · « **Reply #115 on:** 5 Jul 2005, 02:51 am »

How does this supply compare to your battery supply?

Gordy · « **Reply #116 on:** 5 Jul 2005, 03:23 am »

Hi Josh,

The caps are actually in addition to the batteries, though this time I've them installed much closer and without the 4pdt switches and added wiring. This combo is giving me much better results, speed/snap, than the previous attempts with single 4.7's and 1.0's.

I also tried swapping out the 470uf caps on the UcD board with 680 pana FC's, but my iron was acting up and I quickly quit. This has been such a weird weekend that maybe it was just me

Occam · « **Reply #117 on:** 17 Jul 2005, 01:59 pm »

According to Jack McDonald of Audience-Av, they're developing a radial cap specifically for use in the output filter of the Hypex modules. Audience's current offerings have been axial and large, due to their voltage ratings, precluding their use, due to inductance, in the output filter.
The cap supplied with the Hypex is a 680nf 63v radial.
FWIW

Russtafarian · « **Reply #118 on:** 3 Dec 2005, 06:10 am »

Howdy folks,

A UcD question, but first some background:

Tragedy:

About a month ago, the six channel tripath amp that I built about two years ago went up in flames. I was experienting with using a 6V sla into a voltage regulator to power the +5VDC logic circuit. Made a STUPID

mistake by inadvertently reversing the polarity. I even checked it with my volt meter, saw the 5.05v but missed the "-" sign in front of the voltage reading. Plugged it in and watched in horror as the amp gave me an impromptu fireworks show. I was crushed.

Triumph:

The amp, which I have nicknamed "the Phoenix", has risen from the ashes and is now singing a new tune thanks to six UcD180 modules. To adapt the +/- 60VDC linear PS I was using on the tripath to the UcD, I rewired the transformer to give me +/- 30VDC. This on the low end of what Hypex recommends for the UcD180, but the amp works just fine. I just got it running and haven't had much chance to listen to it, but so far it's functioning as advertised.

Now to my question: If the module output is rated at ~100 watts with +/- 45VDC rails, what output wattage can I expect with 30VDC rails? I didn't see anything in their documentation to help me estimate or calculate this. Any guesses? 50 watts? 70 watts? Waddaya think?

Russ

Gordy · « **Reply #119 on:** 3 Dec 2005, 06:19 am »

The exact question I asked Occam a while back... here's what he sent me:

I= V/R
P = V x I = V x V / I = V^2/ R