Amp Comparison & Sonic Characteristic

Read this article about NuPrime’s hybrid Class D amp designs that put them on par with the best Class A and Tube amps.

The NuPrime Sound

– Vast soundstage
– Wide, lightning-fast dynamics
– Ultra-low distortion and noise
– Music emerges from a pristine background, with delicate details and nuances intact

We advise customers to select based on sonic preference and usage scenario. In particular, a higher price model does not necessarily mean that it is better.

Relative Ranking of Power and Integrated Amps

Models that are in the same cell are ranked the same.

PowerDynamicResolutionSound StageHigh Freq. ExtensionBass ExtensionWarmth
MonoStereo
MCX-1Fusion-X,
MCX-2

EVO Two,
Fusion-X

EVO Two

EVO Two

EVO Two,
EVO One

EVO Two,
Fusion-X

AMG STA/STA-SE
STA-9X.
STA-9
IA-9X

EVO Two 

EVO STA,
EVO One

EVO One,
EVO STA,
Fusion-X

EVO STA,
EVO One,
Fusion-X

EVO STA,
Fusion-X
AMG One,
AMG STA-SE
ST-10M

EVO One,
EVO STA,
AMG One,
AMG STA-SE
ST-10M,
STA-9X(mono)

EVO Two,
EVO STA,
AMG One,
ST-10/10M,
IDA-8

AMG STA/STA-SE (mono),
EVO One,
ST-10M,
STA-9X(mono),
STA-9(mono)

EVO STA

AMG One,
AMG STA-SE
ST-10M,
STA-9X(mono)

AMG One,
AMG STA-SE
ST-10M,
STA-9X,
IA-9X

AMG One,
AMG STA-SE
ST-10M

ST-10,
AMG STA,
STA-9X,

STA-9X,
ST-10,
AMG STA,
STA-9,
IA-9X
STA-100(gain x30)

EVO One,
Fusion-X
MCX,
A300SE,
A200,
STA-100

AMG One,
AMG STA

HD-AVA, IDA-16

ST-10,
AMG STA,
STA-9X,
IA-9X

 

AMG STA,
ST-10,
STA-100

ST-10,
AMG STA,
STA-9X,
IA-9X		IA-9X,
MCX,
STA-100

MCX,
A300SE,
A200,
IDA-16

HD-AVA,
IDA-16,
STA-6,
IDA-6

 

ST-10, AMG STA/STA-SE (stereo)

STA-9(mono),
MCX,
STA-100
IDA-16

A300SE,
A200,
IDA-16,
HD-AVA

STA-9(mono),
MCX,
STA-100
IDA-16

A300SE,
A200,
HD-AVA,
IDA-16

IDA-8,
HD-AVA

 
 STA-9X(stereo),
STA-9(stereo),
A300SE,
A200

STA-9(stereo),
A300SE,
A200,
HD-AVA

MCX,
IDA-8,
STA-9, STA-6,
IDA-6

STA-9(stereo),
A300SE,
A200,
HD-AVA

STA-9,
IDA-8,
IDA-6		STA-6,
IDA-6

 

 IA-9X,
STA-100,
IDA-8

IDA-8,
STA-6,
IDA-6

 

IDA-8,
STA-6,
IDA-6

  

 

 IDA-6      
        

 

Sonic Characteristic

So let’s spend a moment discussing an amp’s sonic characteristics. Let’s begin by admitting that there’s no such thing as a perfect-sounding amp. Further, some characteristics are poles apart from others. For example, a warm-sounding amp produces a fair amount of even-order harmonics. And it certainly won’t be as neutral-sounding as an amp with none. A recording engineer might like to employ both styles of amplification – a super-clean amp as his reference and a warmer amp to help shape the end product. In the listening, is the MCX better than STA-9X? Not at all. However, if you watch many movies and enjoy a wide variety of musical styles, you might prefer MCX. If your thing is classical music in its vast and dramatic splendour, you will likely go for EVO Two or AMG One. Conversely, if vocals are your passion, you will probably prefer the STA-9X over AMG One. The AMG STA allures with jazz and blues for a warm tone with a smooth and laid-back sound.

In conclusion, we advise customers to select based on sonic preference and usage scenario.