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Initial impression of the Nuprime ST-10 amp

I have a very fine McCormack DNA .05 Deluxe amp, a Don Sachs 6SN7 preamp, driving my Spatial Audio M4 Turbo S open baffle speakers and today swapped the McCormack amp for the ST10 amp.  Right out of the box, the ST10 is quite an amazing amp.  It is very powerful and yet quite delicate in its rendering of sound. To my ears, it is somewhat tipped-up in the HF compared to the McCormack amp, and at this point seems to give up a bit of the LF rendering of the sound to the McCormack amp, but overall, it has lots of inner detail and a sublime mid-range.  It has not a bit of harshness or dryness that I have heard with earlier Class D amps... it is very musical with the sound flowing effortlessly.   I will post my impressions after it has been run-in for a week. My initial impression is that for $1600, this is a very fine amplifier.  
whitestix
kdude66
1,200 posts
 
Whitestix,

No bad news about any unproven claims.
Enjoy what you have and let us know your outcome.Put some hrs on it and it probably will smooth out on the top end.

Happy Listening,

Kenny.
samac's avatar
samac
499 posts
 
Cool, whitestix. I really enjoy my NuPrime IDA-16. If the ST10 is anything like my IDA-16 it will take a few weeks for it to really start settling-in.

Based on my experience with the IDA-16 I believe you are in for a good time, enjoy.

Cheers,

Scott
whitestix OP
730 posts
 
Thanks for the encouragement and the reminder to be patient in the break-in process.  I never thought I would abandon tube amps for Class A/B amps, but I did and never looked back.  I was totally unhappy with the Bel Canto class D amp I had a few years ago, but clearly, this ST10 is in a whole different league.  I think Class D amps, and their modern variants, are the wave of the future.  

I will report back my impressions of the sound of this amp after 100 hours.    Cheers, Whitestix
kdude66
1,200 posts
 
Whitestix,

I never thought I would abandon tube amps or class a solid state after 25 yrs and I'm not looking back either.

I'm using a red dragon s500 currently which is probably going to replace my ref600m. I haven't heard the st10 but I've read a lot of good things about them.

What bel canto Amp did you have and what preamp are you using with your st 10.

Kenny.
whitestix OP
730 posts
 
I have about 50 hours on the amp and am happy to report that it is breaking nice nicely.  It is very powerful, dead quiet, and the crystal  clarity of the sound of my Holograms is amazing.  This is nothing like the Bel Canto Class D amp I had years ago.  It adds astonishing clarity and presence to the sound of my speakers.  The LF is taut and the HF is extended.  This is an amazing amp that is probably going to be even better when it completely breaks in.  I will admit that it does sound a bit different that my Class A/B amp, but think the ST10 is much more neutral and less congested.  I will get back to you after 100 hours, but at his point, it sounds quite fine to my ears.   Whitestix
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