2. amps-preamps
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Merrill Audio VERITAS Amps: Any other experiances?

Despite the Sandy Hurricane interruptions, Merrill was kind enough to provide me the opportunity to audition his Merrill Audio Veritas Mono-block amps with my system. He delivered the amps and I listened for approx 48 hours over a period of three days. It should be noted that never once in this time frame did I or anyone else listening experience listening fatigue.

The Veritas units were temporary replacements for my ARC VTM200 MONO-blocks and other than a short experience with my neighbors ARC 610 Mono-Blocks which really brought my Maggies to life, it was a reawakening as to what my Maggies can do given sufficient power. It's not that the VTM200 don't do a good job, its that financially, moving up with more powerful tube amps is out of the question.

Basically , I was overjoyed with what I was listening to. With the Veritas supplying 700 watts per channel vs the 200 tube watts, which is fundamentally 3 and one half times the power I had been feeding them, it was the first time I heard the Maggies with the power they were recommended to be supplied with other than the 610 experience. It should be noted that every piece of electronic audio equipment I have is TUBE centered. The presentation of the Veritas into the system was the first time a pure solid state unit had been introduced to the system and the lasting impression was WOW...just like the web site stated!

We listened to vinyl as well as CDs...Jazz and full orchestration as well as solo piano, cello and violin. Beside myself and occasionally my wife, the listening panel included Blaine Handzus of the NJAS as well as an interested neighbor along with Merrill.

If and when I replace the ARC VTM200s, the Veritas would be at the top of the list.

Having heard Class D amps at other systems, I had never been totally satisfied with what they delivered but the Veritas units presented a completely satisfying and different audio presentation. In short, the 'you are there' effect the Maggies are famous for with the proper watts was stunning.

Simply put, the Veritas are an audio achievement, with extremely accurate front to back definition as well as a superbly accurate soundstage presentation. The holographic effect of instrument position within the orchestra was excellent.

But more to the point, the sounds of the instruments themselves were very accurate. My wife, who listens to live music on a daily basis, both strings, keyboard and horns made the comment that she "could hear the cellos and violas breath".

It was a sad hour when Merrill came back to take his amps away!
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dan92075
23 posts
 
Audiozon,

His patent application lists him as Patrik Brostrom of Abletec, I will take your word for it that is a typo and he is Patrik Bostrom of Abletec.

But one thing that is absolutely clear from the diagrams in the patent is that his design uses pulse width modulation. In fact, google it and read the patent yourself - he actually says himself he is presenting a new way of doing pulse width modulation.

I think perhaps the confusion is that for the feedback and input structures that feed the Class D switch, he uses a phase shift modulation.
This is actually not novel - this is described in papers 7 years old by Bruno - and I doubt he invented this either - its probably been around for a long time.

But at the end of the day all Class D amps are a switch to a positive voltage rail and a switch to a negative voltage rail followed by a LC filter, switching around 400-500kHz speed. The only way to create the desired audio signal is to pulse width modulate the switches.
The art is in how you space out the switches to create the best quality audio signals - what kind of feedback scheme you use, how you modulate the input, etc

You peaked my engineering curiosity though that this may be something radically new - even though it was not it was fun to look into! :)
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
My apologies AudioZen. Unfortunately, you are the author of an extraordinary claim which, to be taken seriously, requires extraordinary proof, whose onus remains on you to exhibit. If you ever find the European article which asserts that Ncore was invented at Phylips prior to Mr. Putzeys joining Hypex, and if such article is authoritative, I invite you to post a citation and link to this thread. Alternatevely, you may try to dredge out trademark information from Phylips themselves. Until then, I can only point our readers to what I have found with Google: Hypex's CEO/Owner Jan-Peter Van Amerongen's clear assertion about Hypex's ownership of Ncore technology and trademarks on the DIYAudio site:

http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendors-bazaar/190434-hypex-ncore-621.html#post3344017

where Jan-Peter states in part:

"Bruno started to work on NCORE in 2008. We [at hypex] have filed the patent early 2009 and we have filed the NCORE
trademark in 2010.

NCORE patent and trademarkt is fully owned by Hypex, there are no other companies involved in Hypex. Both the NCORE patent and trademark are granted in
the USA. Thereby Hypex is solely owned by one owner.....

"

I respect your decision to abandon a line of argument which seems -- prima face -- to be conflicting with the verifiable public record. Yet, if you can ever provide it, I will welcome any extraordinary proof of the opposite. G.

Regards, G.
audiozen
831 posts
 
Guido..I back tracked and found one article regarding Hypex
and Bruno paying Philips licensing fees to use the UcD technology he developed for Philips back in 2001 in which they own. Its a site that focuses on DIY readers. The site is enjoythemusic.com..the article is from October 2012 written by Jeff Poth. I'll dig up the other two articles I read and post them as well. I'm on standby regarding Hypex, anticipating the new Pasquale Class D amps used in the about to be released Rowland Continuum 2 integrated and the new Bel Canto Ice amp with the switching module removed, which will be a D.C. power supply fed directly to the Ice amp with no pulse width modulation whatsoever, a first of its kind which has been in the works for the past two years.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hi AudioZen, yes you are correct. As Mr. Putzeys developed the original UCD technology while he was working for Phylips, the UCD acronym itself would likely be trademarked by Phylips. Furthermore, any patents related to UCD, which Mr. Putzeys applied to during his employment at Phylips, would be automatically assigned to Phylips. (Such is the nature of standard employment contracts in the technology sector... My own patents for example, remain all assigned to IBM, in spite of the fact that I have retired from Big Blue)

At a later time, in order to be permitted to manufacture UCD modules, Hypex would have started to pay appropriate licensing fees to Phylips for the use of that specific UCD trademark, and of the specific technology which is defined by those UCD patents owned by Phylips.

Conversely, Ncore technology, was invented by Mr. Putzeys after he joined Hypex, probably during the 2007 to 2008 timeframe, with basic development being finalized in 2010. It looks like Ncore invention disclosures were filed between 2008 and 2010, and would have been assigned to Hypex by the inventor(s) -- Putzeys et al. The Ncore word, within its applicability to the target technology, would also have been trademarked by Hypex, although there appears to be instances of "Ncore" used by other companies for totally different purposes than audio.

On a different topic, the name of the manufacturer of the power conversion modules inside the upcoming Rowland Continuum Series 2 integrated amp (and the Rowland M525 bridgeable amp) is Pascal -- just like the French Philosopher, rather than Pasquale -- which of course is a perfectly nice Italian name... But seems to remain sadly not associated with High End audio.

Saluti, G.
audiozen
831 posts
 
Guido..regarding corrected spellings, the name Pasquale was spelt to me by a Rowland dealer in California who attended the private demo at CES of the Continuum 2 integrated. I'm sure hes not aware of the correct spelling. Also, you continue to use the word "Phylips" which is incorrect. The correct spelling is Philips. One of the two articles I'm trying to dig up refers to the "Ncore circuit" in the UcD power module that Bruno developed for Philips in 2001.
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