NuPrime ST-10

[GT Audio Works]

I have had the pleasure of hearing an ST-10 in my system for almost 2 weeks.
Mark from Well Pleased audio was kind enough to send me one to evaluate.

After the initial love of a new toy in my system wears off, I always expect to start hearing the "warts".
Well I am still waiting, and I do not think there are any to be seen or heard.
The understated appearance of this quality made, compact and quite heavy for its size component belies its ability to take control of a speaker and supply it with a transparent, refined, and  powerful signal, seemingly unfettered by the things one expects at this price point.
The design of the ST-10 seems to have accomplished the overwhelming task of delivering a very musical, transparent and powerful high end amplifier for the cost of entry level gear.

My system consists of a Bryston BCD1 to my Primaluna Dialogue Premium tubed preamp to the ST-10 to a pair of Triode Wire labs American speaker cable, feeding my GTA2.5 planar hybrid speakers.
No matter what kind of music I threw at it, the amp unfailingly supplied the speakers with an wide open, deep,  pristine soundstage with solidly portrayed images. Dynamic contrasts are excellent, whether listening at live levels or quietly late at night, the dynamic swings and solid deep bass line stay intact. Quite impressive !!
I must be fair and tell you my GTA2.5's use 400 watt Hypex plate amps for the powered woofers and the ST-10 is only powering the full range planar and tweeter.
But I have had other amps in my system under the same conditions and none of them have ever portrayed music in such a convincing manner.
All this for $1600...consider me sold !!

Greg

[richidoo]

Thanks for the review Greg!



http://www.nuprimeaudio.com/index.php/product/amplifiers-preamps/stereo-amps/st-10

[topround]

Greg,
Dying to try it!  Might work great with my Virgo's.
and common sense pricing! They obviously want to sell them!

Mike

[GT Audio Works]

I feel that this product is the inevitable result of technology moving forward. I am sure there are many fine sounding amps out there at a price.
But consider a Texas instrument calculator was a fortune when I was a kid. Now you can buy one for a few bucks with vastly superior computing power.
I am not familiar with the design of this amp, but it does not use an off the shelf module or a standard power supply.
All I know is it sound amazing regardless of price.
Greg

[Nick B]

Greg,
I never had much interest in Nuforce, but your comments have very much piqued my interest in Nuprime.
As to the Texas Instruments calculator, I knew a "rich nerd" in college and geez that calculator was expensive..... 
Nick

[GT Audio Works]

Greg,
I never had much interest in Nuforce, but your comments have very much piqued my interest in Nuprime.
As to the Texas Instruments calculator, I knew a "rich nerd" in college and geez that calculator was expensive..... 
Nick

I had not heard of NuPrime till a few weeks ago....I went into this with no expectations having had no experience with NuForce either. So I was pleasantly surprised when I heard how good they are. 

I have a customer who powers his GTA 2 speakers with Carver Cherry 180 monos, and they sound wonderful. So my next trip is to his house to see how this little dynamo holds up against some good tubes.

I have a loaner at the moment but I plan to buy my own soon.If anyone is near me or you LI guys want to take a carpool trip your more than welcome to come out to the
sticks in Northern NJ and make your own determination.
Greg

[rollo]

   Good things come in small packages. The only issue I see is the input impedance which is low at 28K. Other than matching a preamp it appears an audition for the money is warranted.
    A few questions about character. Would you say lean ? rich ? dry ? neutral ? Asking because they voice the amp with a special circuit to make it sound tube like.
    Made in China ? USA ? Glad to hear your impressed BTW what Bryston model will it replace ?


charles

[GT Audio Works]

  Good things come in small packages. The only issue I see is the input impedance which is low at 28K. Other than matching a preamp it appears an audition for the money is warranted.
   A few questions about character. Would you say lean ? rich ? dry ? neutral ? Asking because they voice the amp with a special circuit to make it sound tube like.
   Made in China ? USA ? Glad to hear your impressed BTW what Bryston model will it replace ?


charles

I don't know how it will mesh with other preamps, but my Primaluna likes it.
The really cant call it anything, Neutral for lack of a better word.  Not rich or lean or bass heavy or any of the descriptions we use. It sounds completely transparent, music just seems to flow from a silent background with the life and vibrancy and dynamics. Images and soundstage are first rate.
I imagine if your speakers are lean or lacking in bass this amp will not make it any better in that regard. But if your speakers have the capability, the articulation and weight with zero overhang is amazing, not to mention how it handles vocals,every nuance is evident without a trace of being etched, if the recording can manage it. Other amps I have had in my system all had a character I could pin down, rich and smooth, clean top end, dynamic slam, great bass wide soundstage. But I have found it always came down to a choice of what I could get
at my price range. I imagine there are killer amps that do it all well, but at my price point I always felt I needed to make a compromise.
Like Jack Nicholson in the diner scene from 5 easy pieces, no substitutions allowed. You want the omlet you gotta take the hash browns with it, no rye toast on the side !
The St-10 is very chameleon like,  its just there, powerful and accurate in its presentation with all the superlatives in one basket.

My Bryston 4B ST is still a hell of an amp for the money, and in the right system, especially a speaker that could stand a boost to fix a leanness in the lower end to mid ranges. Its one bullet proof and powerful amp.

I have no details on where the ST-10 it made or the circuitry but I will attempt to find out.
Greg

[topround]

One of the best amps I had in my system was the Musical Fidelity Titan.
I would describe it as neutral as well. it just disappeared.
It was a giant piece of kit to be sure, it took a lot of landscape for sure, but it just did not seem to be in the picture in any way. In other words you forgot about it and just listened to music.
I miss them..

can't wait to hear this Nuprime

[tmazz]

I have a loaner at the moment but I plan to buy my own soon.If anyone is near me or you LI guys want to take a carpool trip your more than welcome to come out to the
sticks in Northern NJ and make your own determination.
Greg

IF any of the LI guys are thinking of making a pilgrimage to Greg's let me know I would be interested in hearing them.

[StereoNut]

I have a loaner at the moment but I plan to buy my own soon.If anyone is near me or you LI guys want to take a carpool trip your more than welcome to come out to the
sticks in Northern NJ and make your own determination.
Greg

IF any of the LI guys are thinking of making a pilgrimage to Greg's let me know I would be interested in hearing them.

+1 Depending on date...

Unfortunately, Real Estate first, Audio second! 

SN

[KLH007]

Bob Smith has modded the NuPrime ST-10 and taken it to another level. Pop over to AC and see the NuPrime circle for more info. I've heard it over at Well Pleased A/V in VA driving Mythology monitors with great results.

[satfrat]

Last I heard, Bob Smith was asked not to post again on AC til he addressed loudspeakers still owed to folks he took money from many years ago. Either that's changed or Smith is still pushing his luck but 1 things certain, Bob Smith STILL owes an AN member a set of loudspeakers for services rendered. 

Cheers,
Robin