Anatomy of Norge 2060
Teja took some great shots of Norge 2060 internals on our request.
http://www.hifivision.com/amplifiers/20340-norge-2060-internals.html
It is for his photos only that I can write this review. So, all the credit goes to Teja and not to me.
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Norge 2060(by Teja)
Norge 1000 & Norge 2060(by Teja)
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2060 Inside view(by Teja)
2060 Pre-amplifier Module(by Teja)
Pre-amplifier Module: Both Norge 1000 & 2060 uses identical pre-amplifier modules i.e. PCB layout. Both houses three TL072 operational amplifiers but while 1000 uses Texas Instruments op-amp the 2060 uses ST Microelectronics ones. Quality wise both are same.
ST Microelectronics TL072CN(by Teja)
Like 1000, each of these three op-amps are used for bass, treble & balance management individually.
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2060 Power-amplifier Module(by Teja)
Power-amplifier Module: Both 1000 & 2060 uses the same PCB layout + components. Like the 1000, identical CKT A1943/C5200 power transistors per channel are used. They can produce 150 watts of peak dissipation regardless of load.
2060 using A1943/C5200 power transistors(by Teja)
The calibration of the power-amp module will be different from Norge 1000, since they have different voltages feeding them.
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The Power Supply: Here lies the big difference. Looking at the size of the toroidal transformer it seems to be at 207VA one, while the 1000's is 311VA. So, 2060 has less juice than 1000, thus less power.
2060 Toroidal Transformer(by Teja)
Toroidal Transformer Details [
My guess]
VA Rating: 206.50 VA
Primary Input: AC 230V/50Hz
Secondary Output :
i) 24.5VAC x 2, 4A (Goes to the power amplifier)
ii) 15VAC X 2, .35A (Goes to the pre amplifier)
This transformer will be able to deliver:
49V X 4A = 196.00 VAC [goes to Power amps]
30V X 0.35A = 10.50 VAC [goes to Pre amps]
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Total = 206.50 VAC = 206.50 watts ~ 207 watts
Rectifier + Ripple filters + Voltage Regulators (AC to DC PCB) (by Teja)
This module is also identical to 1000, the upper part handling the power amp module having same pair of Samwha 4700uf, 50V capacitors per channel as found on 1000.
The Ripple Filter Capacitors(by Teja)
The diodes(tiny black ones) are beefier in 1000 since it has to handle +/- 35 VAC. Here the transformer's +/- 24.5 VAC secondary for the power amp module after passing through the rectifier & power capacitors will be +/- 35 VDC, the current being 4A. With a pair of A1943/C5200 power transistors, 60 watts @ 8 ohms per channel is easily obtainable at +/- 35 VDC while using a suitable transformer.
The lower portion of the PCB for preamp module is also same, using four 1000uf caps, except that these capacitors of Norge 1000 are of a slightly better quality. The transformer's +/- 15 VAC secondary for the pre amp module after passing through the rectifier & power capacitors will be +/- 20 VDC. Now, the voltage regulator cuts down the voltage by further 10 volts, so that the DC voltage supply to the pre amp module be a 'clean' +/- 15 VDC, the current being 0.35A
Norge 2060 amps continuous power output capability
Since, 196VAC is channeled to the power amplifier module, the Norge 2060 will produce a maximum of 100 watts of continuous power at around 50~60% efficiency regardless of load.
This means Norge 2060 is always capable to provide 100 watts i.e. 50 watts of continuous power per channel to the speakers regardless of the impedance(1 ohm, 2 ohm, 4 ohm, 6 ohms, 8 ohms, ....) of the speaker. But, for safety reasons one should not use speakers below 4 ohms impedance with this amp.
Continuous Power Output of Norge 2060 :
4,6,8 ohms load : 50W X 2 =
100W
Dynamic Power Output of Norge 2060:
i) 4 ohms load : 80W X 2 =
160W
ii) 6 ohms load : 65W X 2 =
130W
iii) 8 ohms load : 50W X 2 =
100W
Wonder what difference a transformer can make.
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Where Goes The Heat?
Heat Sink(by Teja)
Considering the case that Norge 2060 in Class-AB mode will deliver 100W with 50~60% efficiency, it will be dumping something around 96 watts of heat to this heat sink. A heat-sink of this size can handle a max of 60 watts of heat dissipation.
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Norge 1000 vs Norge 2060
1) Sound Quality : From a theoretical point of view both should be identical.
2) Continious Power Output : The Norge 1000 posses the upper hand here with 160 watts while 2060 is capable of 100 watts. The 1000 will also posses more "depth" & "warmness" in sound due to its better power output capability. The listener will always feel that the 1000 have lot in reserve and is hardly strained.
3) Dynamic Power Output : Of-course the 1000's toroidal transformer have more internal capacitance since it's bigger, which means the dynamic power rating will be much higher than 2060 at a certain load. EI transformers have even lower internal capacitance than toroidal ones. This is the reason why they are considered inferior to toroid.
CP: Continious power, DP: Dynamic Power
Say at 4 ohms loads,
Norge 1000:
CP-->160W, DP-->250W, Difference--> 250-160=90W
Norge 2060:
CP-->100W, DP-->160W, Difference--> 160-100=60W
So, the bigger the transformer the more you can push the upper ceiling(dynamic power) of the amp. NAD is famous for this.
4) Stability & Reliability : The 2060 is definitely more stable & reliable of the two.
While 1000 uses +/- 42VDC for power amp module which really pushes the power transistors & its associated circuitry to the absolute limit of their performance, Norge 2060 uses only +/- 35VDC, and thus performs in a relaxed & lazy manner. The power transistors of 2060 always operates with ease having a lot of headroom, and always remaining under the safe operating area(SOA).
Since absolute max current & voltages are supplied to the Norge 1000 power amp module to generate maximum power output that this module was designed for, I will preferably avoid 4 ohm speakers and use 6 or 8 ohm or above rated speakers with 1000. Norge 2060 will have no such problem and 4 ohm speakers can be easily used with it. These are my personal views.
Looking at the heatsink, I find Norge 1000 is dumping (300-160) = 140 watts of heat in the heat-sink, while it is capable to radiate only half of it(70 watts). To me this is critical thermal issue.
Heat assimilation of Norge 1000 heatsink = 140 - 70 = 70 watts
But for Norge 2060, (196-100) = 96 watts of heat will be dumped in the heatsink, while it is capable to radiate more than half of it(60 watts).
Heat assimilation of Norge 2060 heatsink = 96 - 60 = 36 watts
So while 1000 gets crazy as of what to do with this additional 70 watts of heat that it cannot dissipate through the heatsink at max volume thereby incrementally rising the temperature of the power transistors until they go bust, the 2060 somehow manages this 36 watts of additional heat at full volume, though this 36 watts will have a detrimental effect on the power transistors sooner or later and they will go bust too.
But then again who listens at full volume for an extended period of time? I assume no one. So, for normal listening(less than 60% volume) both amps are excellent & durable.
Considering the relaxed manner in which 2060 operates & with much better heat dissipation capability than 1000, there is no doubt that 2060 will be the preferred one for long listening duration's at high volume.
After the fan modding, Norge 1000 also becomes a very capable amp for the long listening hours at high volume.
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Verdit :
The 2060 have more than enough power & performance to satisfy every Indian audio fanatic. But we are never satisfied, are we? For them I suggest the Norge 1000. So,
Sane & looking for normal listening pleasure : Norge 2060
Insane & looking for raw performance : Norge 1000
Not satisfied even?
Then look for Krell, NAD, Marantz, Yamaha, ....................................... the never ending list