2. amps-preamps
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Are ICEpower amps really that good?

Hi folks, it's getting a bit boring now, but I would like to hear your opinions about the following issue. I have the eAR ICEpower based amps (with the ASP1000 modules with built in SMPS). Some audiophiles and amp manufacturers believe they are just trash. In my opinion they are no slouch compared with the almost 8 times more expensive Accuphase A-50V stereo amp. In fact, I prefer the ICEpower amps above the Accuphase. Now I'm a bit in doubt (audiophiles are such weird creatures): are this sub $2k ICEpower amps really that good that they can compete with the $$$ Accuphase amp, or is it due to my own shortcoming (I might have some form of insidious and progressive hearing impairment) or is it just imagination? If the ICEpower amps are really that good, what's the point of buying $$$ amps? Btw, I have Dunlavy SC-V loudspeakers.

Chris
dazzdax

Showing 2 responses by hack

hack
185 posts
 

My reference amps include a BAT VK-500 with BAT Pack and a Classe DR-8 amplifier. I listened to several ICE amps in a variety of set-ups, to my ears they didn't seem to have the current to handle transients well. Very linear, uninvolving sound to 'em. That's not to say they can't be improved upon, maybe a manufacturer will incorporate the ICE principles with a massive power supply and make their product more appealing to the discerning 'phile. I want to think this will be the new wave in amplification, but I suspect there's a maturation process that is (so far) in the very early stages. Stay tuned?
hack
185 posts
 

Hello again,

I didn't mean to stir up so much controversy, just commenting on my experiences to date. I wouldn't go so far as to say ICE amps are compromised but I do feel they have a ways to go before they reach a level of performance most 'philes will find palatable. This isn't a surprise given the relatively short amount of time these products have been on the market. What's missing to my ears? To answer Dazzdax's questions; I found the ICE products to provide a very consistent tonal quality across the board, so to keep the response short let's characterize the sound as lacking harmonic structure and offering very litte PRAT. This characteristic seemed to be "universal" in all the ICE based amplifiers I've heard (so far) and led me to believe that the new designs would benefit from much beefier power supplies. Philnyc alludes to noticable improvments by paying close attention to power conditioning and aftermarket power cords, this in part confirms my suspicions that the ICE products could use some more power supply refinements. I noticed Nu-Force came out with a new Reference amplifer (reviewed on 6moons.com)that uses 30 capacitors! Evidently Nu-Force is still tweaking the design since there are reported quality issues after a short burn in time.

Which amps should you use in your system, the ICE-based stuff or the Accuphase? Let your ears decide. Happy listening, Jeff
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