Eldartford, Ok, just call me Mr. Sensitive. Two things price the H2O Signature ($2,800) as high as it is.
!) It is completely hand built in America.
2) A big conventional power supply does come at a premium price.
Like I point out in my review, not everyone is going to find it to their liking plunked down in their present system. I had to re-educate myself on how to bring out it's best. |
Bel Canto has always been a class D proponent. They just gave up on the inferior Tripath chip for ICE technology. Other big names are experimenting with class D chips. Jeff Rowland embraced ICE modules years ago.
I don't know of any solid state amp I would consider over my ICE amps. |
Read my system review Eldartford. If you ever find yourself in my vicinity give me a ring for a listen that will knock your socks off. |
Kublakhan, you posted, so now this thread will stay on your ,"My
Threads," as long as it is active. |
Eldartford, in Washington DC. |
Seurat, the proof is in the listening. A great part in what makes them different is their faster switching speed. They are analog, not digital. They don't sound like tubes, or solid state. |
Eladarford, the H2O is the sum of it's parts. The 500A ICE module is crucial to
H2O's success, but that chip has no power supply. This is not to say the H2O
is merely a Scandanavian chip stuck to a cap and torroid. |
Elberoth2, I repeat, the B&O 500A module is not a complete amp. It will make
no sound if you plug it in. You can stick one of those digital power supplies
on it, and it will sound much the same as the ASP stand alone amps. The nice
thing about the 500A is it allows a talented engineer, like Henry Ho, the
freedom to change the house sound of a B&O module as desired.
What makes you think you can characterize Henry's amps with authority?
Have you dissected one? Your "facts" are wrong. For instance,
Henry doesn't use a rectifying bridge. He uses a much better, and more
expensive solution.
I have heard four iterations of 500A amps. Each one sounds distinctly
different than the others. The same cannot be said of ASP amps. Henry's
signature monos are a slam dunk best in my system.
Sajran, in his review compares my amps with one of the many ASP amps in a
pretty box, like the Evo-e. The H2O is just more refined, and so is a real
contender against any solid state or tube amp.
If you noticed, Bel Canto followed Jeff Rowland's example and built their first
ICE amps with a digital power supply, why? Profit, that's why. They know they
can get a darn good sound out of packaging B&O's creation. Likewise, they
know, if they use Henry's 500A amps as a model to work from, their amp
prices will end up out of reach for 90% of audiophiles.
Henry's amps are no similar to Bel Canto amps than Boulder is to B&K. They
are related only in type of amp. Henry's amps are so good, they compete
with the best. Owners of major audiophile brand tube amps and solid states
have replaced them with the H2O, amps such as, Boulder, Rogue, VTL,
Quicksilver, DNA, Manley, Edge, Conrad Premier, etc.
|
Wow!~ This thread is taking off, like there is some interest, or concern surrounding these new strange amps. That's cool.
With Henry's American made Fire preamp I'm in audio heaven. The only reason I brought up H2Os being American made was to explain their pricing. The aluminum plates making up the H2O's chassis are formed within a short distance. Given US's high craftsman wages, each amp case costs around $400. Don't think Henry Ho hasn't considered outsourcing.
The thing is, I consider Henry's pricing a steal. I wasn't concerned about ditching $16,000 monos for Henry's $5,500 monos. However, I would think twice before I pay over $2,000 for a module in a box. |
Elberoth2, Let's see what B&O says. Under applications for the ICE power
500A Module, it says, and I quote,
"The ICEpower A-series require external power supply but can also be
powered by the unique ICEpower DC Bus concept integrated in the ASP-series
modules."
I rest my case in this matter.
B&O denies warranty to modified modules. Modifying such minute circuitry
would be insane, anyway.
The sound from these modules can be significantly enhanced through linear
power supply, and filtering. |
Eldatford, I resent you impinging my integrity. The amp is made in America. The module is made in Europe. It's all semantics. You tend to think the amp is the incomplete module, while I am talking about the whole component. I think the people here are smart enough to see the difference. Being that the 500A is not a stand alone amp just lends to my credibility. |
Kjgp, is this an audio forum, or a congressional hearing? I mentioned above I've had several ICE amps in my system. I didn't feel it was necessary to write my life history. Yes, one was the little Peter amp. It was a 500A analog supply amp too. It also sounded much better in my system than the solid state. The H2O Sig kills it, though. |
Denf, the Nufocre 902 is a lot better than Nuforce's original 8. So is the H2O Sig better than the original H2O. I am not saying the H2O is the best amp for all systems. It's far from it. I am saying my system is awesome.
I have done a lot of things externally to maximize the H2O's delivery. My preamp is custom made, my cables and interconnects were revamped, and my front end is tuned nearly perfectly.
There is nothing more better I'd like to see than a head to head contest between UCD and ICE. |
This is all very interesting. Being Henry's biggest, and longest fan, I use to
meet dislike of his products with incredulity. Since, I have become
completely aware the H2O is system dependent.
In my system review here, I make note the H2O will not likely give most the
performance I am enjoying, It just isn't the kind of amp that can be plunked
down into any system, and perform it's best.
Case in point: A fellow I know tried an H2O with his battery preamp system,
and predictably didn't like it. He preferred his PS Audio's tizzy highs. You
won't find many audiophiles that like the early PS Audio amp highs, but in his
system, it was his preference.
There isn't one amp, or system, that will push everyone's buttons.
My audio preference leans to brutal reality. I don't want the signal "
improved." I can hear coloration, random capacitance, tube warmth,
solid state brightness, and Krell like iron fist control. I don't like any of it.
Give me, as much as possible, the unadulterated free flowing music off the
disc. That is my desire. |
