Class D ICEpower 1200as2 vs. Purifi 1ET7040SA amplifiers

@erik_squires I appreciate your feedback.  I’ve been getting that type of feedback from a lot of reviews and forums concerning the latest offerings from class D amps vs. owner’s expensive solid state or tube class A & AB amps.  So, it’s good to hear the technology is improving!

Thanks

@jbuhl I didn’t know the PS Audio 1200 was using the 2200as2?  Thanks for that information.  I really like PS Audio customer service, but I had an issue they couldn’t resolved with my Stellar Gain Cell DAC, so I don’t think I’ll be going down that road again.

Don’t visit PS Audio unless you want to have a pair of mono blocks loaded up and ready to take home because I’m confident they will impress you!😆

@erik_squires I literally just sold my Luxman L-509x last week.  It was very nice, but I plan to go back to separates, so I sold it.  I’m using my HEGEL H160 until I settle on a new amp to pair with my Holo Audio Serene KTE preamp.  Shockingly, the HEGEL sounds as good as my Luxman, but the Luxman has more sparkle on the top end.  The HEGEL manages the bass much better and a little warmer than my Luxman.  I loved my Luxman, but I don’t miss it.

@markmuse 🤣 That was funny!!!  I understand that.  The ears have to be ready to receive the signal to properly judge it.  
 

Let me know if you get the Atmasphere amps in house to do a shootout with the AGDs.

@markmuse Your experience with the AGD amps powering your Fyne speakers with a sensitivity of 91db, with ease, lends further confirmation to my position on being content with the 100w into 8ohms AGDs paired with my speakers!

Spatial X5?  You’re good…..  Very close, but no.  I had the X5s, sold them late last year and planned to buy the fully passive Spatial X4.  However, I decided to buy the Pure Audio Project Trio15 w/Coax10” driver.  Similar design philosophy, but I want to try the PAP design this time around.
 

I don’t want to sidetrack my post topic too far, but what caused you to swap out the Spatial X5 speakers?

Thanks!

To All:

You guys have provided a lot of good information with your experience and impressions on different power amps!  Unfortunately, I can’t get my hands on all the different amps you all mentioned, nor would I want to go through that many auditions.  Lol….  I’m narrowing my choices down to what I really want to try.  If I had to make a decision, TODAY, without hearing any amp, I would choose the AGD Productions Audion mono blocks or possibly the AGD Tempo stereo model.  That’s about the only class D or any class of power amp manufacturer that I haven’t read or heard any negative feedback.  Everyone describes it as a transparent amp that has a touch of bloom like tube amps, while retaining the bass, air, detail, smoothness and grip on the drivers.  That’s a big deal to me and that’s what I’m looking for.  The field upgradable output stage in a tube is a brilliant idea as well!
 

I originally wanted more power than the AGD Audion monos offer, but my soon to be delivered speakers sensitivity spec of 97db should do just fine with the AGDs.  I spoke with the AGD owner/designer and he is a really talented and smart guy with good customer service.  That’s a good start.

Today, I spoke to a representative from Legacy Audio concerning a few questions about their I-V2 Ultra amp.  I asked about the humming noise some advised they heard coming from the actual amp, not their speakers.  He advised they do hum sometimes whenever they are not properly grounded during the build process, but they test and fix, if needed, before shipping them out.  The reviewer of this amp advised of the humming and someone on this thread mentioned the ICEPower 1200as2 modules sometimes hum as well and that scenario was in residence, not the factory.  Shipping the unit back in forth for repair is not something I want to deal with right out the gate with a new amp, but I am considering it.  Legacy doesn’t offer an in-home trial, so that may not be the ticket for me.

I’m in no rush because my speakers require about 200 hours to break-in, so I won’t audition any amps until the speakers are performing at their best.  I don’t want any excuses for my speakers.

Thanks all for your informative feedback and feel free to add any information you feel would be useful concerning class D amps and any comparisons you experienced.  This is a fun journey, but it’s not free! 😎

@markmuse Interesting….  I had a different experience as I prefer to sit down and listen to my system, so I never considered how the X5s sounded outside of my listening position.  Now, I did try several positions with them and found that they had a large center stage when the AMT tweeter was positioned about 1 to 2 feet outside of my shoulders.  That waveguide used for the AMT tweeter gives a nice wide dispersement and they were supposedly known for giving a wider center stage over a Martin Logan electrostatic speaker, as an example.  So, several X series owners on the Spatial Audio (Audio Circle) forum tried that towed out positioning with success.  My issue was with the thin midbass, lack of bass and the top end was in my face on certain tunes.  The subwoofer would start clipping on some bass heavy tunes, but the fully passive models, M and X series had better bass over the hybrid X5 IMO.  Again, I preferred the Pure Audio Project this time around as that Coax 10 midrange driver has been praised for delivering beautiful midrange and that’s where the music lives in just about every music genre!

I’m glad the Fyne speakers are working for you.

Thanks!

@lewinskih01 Yes, a speaker manufacturer did recommend Atmasphere class D amps sometime ago.  I’ve had PS Audio M700 monos, S300 in a second system, Prima Luna EVO 400 preamp and amp combo, then moved on to the Luxman L-509x integrated.  I sold all of them and using a HEGEL H160 integrated from my second system until I decide on another amp.

@markmuse I do believe the PAP 10” coax driver will be the ticket, so I’m looking forward to hearing them.  So, you are still contemplating pursuing the Atmasphere monos to possibly replace your AGD amps?  If so, what do you feel the Atmasphere does better?

Thanks