ICE amps need cooling?


I've been looking for an amp to power my Maggies and was doing some research on these ICE modules from B&O. While reading the data sheet I saw that the model 1000 that puts out 525 watts into 8 Ohms and 1,000 watts into 4 Ohms it gave a specification of Power(FTC) of 80 watts continuous. Now I remember back in the 70's during the receiver wars the FTC mandated that power ratings be standardized to something like "100 wpc continuous into 8 Ohms with no more than X% distortion" This was to stop all the unrealistic power claims of huge power output for a brief time under tremendous distortion. It made the playing field level so consumers could at least get what they were expecting. So I see that the ICE module has a power rating of only 80 watts continuous! Now that is a far cry from the 500 watts they are bragging about. Have all amplifier specs abandoned the FTC ruling, or is the ICE module just blowing smoke? The B&O site also stated that with heat sinks or fan cooling the power rating could go up. Most ICE amps I see on the market don't have any heat sinks or even ventilation for that matter. So are we all buying ICE amps that can deliver their stated output power for only brief times, and actually put out only a fraction of the power for any sustained period of time? I'm no expert and I just saw this today so I am asking the the members with lots of knowledge in this area to respond and please clear this up. Thanks.
koestner

Showing 6 responses by dcstep

If you're using an ICEPower amp to blast 110dB sine waves continuously, then you had better cool it, but if you play music with your amp, then don't worry about it.

Dave
My Rowland Continuum 500 integrated amplifier idles around 120-degrees F. Jeff says that's due to the power factor correction not the ICEPower units.

Dave
Muralman1 said:

"It is a proven fact that the digital power supply ICE modules are not good for
high audio use. They are instituted in mass productions of popular electronics."

Those using Rowland, Spectron, Bel Canto, etc. in high end systems would disagree that anything such thing is a "proven fact".

Dave
Guidocorona is a "professional" reviewer, writing for TAS. You can read his reviews of various Rowland components here on A'gon.

Of course, the best test for an individual is to listen for themselves.

Dave
B&O developed ICEPower technology with much research and help from their government. B&O uses the units in their mass market systems and also sells them to the likes of Rowland, Spectron, Bel Canto, etc. Some people just stick them into folded metal boxes, but those mentioned add proprietery improvements to integrate them into their own designs.

Yes, switching and digital are two different things. Too bad they didn't call it Class E instead. I think that the "D" confuses lots of people, even though it holds no significance other than being the next letter in the alphabet after A, B and C.

Dave