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Icon Audio Stereo 30 SE

Hi, anyone have experience with this integrated amp? For my new speakers, I wanna buy a single ended tube amp for critical listening from time to time. I recently bought a pair of Legacy Audio Signature SEs and drive them through a solid state system.  But I would like to also buy a SE tube amp for listening when the mood warrants.  I have recently bought a Coincident Dynamo SE which is only 8 WPC, but they still sounded wonderful driving the speakers. However, I bought that for my second system, and Legacy recommends at least 30 WPC.  The Icon 30 SE is 28 WPC on ultralinear mode, and is reasonably priced. Please recommend any other brands that also fit the criteria. I preffer auto biased, easy to maintain amplifiers. Thanks.
nitewulf

Showing 4 responses by facten

facten
2,747 posts
 
Re my above post on biasing I should have noted 70 vs 75
facten
2,747 posts
 
No experience with Icon amps; would suggest for singled ended to look at either the Line Magnetic 518IA (I  have it ) 22wpc SE with 845 tubes  , or the 508IA (very good feedback on Agon threads 48wpc SE with 805 & 300B tubes.  Very well built and very good sounding amps with tube rolling taking them to another level  . Don't know how much you want to spend but I believe pricing is still 518 is $4500, and 508 is $5000
facten
2,747 posts
 
On the top plate in front of each 845  tube there's a bias pot and bias switch, all you need to do is let amp warm up about 10 mins, flip bias switch on for one tube , use small screw driver , turn bias down to zero and then up to 75 - meter is on front of amp, flip switch back off, do same for 2nd tube and all done  - all down. Takes very little time . .LM recommends checking every 150 hours.

CAmp also as a hum pot in the event an 845 hums you can control it. Haven't has that issue in 18 months of having the amp and using it fairly regularly

facten
2,747 posts
 
To each his own ears, don't find anything solid state like about the 518, but that's just me. That said, a number of folks on other threads, as well as, the dealer I bought the 518 from do tend to be more partial to the 508's sound like Kenny
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