2. amps-preamps
  3. 1371006713

NCore vs. Ice -- single or separate cases

Hey guys,

I've recently gotten a bug that I can't shake. I went to sleep thinking about it last night.

I want to try out a class D amp.

I've narrowed my choices down to something based on either the NCore NC400 or the IcePower 125asx2.

If I went the way of the NC400, I'll be building them myself. If I went the way of the Ice, I may build it myself or just buy the assembled units. Either way, the NC400 builds will run about twice that of the Ice builds.

Is there anyone out there that can comment on which is better? If the answer is that the NC400 is better, is it worth twice the price?

My next question is whether I should build the mono units into separate boxes or a single box? In other words, is it better to use a longer interconnect with a short speaker cable or vice versa?

Thanks.
tonyangel

Showing 2 responses by doggiehowser

doggiehowser
672 posts
 
Timrhu

The REF1000s were much older than the REF500S and have been upgraded to REF1000M specs.

I still find the REF500M to be the best choice in the Bel Canto line up. The newer 3rd gen modules are better than the ASP1000 modules in the REF1000/1000Ms.

I find them best partnered with my ARC Reference 5SE preamp.
doggiehowser
672 posts
 
Timrhu

Not to be pedantic but I don't believe it is a clone of the REF1000M but rather the 1000. The REF1000 was pretty much the ASP1000 with Bel Canto chassis, wiring and connectors.

The REF1000M included Bel Canto's own input buffer and power supply board, which IMHO raised the performance bar a fair bit. The REF500M used those same boards but with the third gen ASX modules.
More to discover