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verdict on class D amps?

I saw a thread about seymour ice amps.... anyone have any experience with these compared to conventional amps? I was planning on picking up a used pair of bryston 7st or a single 14 st however for similar money (& power) the new ice 50001 is available. In car audio there it doesn't seem like class D is very good except for sub duty. Is the same true for home stuff? Presently I have a adcom GFA5500 which was going to get thrown on rear surrounds & I was going to use parasound HCA1500 on my speakers untill I can afford something newer/better for my old infinity kappa 8.1 speakers

thanks
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59 responses Add your response
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
ISanchez, my preamp is the H2O Fire preamp. This is a most unique class A solid state preamp, in that it gets intolerably hot. It takes two hours of warm up to sound it's best which is ironically nothing.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
With class D amps I have discovered less is more when it comes to ICs and SCs. My interconnects are very cheap but unusually designed and sound great. The SCs are home made. I turn my monos around, and push them to the back of the speakers. That enables me to connect the amp to the speakers using very short, and thin copper ribbons.
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isanchez
276 posts
 
Muralman1,

It seems that you have a great match between your H2O amp/preamp. I'm glad it all worked out for you. After a few decades in this hobby, I think it all comes down to the synergy between components.

Best,

iSanchez
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Kijanki, if a spreadsheet does not exist yet, I'll make one with the info you posted. G.
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kijanki
4,428 posts
 
Guido - Great! Thanks.
gnpgnp
6 posts
 
Based largely on a Dudley review in Stereophile, I purchased a Halcro Logic HC 20 amp, brand new in box for under $2K. Picked it up locally near Xmas, and it keeps sounding beter. Finally gettting enough juice to my PSB Stratus Gold i's. Now looking for a tubed preamp with which I intend to live happily everafter.....
Any suggestions regarding the tubed preamp. Probably prefer a used one....
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mapman
22,180 posts
 
I'm wondering how good the new Wired 4 Sound models are compared to the Rowland, Bel Cantos and Spectrons of the world?
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coffeey
363 posts
 
They are coming out with a int.I want to see about that,sounds interesting.
audioesq
26 posts
 
Gnpgnp,

I have a pair of PSB Stratus Gold i's in my second system. I believe they are a classic. I recently added a new power amp and preamp for that system. I am using the Audio Research LS 17 tubed preamp and Audio Research 100.2 amp. My speaker cables are Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval biwires.

These upstream revisions have brought the PSB's to a new level of performance. I strongly recommend that you try the AR LS 17 as your preamp. If possible, give them an audition. Best of luck in your search.
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