Ice Amp 125ASX2

Hi guys, just an update that the ICE Amp didn't work out. You guys were right, they don't add anything to the sound and they are very clean and IMO sterile and flat sounding, especially with vocals. I'm sure that they would be great with movies and I can confirm that they sounded very nice with Katy Perry's ice cold voice.

I always thought that my Emotiva mini X amp was neutral, but now I know that it's a bit warm. I listened to Chris Cornell and Diana Krall on the Ice Amp and their voices both sounded dry and soulless. My computer speakers are Silverline Minuet Supreme, which are on the warm side with paper woofers and silk tweeters. Anyways, thanks for all of the feedback. I guess I learned that hifi to me is a warm & detailed sound. 

That amp needs a few hundred hours burn in

I bought it used so it should have been burned in. IMO it needed a valve pre-amp to warm up the vocals. But of course that is my personal preference.  

@seanheis1

Sorry they didn't work out for you.  I'm on the other side, they work great for my needs, but then I'm not taking a PC audio output. :)

You asked about inputs. Among some of the things I've read is the use of input coupling transformers. Either 1:1 or 1.4 or 2:1 to increase the apparent input impedance were some of the stories I've read.  I"m actually dying to try some from Jensen, but that's another project that will have to wait.  Not too terribly expensive, about $70 each

There's a lot of claims of vendors doing this or that to the amps to differentiate themselves.  some are true, some are completely bogus but in almost all cases are almost costless. The biggest change which is true is from Theta who started shipping nCore modules with linear power supplies. It's easier to do with nCore since they don't have an integrated power supply like many of the ICEPower modules do. Of course, Hypex sells power supplies, but with the ICEPower 250ASP for instance, the power supply is on board and impossible to remove.

Just to be sure, leave them on 24/7 for a week or so, let us know if the amp warms up at all.

Best,


Erik

Oh, I just realized something.  If you are going from PC to ICE, how are you getting the balanced input??