ICE Amps for classical music?

Dob - If you refer to my comment about "fraction of time" - it wasn't about that. It was about whole musical pieces containing peaks vs. rest of the music.

I've never said that it is not worth to invest in truthful reproduction of peaks but rather that money can be invested better in the system (timbre, microdynamics, imaging etc.) unless you listen to this type (orchestral classical?) of music often. If you listen for instance to Indian Classical music you won't find any strong peaks or desire to listen loud.

You wrote: "So, unless you in flute music or country music or pop and wish to avoid listener fatigue - you better pay more attention to peaks"

That is great simplification because most of music and instruments don't contain strong peaks. I would add to mentioned flute hundreds of other instruments (vocal, guitar, lute, violin, cello, charpsichord, all woodwinds etc.) and few centuries of music as well as many genres including Jazz, Blues, Folk, Latin, Reggae, World etc.
(I just listen to Cecilia's Bartolli "Opera Prohibita" and cannot really find any strong peaks - still beautiful music)

From Dob, contributed to Simon Thatcher: "We believe that when our subconscious mind detects a even small unnatural trace of distortion in reproduced acoustic music (which is not recognized yet as a very low level irritant by the analytical part of our brain) it activates a subtle alarm."

I play my music after it's kind. I like playing piano at realistic levels, keeping in mind the fact one has to pay mind to where the microphone is during the recording.

With a real clean CD, I use higher levels again. I have some really lovely sounding CDs. Orchestral recordings require a substantially high volume setting to get the most satisfaction out of the rolling peaks. On this system there is not a hint of any distortion at any level.

Thank you so much Rafael, I will look for the Kertesz performance. G.

When it comes to peaks in classical orchestral music, the term peak is actually a misnomer. Classical music has sustained passages of high complexity which can be particularly heavy in the lower frequencies. This can place an incredible demand on power requirements for a sustained period of time. I have much music that has 'crescendos' that last minutes, not seconds. With insufficient power, those protacted moments when the entire orchestra is playing together at full-tilt can sound strained and muddy. High power is a requirement here, although power by itself does not guarantee excellent reproduction and musicality.

My speakers are not inefficient at 90 db into 4 ohms. However, I am readily drawing 500+ watts of power when listening to the final movement of Mahler #6 at a spirited volume. This movement is huge with prominent double-basses, cellos, and brass, all playing together. With that amount of power, it remains sweet and clear, with no collapse of the stage and no strain.

I am sure I am not the first to say this but since I am late to the party and have only read the question not the answers,there are good and bad amps in all genre that can do harm to classical music, or any other music for that matter.

Wrong amp and wrong speakers and no type of music is safe.

Full blown orchestral classical music needs amps and speakers that are full range.
If your classical taste is small chamber ensembles, then small two ways and low to mid power tube amps are very nice.

I have Ice powered amps,Red Dragon Leviathan monos and have used them on Tannoy Ardens, Merlin TSM and now on Ref 3A Grand Veenas.
I listen to all types of music, and all styles of classical, so far my Ice amps have yet to be bested in a recent amp comparison I have had with some pretty well respected tube amps.

If other Ice amps are similar to mine, then I would say you have nothing to worry about.