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ICE Amps for classical music?

I listen to classical orchestral music at heavy volume. I detest reproduced music for always sounding more or less electronic and not acoustic. Real music is beautiful in a way reproduced music--so far at least-- never is. I have become curious about Wyred4sound amps because of low price and high watts. I am wondering if any of you "mostly classical" listeners have heard these amps and feel they do no more damage to music than amps which are NOT ICE amps. I am using a Plinius SA100 now and have used a VAC 100/100,
a Bedini Classic 100/100, a Music Reference RM-9, and other tube and solid state amps. They all had their pluses and minuses, of course, but for least electronic, clearly the Bedini was the winner. So what about ICE amps?
rpfef
jult52
155 posts
 
The thing I would worry about with ICE amps is the massive amount of EMI/RF they throw off. I believe that would be a particular problem with Maggies (which I listen to as well). Am I wrong about either the ICE amps producing EMI/RF or about their effect on system components?
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,149 posts
 
"Am I wrong about either the ICE amps producing EMI/RF or about their effect on system components?"

This is something I was concerned with going in.

Yes, there is potential and it needs to be suppressed. Newer designs, including Bel Canto's, seem to do it effectively. I read it was more of a problem with some early units. It's not been an issue in my setup, which even includes a low out MC phono setup and tuner.

The ref1000mkii is dead quiet. I detect no background or any other audible noise.

EMI/RF would not effect speakers directly I believe, rather other low level eletronics and/or the power supply which would then affect the sound heard via speakers.
weseixas
519 posts
 
Muralman ,

Will do and good luck on your operation ..

regards,
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,428 posts
 
Jult52 - About 1% of carrier frequency (roughly 0.5MHz)appears on the speaker cable. To be 1/4 wave antenna, cable at this frequency would have to be over 300ft long. Below 1/10 of wavelength antenna becomes practically ineffective AFAIK. Switching power supply operates at 10x lower frequency. Good shielding of the system (especially Interconnects) protects from capacitive coupling.

There is also worry of non-linearities (hence modulation) induced by carrier in the tweeter. Tweeter cannot be non-linear if its membrane doesn't move - not likely at 500kHz.

Non-class D amps also produce EMI/RF since linear power supply current is delivered in narrow spikes of current (practically switching power supply at 120Hz).
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Thank you for your concern, Weseixas. I think we should carry on our visit plans via email. That way we can exchange phone no. and not be a bore to the rest.
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