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IcePower1200AS: Who has heard or has them, with what system components? Do you love them?

I love my EVS 1200, but it is anything but stock modules in a box. It's highly tweaked out by the mad genius, Ric Schultz, who modifys various class D amps. Prior to the EVS1200 I had PS Audio M700s, which I thought were very good and can be had for ~ 2K now, but I sold them because I wanted/needed more power for my 20 x 40 x 12 room and Ric's EVS1200 provided double the power at near the same price.

It was a bit of a risk in that I had never heard one, but he offered a 30 day money back trial. Well, it took my Emerald Physics KCIIs to a musical level that let me know I was keeping it. I was hoping to incorporate my 2 SVS powered subs (Ultra and Plus) with the KCIIs, but could not get them to integrate, and the room is too big for the KCIIs alone on power music.


About 3 weeks ago I replaced them with EP 3.4s, which is more than double the MSRP, and worth every hard earned dollar difference. 2 days ago I put on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of The Moon. I have listened to this disc with the following recent class D amps from W4S, Emerald Physics 100.2SEs, Audio Alchemy DPA-1, and the PSA M700s, but none of them through 3.4s, so while this is far from apples to apples, it does point to how great the EVS 1200 is, cause the music NEVER sounded as real and three dimensional as it does now, but, ~ 20% of the music I listen to needs more base , but the subs I think I needs cost $5K+. The great news is I have a pair of EP 2.8s coming soon. In addition to having the same 12" carbon fiber woofers with concentric polyester tweeter as the 3.4s, BUT, adds 2 @15" carbon fiber woofers in a de'apolito layout. These have been a long time coming. I'm pretty sure they will be my last pair of speakers

So what's your experience with IcePower based 1220 AS amps?
tweak1
tweak1 OP
3,645 posts
 
When you state the IcePower series sounded the same, which ones are you referring to?
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
Yesterday's technology.  Purifi is where it's at right now, with GaN already waiting in the wings for tomorrow.
Example of Moore's law?
tweak1 OP
3,645 posts
 
tle

Have you heard the EVS1200? It’s not in the same league as the Mivera, which is nothing more than a module in a box.

Underwood HiFi as been promoting their Gan called Voyager for over a year, but it’s still not available. MSRP is now $3500, meaning in real dollars, it would need to sound ~ 1/3 better than my EVS1200. I have serious doubts


A few other companies are working on a GaN amp, but they may cost even more than the Voyager
tweak1 OP
3,645 posts
 

My EVS 1200 has been on the sidelines ever since getting my LSA Voyager GaN amp. Ive been interested in replacing my vertical audio rack, and came across a 2' x 5' x 2" solid maple table top!, so I broke the system down 2 days ago. The room looks much wider now, and it is 19' wide. Alas, in the process the Voyager slipped off a chair and the top, which was resting on it, but not screwed down, nose dived into the right channel amp. While there was no observable damage, when I turned it on 4th of July sparks galore. Major bummer as I was most curious to hear how much of an effect getting the height out from between the speakers would have as well as replacing the individual shelving would have vs the solid maple table top.

System now up and running just minutes ago with the EVS 1200. It will take a few days for everything to settle in before I can evaluate how much better the 1200 sounds now, as since its been sidelined, I replaced all the cables as well as now have a Audiolab 6000CDT replaced my Marantz HD CD-1 used as a transport

tweak1 OP
3,645 posts
 

Not even 24 hours since firing my system back up, it is sounding way better then I recall from the last time the EVS was center stage, and I bragged about it back then. No doubt better cables and the solid maple table top has helped bring out the best in the 1200. This morning Im playing Chet Atkins and Mark Knoffler Neck and Neck, tube-like effortlessness! Too bad Ric doesn't make it anymore as it is ~ 60% the price of PS Audios M1200s, (MSRP $6598) which lack Rics magical pixie dust

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