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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
ricevs
1,543 posts
 
The stock 1200AS stereo module is reviewed by Jerry at 10 audio.com.....this is what an IceEdge amps sounds like with junk AC inlet, stock fuses, and junk AC wire:

http://www.10audio.com/mivera_1200as2.htm

As you know......the $2200 dual mono amp you have of mine (only 12 in existence)....is another whole league beyond a stock stereo module.

PS audio is taking the stock IceEdge 1200AS module and putting a tube in front of it. These amps are getting very good reviews.....$6000 the pair:

https://www.psaudio.com/products/stellar-m1200-power-amplifier/

The IceEdge module is limited by its input stages (op amps built into the IceEdge chip, that cannot be bypassed) and its output coils...which are ferrite core. All class D amps until now....that is, every class D amp that anyone has heard....has ferrite core coils on the output. You would never use a ferrite core coil in the xover on the midrange or tweeter of your speaker (everyone knows that would wreck the sound). So why would you want to put the entire audio signal through a ferrite core inductor as the last part before the signal goes out on a class D amp? You certainly would not for sound reasons. I am now modding the Purifi and possibly the Ncore 1200 Class D modules and I am using air core inductors on the output.....this is a major breakthrough in class D sound. Please read more about it here:

http://tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Purifi_amp_mods.html

http://tweakaudio.com/EVS-2/Ruminations_on_Class_D.html


erik_squires
16,056 posts
 
I can't speak to ever ICEpower amp as I've only lived with the 250 ASP which predate ICEedge.

In my case they had no obvious flaws except to have an overly warm presentation, exactly like the Parasound A23s I was comparing them to.  Blindfolded I could not tell those two amps apart with my Focal Profiles at the time.

With my current custom speakers, I did replace the ICEpower with Luxman, but again, I heard nothing wrong, Luxman was just better than both Parasound and the ICEpower. 
You should definitely give them a chance, the current versions may be just what you are looking for.


tweak1 OP
3,658 posts
 
Thanks Ric

Ferrite coils and a non upgradeable opamp may be poor mfg choices, but what Ric has done to the EVS 1200 has minimized their affect to a point where I would need to hear what Ric comes up with next (side by side) to determine for myself how much of a negative impact these 2 components have, through my highly revealing system
tweak1 OP
3,658 posts
 
Eric_S

When I had my maggie 3.5Rs I tried a Parasound A23 on the ribbons, then on the bass panels. I found it dark, a tad syrupy, and a room heater
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