ICE Amps for classical music?

A few commented that peak creshendo takes only small fraction of time of the recording (and I agree with it) and therefore is not worth investing in truthful reproduction of these peaks (and I disagree STRONGLY with it).

Simon Thacher of Spectron who is both (retired)EE and (former) concert pianist wrote enire paper on this subject in Enjoy The Music last year:
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/manufacture/0708/index.html

For lazy, he explained there what kind of distortions occur at the peaks and conclude with:

"The exploration of the origin of "listener fatigue" is extremely interesting, at least, for this writer. 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. This forces the listener into the tense or alert mode. Indirectly supporting this hypothesis is the common description we hear from Spectron users who utilize the two powerful monoblock amplifiers (7 kW peak power, each): "how relaxing" is my listening now."

So, unless you in flute music or country music or pop and wish to avoid listener fatigue - you better pay more attention to peaks - equally or more as you pay attention to other attrubutes of your equipment.

Personally, the combination of Joule-Electra "most romantic as per Harry Pearson" LA-300ME preamp, Spectron monoblocks and B&W 802D is THE best I own and auditioned then any system at any cost. PERIOD!!!!

All The Best
Rafael

Ahhhh bliss then ....... :)

"So, unless you in flute music or country music or pop and wish to avoid listener fatigue - you better pay more attention to peaks - equally or more as you pay attention to other attributes of your equipment. "

I'd agree with that except that all kinds of music benefit from better peaks and transients in general. Clean sharp peaks and transients (even at lower levels) is perhaps the biggest difference I hear with my better speakers since moving to the Bel canto ref1000mkii IcePower amps.

How about those ICE amps ? ............. -)

Guido,
If you want uncompressed and excellent performance of Dvorak 9th - then get Esoteric SACD with Kertesz conducting Vienna Philarmonic. Phenomenal recording and ....performance!

Weseixas: "How about these ICE amp" - you can ask Mapman who uses his ICE based Bel Canto to experience sharp peaks "even at lower levels". I can only imagine the SPL pressure when he playes at medium levels !