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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
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Weseixas, which Bel Canto monos did you try? . . . Ref 1000, Ref 1000M(same as Ref 1000 Mk.2), Ref 500M?

Did the Bel Canto have at least 1000 hours of music to its credit? ICEpower amps require an inordinate breakin time, while your vintage Threshold is of course fully broken in.

Did you leave the BC to play in the background for several hours prior to evaluation? ICREpower amps take about 24 hours to yield their best after powerup.  
rx8man's avatar
rx8man
1,481 posts
 
My exact thought Guido, class D amps need to be left running to sound musically correct, I learned that early on.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,149 posts
 
Not all BEl Cantos may work equally well with the tube pre-amp. A bad match here might account for what was heard.

Also, I believe power supply implementations are different in different BC models and could make a difference.

I can say for certain that the BC ref1000m's in my system do not match Weseixas' description.

Never heard the Threshold so cannot compare to that. I'm sure it is a fine amp in of itself as well from what I do know.

Different amps do sound different, even under optimal circumstances, so not all will take to any in particular the same even if everything is set up to integrate perfectly.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Guidocorona is correct. No ICE amp will sound very good in the first 100 hours, with optimum playing delayed for 100s of hours.

Besides the need for a NOS DAC, a good ICE amp will never sound clear unless the whispiest insulated SC is used.

Class D is not deficient. Our understanding of class D is deficient.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
The choice for an NOS or upsampling D/A Converter is purely subjective and a personal choice contrary to a previous post which is erroneous and disingenuous as well.

Some folks prefer NOS while others prefer upsampling; it's vanilla or chocolate. Neither is right or wrong.

The amplifier with regards to your choice of D/A Converters is, of course, irrelevant.

Also incorrect is the "whispiest insulated speaker cable" advice. Choose the speaker cable that suits your ears and system. It's that simple.
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