ICE Amps for classical music?

One thought that occurred to me is that I consider both Magneplanar and IcePower to be way towards the low fatigue factor end of the spectrum. I would expect the combo of these two tehnologies to be the same.

That might be considered a good thing to some or too laid back and uninvolving to others, depending on personal preferences and such.

Also a touch of tube warmth somewhere up front of the amp might be another good ingredient to toss into the Class D amp soup, again depending on the nature of the system as a whole and listening preference.

I owned a Sony CD player not too long ago. The combo of the Sony sound, IcePower, and Maggies seems like one that I might expect to perhaps be somewhat towards the cold and thin end of the spectrum and perhaps could benefit from a bit more warmth somewhere in the signal chain.

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?

"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.

Muralman ,

Will do and good luck on your operation ..

regards,

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).