Negative Feedback a deal killer?

"50us/0.2us = 500" ?

Dob, have you ever heard or checked out the H2O Audio gear? His amplifiers are not slap-an-ICE-module-in-a-box affairs. They have very stiff linear power supplies and they sound different from other ICE module amps. His preamplifier has, as far as I know, a very unique design resulting in extremely high quality sound. While subjectively one can like or dislike his products, objectively, he is a skilled and knowledgeable designer.

Regarding negative feedback, I agree with most other end-users who have posted in this thread. In my experience, some amps that advertise no negative feedback sound very good when driving speakers that offer a benign load, but tend to sound soft and rolled off when driving more difficult speakers. While having auditioned and owned gear from a number of good designers, I've had better results with electronics that have some amount of feedback when driving my particular speakers (Avalon Opus).

By the way, I've heard the Spectron amps as well and I thought they sounded good in the two systems I heard them in.

Alan

Aljordan,

In my post I expressed NO JUDGMENT of the sound of H2O and other amplifiers which use B&O ICE Module whatsoever. I knew in moment I will do it people like you will attack me and I like to be attacked exactly the same as next guy. If you still feel offended then my sincere apologies - we really talked about differences in designs and their effect on even/odd order of ditortions as well as capability to drive difficult loads.

"...they sound different from other ICE module amps"

Here, I must take issue this this statement. Firstly, if linear power supplies used are BEEFY then most certianly this amplifier will have better dynamic range then all others based on tiny switching power supplies (again - huge exception is Jeff Rowland). So here I agree with you but in regard of the dynamic range only.

Secondly, if your amplifier is reasonably neutral and B&O modules certainly are then any change (say in PS wire or input capacitor) will produce somewhat different texture, so obviosuly each of them will sound slightly different but their main sonic signature is determined by their input/output stage...which are identical or nearly indentical (with some mods) in all of them.

Cheers

"better dynamic range then all others based on tiny switching power supplies (again - huge exception is Jeff Rowland)"

Not only that most (if not all) of Rowland Icepower amps use SMPS supplies but he uses them as well in Capri preamp and new generation of class AB amps. Rowland amps like 102, 201, 501 use standard B&O modules with built in SMPS.

Hello Kijanki,

To talk, as you did above, about Jeff Rowland (switching) power supplies and not to mention that he is first in the high fidelity audio world (to the best of my knowledge) who produced probably the most technologically advanced power supplies with fully or partially regulated PFC (power factor correction)and DC:DC converter (allowing safe high voltage headroom - thus his dynamic range is "exception" from all other SMPS in audio,I mentioned) is the same as to visit a zoo and miss the elephant there.

I hate to go personal but I feel that many of your posts are not for the discussion or observation or sharing experience but for "Gotha" purposes. Here, you missed and missed by miles.