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Are ICEpower amps really that good?

Hi folks, it's getting a bit boring now, but I would like to hear your opinions about the following issue. I have the eAR ICEpower based amps (with the ASP1000 modules with built in SMPS). Some audiophiles and amp manufacturers believe they are just trash. In my opinion they are no slouch compared with the almost 8 times more expensive Accuphase A-50V stereo amp. In fact, I prefer the ICEpower amps above the Accuphase. Now I'm a bit in doubt (audiophiles are such weird creatures): are this sub $2k ICEpower amps really that good that they can compete with the $$$ Accuphase amp, or is it due to my own shortcoming (I might have some form of insidious and progressive hearing impairment) or is it just imagination? If the ICEpower amps are really that good, what's the point of buying $$$ amps? Btw, I have Dunlavy SC-V loudspeakers.

Chris
dazzdax
phd
1,008 posts
 
I have to agree with Tvad, there is nothing warm sounding about the Nuforce amps.

Eldartford, you are very fortunate to own Channel Island amps which have a linear power supply. I prefer a linear power supply in my digital amps as opposed to switching.
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
Eldartford, are there any digital supply UCD amps out there? It seems to me almost all ICE amp builders are taking the cheap way out, sacrificing the best sound. I don't know anyone around here that has a UCD amp, only TacT and ICE.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
I don't know anyone around here that has a UCD amp, only TacT and ICE.
Muralman1 (System | Threads | Answers)
By "around here" were you referring to Sacramento or Audiogon? Eldartford just said the Channel Islands D200 amps he owns are UcD.
drubin
3,240 posts
 
And Nuforce are neither ICE nor UcD, in case that is not clear to folks.

I happen to think Nuforce does sound reasonably warm. Tonally rich is a more prominent characteristic, however.

In LA this past weekend, for any room I suspect you could have found someone who thought it was the best sound at the show. It's all so personal.
tbg
5,263 posts
 
No one has mentioned the Red Dragon B&O ice amps. I repeatedly returned to hear them at the RMAF. At first I thought it was the speakers that were so good, but it was the amps. There must be substantial differences among the ICE amps as I have heard the Nuforce amps and was not impressed.
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