Latest update on upcoming amp using the ICE module

Ric Schultz · « **on:** 25 Nov 2004, 04:40 am »

FYI,
There will be an even cheaper alternative and better sounding Ice amp available soon. I am wrapping up the last mod to the amps and will be selling the first 5 prototypes within a couple of weeks. These amps use the same modules as Roland and EAR. The pricing will be from $1000 to $2000 for a stereo dual mono amp. $1000 buys you the 250 watt a channel (500 a channel into 4 ohms) modules with small amount of tweaks but definetely better than stock. For $1300 you get the 500 watt a channel modules. I won't have the 500 watt modules till sometime late Jan to sell. Add more money for more tweaks and you get to about $2000 for the best current version of the 500 watt modules. 30 day unconditional money back guarantee and 3 year parts and labor transferable warrantee. Shipping is not included in price but will be fairly inexpensive as I am in California not Denmark. You will get a great product, great service and no Peter. I know this is basically an ad so if the moderator wants to move this to the manufacturers forum then fine but I wanted to let everyone know that I am back on schedule with the amp. The best version of the amp might be unbalanced....we shall see.....Balanced will be offered but might be a slightly less good sounding....this is the last mod I am trying. All versions of the amp will have no binding post sound. The speaker wire from inside the amp will be passed through a hole in the chassis and the tinned end of the wire will be inserted in the hole of the binding post and wrapped around. This way the binding posts acts as a wire to wire clamp. This will be the first production amp to ever have no connector sound on its output. Many other tweaks have been done including built-in ZSleeves....stay tuned. Initial info on website within 3 weeks.

Ric Schultz
tweakaudio.com

JLM · « **Reply #1 on:** 25 Nov 2004, 01:35 pm »

Very exciting Ric.

We'll be waitin for images and more details.

Any thoughts of offering a touring model for in-home trials?

doug s. · « **Reply #2 on:** 25 Nov 2004, 07:39 pm »

Quote from: Ric Schultz

...The pricing will be from $1000 to $2000 for a stereo dual mono amp. $1000 buys you the 250 watt a channel (500 a channel into 4 ohms) modules with small amount of tweaks but definetely better than stock. For $1300 you get the 500 watt a channel modules. I won't have the 500 watt modules till sometime late Jan to sell. Add more money for more tweaks and you get to about $2000 for the best current version of the 500 watt modules...

for many folk, 250wpc is more than enuff overkill - you should consider a "best current wersion" smaller amp for less money...

regards,

doug s.

J North · « **Reply #3 on:** 25 Nov 2004, 09:25 pm »

We need to be careful about the ICE Watts.

There are varying reports about how real they are.

It probably depends a lot on the rest of the system (source, pre, speakers), but the 500wpc ICE amp I had for a while did not play ANY louder than an HCA-2 (150wpc) in either system it was in.

Could be all kinds of reasons for this.
Maybe Ric could share his experience with us.

Ric Schultz · « **Reply #4 on:** 25 Nov 2004, 10:16 pm »

There are some who say the 500 watt (the ASP1000: 1000 watts into 4 ohms) module sounds better. I will be listening to it versus the 250 watt module stock and modded and let everyone know what I hear. If it sounds better I am sure many would pay the $300 for the difference. Both modules will be available in the same chassis. The 500 watt module is just one and a half inches longer, other dimensions the same.

J. North, were the modules you listened to the ASP modules? and were they the ones that put out 1000 watts into 4 ohms? What was the manufacturer and model of the amp you listened to? Any other details? You see, Ice power rates their modules for 4 ohms so people can get confused over what they are listening to. The module Ice calls 500 watts, I call 250 watts because I am talking about 8 ohms. Their most powerful module is called the ASP1000 but actually only does 500 at 8 ohms. The Roland 201 use the ASP500 and the Roland 501s use the ASP1000s. If you are using the non switching supply Ice Power modules (not the ASP modules) than the power delivery would depend on the rail voltage used and its ability to hold voltage under transient load (beefiness of power supply). There are MANY ways that an amp can be hindered by implementation to where it sounds much less powerful than its "rating". I have only listened to my tweaked 250 watt version (500 into 4) and it plays louder than I want to listen but with harder to drive speakers in a large room, who knows.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We have much to be thankful for.

J North · « **Reply #5 on:** 26 Nov 2004, 01:22 am »

Ric I beleive it was the 250wpc into 8 ohms non-ASP module.

I will just say that the amp was a prototype, but it had a 1000VA transformer and lots of Capacitance.

Other people had far more success than I did with the amp so it was probably a system matching issue.

I look forward to hearing your amps . . .

Ric Schultz · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 Nov 2004, 09:33 pm »

Actually, 250 watts into 8 ohms (Ice module you listened to) is really not all that much different from 150 watt (PSAudio). However, the Ice Power modules use push on connectors that really constrict current flow. Most of the manufactureres are using these connectors to connect the output wires. You see, Ice Power will warrantee the ASP modules as long as you don't touch the board...even remove it from its heatsink.....so, Roland, Jazz, more than likely EAR, PS Audio (the brand new amps), and Audio Magic are all using the ASP module stock and not touching it so they can get them replaced for free if they break.....well, I am more interested in sound than free boards. The ASP modules are self protecting but if one of mine ever goes out within warrantee period (three years parts and labor) I will just replace it at my cost (very unlikely). So, this allows me to do things the other guys don't do. My power output is a wire that is soldered directly to the output coil and then run outside the amp to the outside of the binding post....no current limiting here! No connector sound. Same on the input. I hardwire directly to the board bypassing the boards input connector and same for the AC power. I even remove the power switch as I find it sonically degrading. You turn the amp on and off by removing and plugging in the power cord.....does not get any simpler. There is no need to turn the amp off as it only idles at 16 watts for both channels (250 watt module). Parts in the AC supply can restrict power delivery as well, and of course, the DC supplies all effect the sound.

J North · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 Nov 2004, 11:17 pm »

I think PSAudio mentioned somewhere that they are modifying the modules as well. I don't have a link available though.

From my general observations, the IcePower modules come the closest of all digital modules to getting close to an analog (harmonic richness) sound with a top end that is more than tolerable. Thereafter, implementation is key.

Good luck with your product launch.