[CrazyBlue]

I plan on building another system next year and am doing homework.  This will be my office and dedicated listening room.

I'm a 2-channel guy when it comes to music, and I'm thinking along the lines of the HT3.  Given their price tag, bang for the buck electronics are a must.  I'm very happy with my current Emotiva gear, but want to go a little higher end on at least the DAC and pre, and the Wyred for sound DAC-2 and STP SE are on my radar.  Great reviews and reputed customer service, and these components fit my requirements; asynchronous USB @24/192 resolution, top notch converters, super build quality, and lots of outputs on the pre (think another room with a pool table, amps and speakers, controlled by my dedicated system and music server—more on that later).

I'm pretty sold on the DAC-2.  A tube pre @ 2k is also a consideration, pending more research.

To make a long story short, my amps of choice for this setup were looking like the Emotiva XPA-1 monoblocks, until I started reading more about Wyred 4 Sound's ICE powered amps for around the same money and performance.

Are there any ICE amps from Wyred 4 Sound, Red Dragon, Bang and Olufsen, or Bel Canto driving big Salk speakers?  I'd appreciate any impressions you can share, as I have zero experience with Class D amps or the new technology being implemented with them.

[Big Red Machine]

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=100564.0

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=89821.0

If Wyred, and if HT3's, then SX1000's only.  You'll need the power.

Here is the amp you should buy today:
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1327153109&/Tube-Research-Labs-D225-TRL-tr

[newzooreview]

Are there any ICE amps from Wyred 4 Sound, Red Dragon, Bang and Olufsen, or Bel Canto driving big Salk speakers?  I'd appreciate any impressions you can share, as I have zero experience with Class D amps or the new technology being implemented with them.

I had a pair of Wyred4Sound monoblocks (SX-1000s) driving my HT1-TLs for about a year. I was using the Wyred4Sound STP-SE preamp as well. I liked that combination much better than comparable Van Alstine equipment, but even so I preferred the reproduction of tone that I was getting with a Jolida 302 (used in my bedroom system, but tried out in the main system). So, I moved on to a different solid state amp with a tube amp circuit topology (HEED amps, from the guy who designed Naim amps).

Anyway, I second the vote for a high-quality tube amp.

Oh, and you should definitely look into a dBAudio Tranquility DAC. Eric Hider has a new battery powered, high-resolution, USB DAC coming out in the next month that should be excellent (I've had both generations of his Tranquility so far, and his service is up there with Jim's and his DACs are very detailed and musical--he had the high-end Sabre DAC as a reference during the design phase and feels he got as much detail from his design while preserving transients and decay that the Sabre doesn't get quite right (in his view; I haven't heard a Sabre DAC side-by-side with my Tranquility).

[arthurs]

Another Ice Amp manufacturer that bears serious consideration is Henry Ho of H2O.  A few members of our listening group have had the pleasure of hearing his work in my system and his amps are really liquid sounding.  Henry is a very humble and genuinely good guy as well, I would expect excellent support after sale.  Worth a listen along with the other excellent suggestions in this thread.  Also, have only heard his amps with my VAC tube pre and there was great synergy. Good luck on your search!
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1324571193&/H2o-audio-S100-Analog-Icepower

[J Fallows]

Hey, Look at these.
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=100249.0

[HT cOz]

I bought a few of these ICE amps from Ghent http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1325009790&/B-O-Icepower-125ASX2-amplifier They are great and at that price you can focus on other areas of your system until you can build your budget back up.  Here is a pic



Good Luck
Robert

[Jonathon Janusz]

Sorry, I'm not a Salk owner (never heard them, actually), but I saw this thread on the home page and took a look.

For the price range you are looking in for the XPA-1 pair, if you are looking to go ICE and would like to consider adding some tubes into the mix, maybe Virtue's Dodd-modified tube buffered ICE monoblocks would be worth a look?

Best of luck!

[Big Red Machine]

Remember if ht3's they are 84db and need major power.  Not minor power or half way there.  I recommend 300 watts minimum of SS power.

[CrazyBlue]

Yeah, I figured as much.  The Wyred 1000's are what I was looking at mostly.  Vincent Audio's SP-T800 hybrid monoblocks had me thinking as well, but at $4,800 / pair they're above budget, and barely make the cut at 320w into 4ohms.

The XPA-2 would work, but I like monos and would jump to the XPA-1's.  I run a pair of UPA-1's in my living room system, driving a pair of LSA-1 Signature monitors, high-passed at 50Hz to a Salk Songsub.  That combination is very good, and before I start this second system another Songsub will find it's way into my living room to make it 2.2.

Thanks for the input guys.  Mostly I'm wondering if this ICE thing is the real deal.  I've read the reviews, but I take glowing magazine reviews with a grain of salt; everything seems to glow.

Space or heat aren't issues, but I like the idea of efficiency and effortless power. 
Thanks for the tube suggestions as well. 

The speakers will be the first purchase, and I'll build the rest around them.  I plan on taking a drive to Michigan in the spring to visit a friend outside of Flint, and hope to stop in and talk to Jim and hear his speakers.  That will be the final determining factor, of course.  I also love the Magnepan sound, and Magnestand modded MMG's or MG-12's are also on my list.  A fellow Emotiva Lounge member here in town has a pair, driven by the same gear I have, and I'm hoping to give them a listen after the holiday.  With those I'd have to add a couple of fast subs, I think.  Either way, the big power requirement remains.  I'm also considering the HT1 and subs, and if so I'd have Jim build a pair of Rythmiks to match, or maybe just go with more Songsubs.  Thought about moving up the LSA line to the Statements as well.  I love my Sigs.  But you know how it is.  I would have gone Maggies in the living room, but my wife vetoed that idea.  So many choices. 

I like the idea of keeping it simple: PC>DAC>Pre>Amps>Speakers.  Done. 

Maybe I should sell a kidney and up the budget, go for the Soundscape 12's.   

[Big Red Machine]

Stop here too

[CrazyBlue]

You're in Canton?

[Big Red Machine]

Yep and have ST's and HT2's

[CrazyBlue]

Cool.  I'll shoot you a PM when I head that way.

I'm anxious to hear some Salks, based on all the user reviews and Jim's craftsmanship, attention to detail, and stellar customer service.  I love my LSA's and Emo gear, but another goal with this next system is to work with folks who offer quality gear built in the U.S.  I want to support them as much as possible.

[Big Red Machine]

Might as well kill all those birds at once:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=100013.0

[CrazyBlue]

Sounds like fun.

[ctviggen]

Remember if ht3's they are 84db and need major power.  Not minor power or half way there.  I recommend 300 watts minimum of SS power.

I don't have 300 watts of power and drive the Salk HT3s with no problems.  And I plan on going tube, as soon as I can afford some Dodd amps. 

[HT cOz]

I think all the ICE modules are made in China. If you are interested in ClassD amps that are made in the US check out Class D Audio they are made in the US and even better they are made by disabled people. The owner does not state it very clearly but if you dig around a bit you realize he does remarkable work for the community.

[revrob]

I had the Wyred SX1000 driving my HT3s. First paired up with a Joule LA-150 MKII and then a Purity Audio Design preamp, both are tube preamps and the combination is very good. I will echo what Big Red said, the HT3s need power, not a little but a lot. Even with the Wyred running full steam the HT3s handle them like they were 25 watts not 500+ watts.

I don't care what anyone has told you these speakers need power, I would be hesitant to go with a tube amp. Obviously this is my humbled opinion. I not sure what power amp can truly push the HT3s but if anyone knows it is Big Red.

Peace