Hi, I received and built the Ghent Icepower kit. This is my first build (did not build electronics before), and my first class D amp (I have a pioneer elite receiver that has regular ab amp) -- so I do not much to compare this too. However below is my review (I found about this amp on this forum, and on diyaudio -- so figured will spend some time writing -- hopefully it will help others)
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power amplifier: class D, 125x2 (stereo) 125 into 4 ohms (so less into 8ohm)
provider: Ghent (windowsxp@vip.163.com)
found at
www.diyaudio.com:
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/vendors-bazaar/193289-fs-icepower-125asx2-module-17.html#post2914721price paid: see thread above for latest
Other equipment used
preamp
DAC (used as USB Doc, but also has optical, RCA in)
http://www.xshn.com/en/display.asp?id=89source:
windows 7 laptop, USB
aimp3 media player
192-320bps MP3s
cables:
12 awg from monoprice (strand count 87 wires, strand size 0.2mm od, corss sectional area 3.0mm sq)
rca -- old generic
speakers
Av123 X-LS
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_13_3/onix-xls-speakers-8-2006.html overall connection:
windows7 laptop USB ->Xiang Pheng preamp RCA -> Ghent icepower 125asx2 -12awg cable -> X-LS (2 speakers)
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Overall satisfaction: very satisfied
Description:
Ghent's manual says - that prior knowledge of assembling audio gear required. I had no prior experience -- so I technically did not qualify
But overall the assembly is easier than say installing a motherboard into a computer.
The only difficult part was that I had solder one thing: wires into the RCA input connectors
Also if I would use the provider XLR input -- I would have to solder that in too (but i do not have any XLR equipment so I do not bother)
I had to ran to radioshack and by various types of crimp terminals and crimpers (since I did not have any)
Payment/shipping: paid via paypal. Item was shipped EMS shipping, packaging was very good. Ghent is typically pretty available via email.
I did not have to ship anything back/return or cancel. So do not have experience on that front. Although I would hope those things would be handled well as well.
Sound:
Detailed, tight base, strong mids, somewhat less pronounced highs. Overall effortless in driving the speakers
I used the 'tube buffer' preamp output and AIMP3 equalizer to increase the highs to my liking and now pretty happy
If I have to choose what's outstanding -- is 60hz and above for the base. Very tight and not muddy.
And of course the power consumption if the class-d and price/to performance ratio are very high
Assembly:
as I said earlier: for newbies like myself, dealing with RCA connection (and I would assume with XLR) -- was difficult (but anything difficult, when done -- is satisfying)
It was also very difficult to fit the XLR input into the provided case -- it looked like a bit of a mismatch
Instructions: good overall. One problem that I was the the picture of connecting the RCA input to the board, did not specifically say which cable goes into where on the RCA terminals.
So first I soldered them wrong (ground and positive on the Left RCA was wrong) -- then I read the provided table on the earlier pages that the 'grey' wires where the ground -- and had to redo the soldering. (I think Ghent has updated the manual by now)
Other:
the amplifier appears to be very sensitive to input problems. For example if I accidently touch my USB cable (which is a bit loose on my laptop) -- the preamp -- makes a clicking noise -- the amp imediately shuts down the sound to the speakers (to protect them). THen I have to restart the USB connection, restart the preamp -- and then restart the power amp.
So most people who have stable USB connection will probably not experience any of that
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