JJAZ ICEPower amp audition tour

Wayne1 · « **on:** 30 Sep 2004, 01:36 pm »

After the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, if they are not sold, JJAZ has made these amps available for an audition tour

There is one IP205KW 500 WPC @ 4 ohm stereo amp in a stainless steel case and 2) IP110KW 1000 watts @ 4 ohm mono blocks in a solid wood case. The stereo amp sells for $2600.00 and the mono blocks are $2450.00 each. The ICEPower modules are the same ones used by Jeff Rowland Design Group.

I wish to make this tour fairly short and sweet. I would like to send the amps to a person in each of the regional circles here on AC. That person would then host a listening session for the members in his area. This way the amps get exposed to a maximum amount of folks in a fairly familar setting.

George (Zybar) has already stepped up for the NY Audio Rave. They will try to compare the JJAZ to the Rowland 201s, Spectron II, H2O, and Audio Research.

Are there any takers for NC, Texas, SoCal, or St. Louie?

I am also willing to make the amps available for AudioJerry and the loose group in Wisconsin/Illinois. Please contact me by PM or E-mail

Thanks,
Wayne

Scott F. · « **Reply #1 on:** 30 Sep 2004, 06:02 pm »

Hi Wayne,

If you've still got the amps after RMAF, I'm about 90% sure that we'd be up for an audition. We'd be holding it at one of our local dealers who's also a member of GAS. They have ample room to host everybody plus they have a nice selection of speakers and sources to choose from.

I'll know for sure next week when Tim gets back from vacation. I talked to his partner Owen today and he said they'd be up for hosting the event. I'll let you know for sure next week.

Thanks for the offer.

audiojerry · « **Reply #2 on:** 30 Sep 2004, 06:28 pm »

Hi Wayne, that would be a great way for those of us who had just auditioned the ZR amp to directly compare to the JJAZ, but I'm not sure at this point if my schedule would allow me to host a get-together. I will try to contact some of the guys to see if they'd be able to host it.

Thanks for the offer!

JCC · « **Reply #3 on:** 30 Sep 2004, 06:37 pm »

I would love to host a listening session in Houston.

The ZR evaluation gang and others would be invited.

Carlman · « **Reply #4 on:** 30 Sep 2004, 07:28 pm »

We have a meeting on October 24th but, we have as much gear as feasible to hear now. I'd like to hear these but I'm not in the market for them... I'm not going to be in a good position to organize anything for the next 2 months. So, if NC folks are interested in this great opportunity, they will need to chime in here.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 Sep 2004, 07:32 pm »

Scott,

Sounds good

Now you just have to get the crew together and haul those Altec 19s to the meeting place. Throw a couple of kilowatts into those babies and I could probably hear them out here.

Jerry,

Please let me know if you will have time in late October or early November. It would be educational to find out how the JJAZ stacks up to the big tube amp.

JCC,

If you can get some folks together in Houston, I would have no problem sending the amps down there.

DeadFish · « **Reply #6 on:** 30 Sep 2004, 10:00 pm »

Gee, Wayne, has my whining about the 19's made it all the way to you?

Nice offer for the groups on the amps.
If you mean *right* after the RMAF, as in you don't wanna tote them home, don't forget to remind me if there is room in the trunk.
If Scott talks to the right people in time to make that happen, at least it would save shipping and manhandling one way.

So, would this REALLY sound good on the 19's....?

See ya at the Show!

Regards,
Bill

ekovalsky · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 Sep 2004, 10:17 pm »

No regional circle here in Phoenix metro unfortunately, but once the amps make their way around the country I'd be interested in giving them a spin. They would be going head-to-head with a JRDG 302 powering the VMPS RM/X. Of course I would be happy to host a listening session for any who would like to attend (with the exception of one individual who no longer posts here)

I assume these amps use the same ICEpower ASP modules, which feature an on-board power supply, found in the JRDG 201 (500ASP in the the stereo model) and 501 (1000ASP for the monoblock). If so the pricing on these is attractive compared to the dwarf JRDG amps. I would expect very similar voicing since the only variables would be the chassis, internal wiring, and connectors, none of which should have a significant impact on the sound.

The 301/302 use the ICEpowerA modules which require a separate power supply. JRDG uses very high cost switch-mode units from OPS, feed through a big Plitron toroidal transformer.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 Sep 2004, 11:10 pm »

Bill,

Don't you realize you are FAMOUS!!. Man, I would love to have a pair of 19s. I would have to get another house to put them in, of course

The amps are very small and very light weight, just the opposite of the Altecs. It would not be a big deal to ship them. Besides, George called first dibs on them.

Eric,

I think we can arrange to have the amps visit Phoenix. It would be interesting to compare the different ICE modules.

Carl,

No problem, I do hope someone else in NC will step up and ask for an audition.

audiojerry · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 01:57 am »

Quote

Jerry,
Please let me know if you will have time in late October or early November. It would be educational to find out how the JJAZ stacks up to the big tube amp.

As soon as I have a better idea of what late October, early November look like, I'll get back to you. The next three weeks are definitely off the table.

Wayne, I haven't been keeping up lately, but I thought you were very fond of a small tube amp that I can't recall the name of. Are you now favoring the JJaz? If so, that would be noteworthy.

Scott F. · « **Reply #10 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 03:32 am »

Hey Deadfish,

Scroll down to the Global Warming article, near the end.
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/viewpoint/1004/joeaudiophile2.htm

..and you're right Wayne, the ICE amps in front of the A19's, you'd definately be able to hear it out there

DeadFish · « **Reply #11 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 04:01 am »

So true, Scott!
Great read, btw.
Ya had me laughing a bunch of times. PLUS an honorable-almost-anonymous mention! Woo-hoo! This is better than when I found myself in the phone book!

And kind of you to mention only 2 amps bought...
Four would have seemed rediculous, like you were making things up.
(Thank God I resisted the Paramours before the midnite markup!)

Y'all may have 'chased out the demons' of solidstate, but somewhere in all of those incantations, was brought forth a tubular monster.
(I wonder what Michael Oldfield could have done with that....)

Just think what things will sound like when I can hear again...

Thanks for the tip on the read!
Regards,
DF

brj · « **Reply #12 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 06:03 am »

The stainless steel amp looks pretty slick, but that if the photo is at all accurate, that is a really beautiful looking wood enclosure!

I set up a post in the NTAJ circle to see if we have anyone interested in hosting a jam focused on an amp shootout. Let us know as soon as you have a time frame in mind for each regional circle.

Thanks for the generous offer!

Edit: Not to impose on your generosity any further, but have you considered sending along any IC's or speaker cables with the amps?

JJAZ · « **Reply #13 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 08:52 am »

Hi there,

The amp cases are indeed beautiful (if we may say so about our own products).

We've shot some pretty good photos of them and if I can find the time during the weekend I'll put them in a gallery on our website and post a link here.

Been pretty stressed up lately building amps for both Wayne and some shows here in Denmark. This weekend we have a set of special K2 edition amps exhibited together with JBL K2 speakers at a danish High End Housing exhibition.

KJ · « **Reply #14 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 12:56 pm »

Quote

I am also willing to make the amps available for AudioJerry and the loose group in Wisconsin/Illinois. Please contact me by PM or E-mail

Thanks for thinking of us Wayne. I'm game - I'll shoot you a PM. I know there are quite a few of us scattered around the general S WI/No Ill area that would be interested.

-KJ

Wayne1 · « **Reply #15 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 01:24 pm »

Glad to see that there is some interest in these amps. I was a bit worried for awhile.

I would like the limit the audition period to one week. That way the amps will be done with the tour and be able to head home for Christmas. Or to a new home here in the States

I am planning to send along two 15' pair of my NITRO speaker cables with bananas on the source end and 5/16" to 1/4" spades on the other. I think that should work with most systems. There will be 3) NITRO Plus power cables included. JJAZ is sending over some Cardas RCA to XLR convertors and I will include two pair of SUMMIT single ended interconnects. As you can guess, this is going to add up to a fairly expensive audition pack. It will be shipped in four boxes. I will ask that each person (or group) pay for the shipping to the next person on the list. I would like each box insured for $2500.00. I would prefer that you use FedEx Ground.

Thanks you VERY much Johnny, for sending these beautiful amps over here for the show and the tour. The solid wood cases ARE gorgeous!

I hope to have some of the DAM members over on Saturday to take a listen and hopefully post some comments on the sound and the looks of the amps.

I have been listening to the stereo unt since I received them. It took about about 4 hours for it to start to fully open up. The sound reminds me of a combination of different amps. It has the smoothness and liquidity of the small Tripath modules and the sense of looking at the music under a magnifying glass the the digital Panasonic has. The one major characteristic that comes through is restrained but effortless POWER. There is also a depth of soundstage that is quite amazing. This is without any power conditioning.

It does not sound like a typical solid state amp, It does not sound like a tube amp. It does not sound like a typical digital amp. It combines certain aspects of all of these with it's own unique signature.

For the short time I have been able to listen to it, I am very impressed.

I guess I owe an apology to JayS and Ernest for all the crap I gave them when they bought ICEPowered amps. I can say that Johnny is a HELL of a lot easier to deal with than their supplier

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #16 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 01:52 pm »

Wayne,

Quote

JJAZ is sending over some Cardas RCA to XLR convertors

I would imagine that the performance would be better in a balanced system without adaptors. Over the weekend, can you listen both ways, with adaptors and without. Thanks !!

Wayne1 · « **Reply #17 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 02:06 pm »

I do not have a fully balanced preamp. Nor do any of the DAM members.

At RMAF Brian Cheney will be bring the Trinaural Processor which does have balanced outputs. That is how I plan to use it there.

It is on the rare side to find a preamp that uses fully balanced topology.

audiojerry · « **Reply #18 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 02:06 pm »

had a chance for quick look at the jjaz website - damn, those Danes can build beautiful wood enclosures!

JJAZ · « **Reply #19 on:** 1 Oct 2004, 06:26 pm »

Quote from: audiojerry

had a chance for quick look at the jjaz website - damn, those Danes can build beautiful wood enclosures!

Whoaaa... We take that as a compliment

I can tell you that the enclosures are darn expensive to make, both in wood and working hours.