Digital amps taking over the market?

AintJoM0mma · « **on:** 18 Oct 2004, 09:42 pm »

It seems like digital technology just keeps getting better and better. The specs on digital amps look amazing 'on paper', all gain no loss. Small size, small price, BIG POWER. Im considering dropping some cash on a digital amp. What are your opinions? One thing that I dont like is seeing all these cool digital amps on websites in say the UK, but there is no where to buy them here is the US. The only digital amp makers around here that I know of are Tact, Spectron, PS Audio, Acoustic Reality and...thats about it, except for some low priced JVC and Sony receivers. Anyone seen any cool ones that they would like to share info about?

I for one think its really cool

Why buy a monsterous Krell or Pass labs amp for thousands of dollars when you can have a digital amp with just as much power and smaller size for less money?

I did hear about this one company, H2O amps, that are making low cost icepower amps that people are going crazy about. Id like to get more info on them.

(Boared, just trying to start an interesting thread

)

Mad DOg · « **Reply #1 on:** 18 Oct 2004, 09:50 pm »

Quote from: AintJoM0mma

...What are you opinions?...

before you decide to start a thread, it's a good idea to search the archives first...there's most likely a ton of info already on whatever topic you're looking into.

http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/search.php

the search function is your friend...

Mad DOg · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 Oct 2004, 09:53 pm »

here's one...

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=13591&highlight=digital+amp

and another...

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=8700&start=0

followed by another...

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=9043&start=0

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=13428&highlight=panasonic+xr

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=12992&start=0

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=13174&start=0

just a few links to read thru for now...

PLMONROE · « **Reply #3 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 01:02 am »

And every once in awhile you get exactly exactly that for which you pay.
Free lunches are hard to find, IMHO

muralman1 · « **Reply #4 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 03:42 am »

plmonroe,

Times are achanging, and so are the rules of value. I've owned some great conventional amps in the past, but my H2O Mono Signatures are far and away the best I have ever heard. They raise the bar for what is attainable in home music making. You may think you are hearing all from those 16 bit discs, but with the H2O you will find there is a lot more there that was lost to the grunge of solid states. It is as smooth and musical as the most refined tube amps, and as dynamic, and definitive as the boldest solid states.

The Signature monos sell for $5k. The M-H2O Monos $4K, and the S-H2O Stereo for $2.5k.

Mad DOg · « **Reply #5 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 04:12 am »

muralman,

plmonroe said that you get what you pay for...there are no free lunches...

at $2.5-5K, i don't think this is what he was referring to as a "free" lunch...i think he was referring to more like the inexpensive digital receivers and what not...

for that kind of money, i would hope they are just as excellent as you're describing them to be.

muralman1 · « **Reply #6 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 05:47 am »

Yeah, I hear you, $2.5k is a lot of money. I just happened to have replaced my $16k amps with H2Os. So, I guess, pricing bargains are all relative. These guys are heavy hitters as class D amps go. They sport 170,000 micro farads of power capacitance, and a 1kw transformer. The case is 3/8" aluminum plate all surfaces. They can power ANY load, without loosing an ounce of composure.

BeeBop · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 09:33 am »

Quote from: Mad DOg

... i don't think this is what he was referring to as a "free" lunch...i think he was referring to more like the inexpensive digital receivers and what not...

I thought hew wa referring to the fact that aintjomomma always seems to want everybody else to do his research for him

.

ted_b · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 02:23 pm »

Muralman1,
I've done some searches and one thing that seems to rise to the top regarding the ICEPower stuff is that it's detractors (or unbelievers maybe) all seem to think there is just something "wrong" about the sound...a kind of white noise in the background, they describe, which leads to harshness, I guess. Many claim great frquency extremes but not emotional enough in the almighty midrange. No real comprehensive reviews though (from the folks saying this). What are your opinions about what they might be hearing? I, too, am interested in the new digital amp technology. I have a 17 year old Krell KSA-100 driving my new VMPS RM/X's and with the addition of an incredibly revealing Modwright 999ES machine I am in the market to see what could replace the Krell, especially in a bi-amp mode. Thx,
ted_b

muralman1 · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 03:10 pm »

Hey Ted_b

Weird. All the talk and reviews I have seen are wildly positive. With the exception of one. That had something to do with a system incongruity. There are few ICE amps on the high end market, (Acoustic Reality, Rowland, and H2O) while there are a lot of unidentified users in the low end.

The ICe module is a tool. I'm not a techy, but I do know the H2O has carefully implemented filters fore and aft to deal with digital ICE grunge.

There are H2O amps going to 6Moons, and Stereotimes soon. The builder told me they are being broken in now.

muralman1 · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 04:35 pm »

I'm going back to the original question, "Are digital amps taking over the market?" The fact is, in low fi (the mass market ) digital already has. In the mid fi market (a gray area) digital has made some convincing inroads, and is, I believe, dominant.

My interest is in the high end market. I'm sure everyone is familiar with TacT's success. They have been reviewed very well. The Bel Canto eVO has earned a place as a reference amp. Mr. way out high end amp builder, Jeff Rowland, has steered his company to the use of the ICE module.

ICEH2OAudio is an American company, made in Virginia. The builder, Henry Ho, has been quietly building class A amps for the last decade. He took his proven power supply, and applied it to the analog ICE module. He told me, "The highs are very difficult to get right."

Well, in my estimation, he has got it right. Because the ICE module is much faster, and more efficient than a transistor, more signal information gets through. The mids cannot be described in terms of "fullness." All elements constituting the mids are revealed, making the mids live sounding.

Zero · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 05:11 pm »

Mural,

What part of VA is he in ?

muralman1 · « **Reply #12 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 05:25 pm »

Henry lives in the outskirts of Richmond. I think I have the address somewhere. You can go to the under construction site, and drop Henry a line: www.iceh2oaudio.com

Zero · « **Reply #13 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 06:00 pm »

Thanks for the info bud! Im about an hour from Richmond. Once I acrue some decent funds - I will have to make a trip up there and talk shop.

AintJoM0mma · « **Reply #14 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 08:10 pm »

Quote from: BeeBop

Quote from: Mad DOg
... i don't think this is what he was referring to as a "free" lunch...i think he was referring to more like the inexpensive digital receivers and what not...

I thought hew wa referring to the fact that aintjomomma always seems to want everybody else to do his research for him .

Im just trying to start an interesting discussion

Dmason · « **Reply #15 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 08:49 pm »

Poor Aintjomomma, always getting his widdow head kicked in on these threads. Give him a break, he's "just a kid."

I like the fact that he is interested in audio, when there are sooo many diversions for today's youth; rap, crack, talkin' smack....let us know what you wanna do, and maybe we can help. But chances are there is mucho info already here, provided by us grown-ups.

AintJoM0mma · « **Reply #16 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 10:15 pm »

finally some appreciation

shokunin · « **Reply #17 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 10:39 pm »

Quote from: AintJoM0mma

I for one think its really cool icon_cool.gif Why buy a monsterous Krell or Pass labs amp for thousands of dollars when you can have a digital amp with just as much power and smaller size for less money? rock.gif

Because it may sound better? Seriously. Digital amps are no doubt here to stay. IMO, there's still a whole lot of room for improvement. Theres no right or wrong, and in many systems I can see how digital amps can bring about substantial improvements. Amps are all about synergy with the speakers you choose and there will always be good synergistic matches and bad ones. My personal preference, I preferred the Pass X-250 over the Rowland M201 monoblocks in my system. Neither are perfect, and both had strengths the other lacked, in the end I found listening to the pass more enjoyable.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #18 on:** 19 Oct 2004, 10:51 pm »

The H2O was at zybar/George's Rave...... http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=351

Thats what it looks like....check the thread in NY Audio Rave for comments .... http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=11779[/list:u]

muralman1 · « **Reply #19 on:** 20 Oct 2004, 12:09 am »

Funny how things stick. from what I heard, As the H2O was started the system was malfunctioned, and when they got the bug fixed, the AR went in. It's a shame a more prolonged listen didn't happen.