Audioholics peels back the lids on the current crop of ICEpower-based amplifiers
By Steven Kim 
posted Apr 30th 2009 7:29AM
posted Apr 30th 2009 7:29AM
Typically devoid of fancy lights, knobs, and switches, amplifiers typically don't get a lot of marketing hype; heck, most people who own a receiver aren't even aware of the amplifier section. Bang & Olfusen's Class D ICEpower switching amplifiers wrinkle that a bit -- the compact footprint, light weight, energy efficiency and impressive specs are enough to make the newer technology marketable as, well, new. Sadly, from Audioholics' examination of many samples, it also looks like the newness stopped there and several manufacturers have slapped crazy price tags on an essentially "reference design" implementation. There's plenty of good technical info about the test bench performance of these amps in the link, but with several happy ICEpower users it's hard to say that the subjective performance is unsatisfactory; the wide price range for essentially the same amp is what's troubling. If nothing else, let it serve as a cautionary tale of not falling for the latest thing just because it's the latest thing -- when you're shopping for an amp, take your ears along with your wallet.
Yo, Steve.. dude you've being doing a lot of posting lately. Are you running low on funds? If so, Drawbaugh can spot you something.
First off, Bang and Olufsen, to my knowledge, has never made anything that was considered close to audiophile quality.
Secondly, I can't imagine using Class D for anything but subwoofers. No need for lighweight home theater amps. Especially if there's a huge savings in parts cost, and then you gouge because of a novelty product.
Lastly, there are very few in the world who can design class D amps properly and Bang and Olfusen isn't one of them.
You're right, just hype !
Just because you don't like a company or consider they products quality doesn't mean they do not put out some quality products. In this case, B&O has designed the core module to a Class D amp and others are using that part to build their amps around. Many amps that would be consider "audiophile" (using this term loosely, because expensive amps do not equal audiophile) are using this module (or something similar) in their amps. Rotel being on of the more well known names, so they must be doing something right.
I do not know why some people consider Class D amps the bastard child. They are as good as your traditional class A/B amp, they just do it differently and more efficiently. A lot of waste goes into the the class A/B amp. I would not write off and amp just because it is a class D, there are some good class D amps out there. Now I will agree that the cost of the ICE class D amps are high, but I believe once they have come into their own, we will see a price drop.
I do not think class D amps are hype at all, they rightfully belong next to their class A/B counter parts. Not that it matters much as similarly specs amps are going to sound the same, people just tend to believe that they hear a difference. You just need to make sure you amp can drive your speakers easily. There is a guy that has tested thousands of people that were unable to identify between two amps in a blind test and he has a huge chunk of change up for anyone who can prove this theory wrong. Which is why I will be buying Emotiva amps instead of spending 4x or more on something from Bryston, Krell or Mark Levenson.
I have also been tossing around picking up some of the Outlaw 2200 class D amps as they can be stacked atop one another. Though, my next move are speakers, where you should spend the majority of your money.
Good points, zargon. Class D has a lot of potential, and might even eclipse linear amps at some point, but it's going to take some work. As the Audioholics post says, the B&O modules are actually quite well done. But if manufacturers stick to the reference design and don't improve on it, how are advances we all want to see in Class D performance going to happen?
BTW, I'm also with you on the Emotiva bit -- their offerings are looking pretty good to me, too!
I think we just need to give it time, class D amps have only recently (in amp time frame) grabbed a big enough foothold to get some notice. They are great amps and like you said, have a lot of potential, but it will take time for more companies to join the party. We also will most likely see the advances in uber high end gear, which it will take a while to trickle down to the more reasonably priced gear.
Their offerings are defiantly solid and a really good bang for your buck. The UPA-7 is on sale right now for $599 and would be a good starter amp, giving you the power offerings in receivers over $1,000. I am kind of sad they have discontinued their class D offering, the MPS-2, that thing is a beast, as I was consider getting it.
I don't know much about amplifier technology, but anything that reduces the weight of the amplifier is good in my book.
Back in my DJ/sound reinforcement days, it took 2 to 3 guys to move my amp racks (amps weighed about 40lbs - 70lbs each)
Now with class D amps, they weigh next to nothing and give a ton of power. Class D gets my vote.
Hello all my HDMI-switching receiver owners, I have a simple (DUMB) question to ask that I'd really like to know.
1) Is it correct that the receiver has to be powered on in order to "pass" the HDMI signal to the television? In other words, there's no "dormant" digital pass through is there?
The nature of my question is that I try to minimize my energy consumption, so I'd hate to always have to have my receiver powered on just to watch whatever I have lined through it. Also, there are several scenarios where I watch DVDs w/o surround sound, so I have no need to have the receiver on just to get the signal to the TV. I'm seriously considering acquiring a receiver with analog audio inputs before they are eliminated so that I can just send the HDMI video/audio direct to the TV, and decode the high res audio from the player and directly into the receiver via analog when I want to have the surround sound. Please comment on my train of thought here. Thanks all!
It actually depends on the receiver, some do and some don't. I just bought a Yamaha RX-V665 as a pre/pro and for the HDMI switching and that is one of the features I wanted.
You would have to read the features, dig through the manual or maybe even hit AVSForum to find the answer to your question for a specific receiver.
A friend on mine who is considered one of the premier amp designers and holds patents for class D designs has about the same opinions as mine. Actually I have the same opinion as he does. Good for car stereo where you need efficiency, but not yet ready for home use for anything but subwoofers?
I'v'e worked on a lot of Bang & Olufsen over the years. Nothing special. Sleek looking but mediocre sound. So I wouldn't consider B&O to be on cutting edge of a technology like Class D.
Bang & Olufsen marries the Ice power amps- one per speaker- AFTER the crossover. It's Awesome sound and can easily get loud enuff to rattle the plates & bottles on the wall of a restaurant on the opposite side of a store. It's clean, good sound- loudest I've ever heard outside of a nightclub line array.
Next let's talk about price. Think 2 Volkswagens or one BMW sitting in your listening room. I'll stick with my Tannoy Reveal monitors thank you very much.
These chip amps can't pass a square wave without excessive noise shaping. High Fidelity has always been about passing the signal while changing it as little as possible. Chip amps fail miserably in this respect. The Absolute Sound conducted a round table discussion on chip amps a year or two ago. Its a decent read. They will eventually come of age, but that day has not yet come. BTW, there are many class A/B amplifers at $1200 that are better than the icepower models mentioned here.
PLease list AB class amps at $1,200 that can produce 500W into 8ohm per channel and sound better. I know only one - Emotiva xpa-1 that is comparable in specs (not sure about the sound)
I have been using icePower amps from Denmark "Acoustic Reality" for 2+ years. I love them and I have sold my Mark Levinson 33H right after.
Any 200 watt per channel stereo amplifier can be used to vertically bi-amp 90% of loudspeakers on the market. Rotels own RB-1080 is great example. You'd be hard pressed to find a Rotel dealer that would tell you to buy their chip amp over their A/B. BTW, the difference between 400 and 500 watts is all but imperceptible, unless you can create a situation where it would matter.
Sorry, but I will not agree with you there. I am very familiar with RB-1080 and it is not even close to an ICE amp. I have wyred 4 sound and I sold rb1080. I would actually pick any ICE power amp over any Rotel AB design.
After getting the Panasonic SA-XR57 by chance (I needed something cheap for another room), I was so impressed at how well it worked with my Gallo Reference, that I sold the much, much pricier equipment I was using, and have been happily using the SA-XR-57 since. I don't want to go back.
Class D runs cool, it can be placed in compact enclosures, and it can sound better than much of the competition. And, no, it should not cost a lot of money.
But a wave of relatively cheap, good products, can put a lot of advertisers out of business, and with them, much of the reviewers and publications they support.
So, I am not holding my breath, waiting for Audiophile to recommend cheap Class D products.