I'm keen to build my first proper amp, to power a pair of M&K MPS-1510 speakers now perched on the corners of my desk (and currently powered by an FX502SPRO).
I've narrowed my choices down to the modules listed in the title: the L12-2 would be my first choice, in purely musical terms, if not for the fact that it seems way more difficult to build - with the need to find the right power supply, transformer, speaker protection.......and connect them all properly in the absence of an instruction booklet. The ICEpower modules are basically amps in a box, without the box. A buffer seems like the only thing I might want to add (?), other than a Ghentaudio box itself.
The ICEpower and L12-2 options would end up costing about the same, but there seems to be way less opportunity for disaster - electrocution, or (worse) damaging the speakers - with the former.
I'm unsure about several things related to the project:
Will the ICE50ASX2 have enough power to do justice to the M&K speakers? The FX amp seems to power them without too much trouble - turned to about "3" or "4", and running out of a FiiO E7 (?) DAC amplifier that's turned up fairly high. But will the speakers respond (in a good way!) to a lower signal from the DAC and more power from a - good quality - amp itself? The sonic results are ambiguous with the FX amp, but might be more obvious with a better one.....
Will the L12-2 project be substantially harder, for someone who still struggles to understand terms like "output impedence"? And speaking of output impedence: what does using a DAC-amp instead of a simple DAC mean for the issue of output impedance - should I be more concerned, or less? Does it make it more or less crucial (for sound quality) that I include an input buffer?
Finally: Given that I don't understand this, despite having read a half-dozen internet explanations, should I just save up an extra $50 and buy a pre-made ICEpower amp......?
Any advice gratefully received.
I've narrowed my choices down to the modules listed in the title: the L12-2 would be my first choice, in purely musical terms, if not for the fact that it seems way more difficult to build - with the need to find the right power supply, transformer, speaker protection.......and connect them all properly in the absence of an instruction booklet. The ICEpower modules are basically amps in a box, without the box. A buffer seems like the only thing I might want to add (?), other than a Ghentaudio box itself.
The ICEpower and L12-2 options would end up costing about the same, but there seems to be way less opportunity for disaster - electrocution, or (worse) damaging the speakers - with the former.
I'm unsure about several things related to the project:
Will the ICE50ASX2 have enough power to do justice to the M&K speakers? The FX amp seems to power them without too much trouble - turned to about "3" or "4", and running out of a FiiO E7 (?) DAC amplifier that's turned up fairly high. But will the speakers respond (in a good way!) to a lower signal from the DAC and more power from a - good quality - amp itself? The sonic results are ambiguous with the FX amp, but might be more obvious with a better one.....
Will the L12-2 project be substantially harder, for someone who still struggles to understand terms like "output impedence"? And speaking of output impedence: what does using a DAC-amp instead of a simple DAC mean for the issue of output impedance - should I be more concerned, or less? Does it make it more or less crucial (for sound quality) that I include an input buffer?
Finally: Given that I don't understand this, despite having read a half-dozen internet explanations, should I just save up an extra $50 and buy a pre-made ICEpower amp......?
Any advice gratefully received.
The IcePower boards will have more than enough power for those speakers, by a long, long shot.
Have you read the spec & implementation sheets on the Parts Express website for the IcePower units? Those answer most of your questions. Putting one together should be very straightforward. Have a qualified person check your mains wiring before plugging in.
The consensus is that the IcePower amps produce a lot of clean power with excellent bass response. I’ve heard good things about the top end, too. I’ve been leaning toward the 50W board you’re considering.
Good luck.
Have you read the spec & implementation sheets on the Parts Express website for the IcePower units? Those answer most of your questions. Putting one together should be very straightforward. Have a qualified person check your mains wiring before plugging in.
The consensus is that the IcePower amps produce a lot of clean power with excellent bass response. I’ve heard good things about the top end, too. I’ve been leaning toward the 50W board you’re considering.
Good luck.
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