The golden mean said:
The only options when implementing the IcePower modules are the materials for the chassis, the wiring to/from the module and the connectors... Everything else is standard on the module...
Yeah OK, then there are Rowland and Murano Audio that has put a Lundahl transformer on the input... But that is about the variables in the implementation...
The Murano amps looks like a good choice in IcePower amps: Well build and cheaper than many of the others... http://www.murano-audio.com/tech.php
Yeap, the Murano amps are a good choice and will probably be my next power amps. I'm just waiting for a friend to finish his UcD400HG project to hear what these modules can do.
I was going for the BelCanto REF1000s but then I spotted the Muranos on eBay. At 1200 Euros a pair I think you can't go wrong...
I was going for the BelCanto REF1000s but then I spotted the Muranos on eBay. At 1200 Euros a pair I think you can't go wrong...
TheShaman said:
If you buy the latest version of the Muranos with the Lundahl input transformers they might even sound better than the BelCantos you are impressed by...! If you get the older Muranos without the input transformers they will sound similar to the BelCantos...
Naturally you can change some components on the ICE Power modules if you have the ambition. And how the wires are drawn and how the groundplane is layouted counts as all well educated
customers know. There is space for variations on the theme of ICE-Power. And yes, the Norwegian mag reports a rather substansial difference when it comes to sound quality from J. Rowlands implementation compared to the Embla implementation, the later are relatively cheap amps using ICEPower technology.
PS Audio has an input amp to obtain a higher input impedance on their implementation of the smallest ICE-Power based amp. So "stock" modules have a rather low input impedance.
http://www.psaudio.com/products/trio_a100.asp
One of the worst sound experiences I have ever met at a Hifi fair came from an ICE-power based amp, but that could, -and was probably due to some not too clever setup.
customers know. There is space for variations on the theme of ICE-Power. And yes, the Norwegian mag reports a rather substansial difference when it comes to sound quality from J. Rowlands implementation compared to the Embla implementation, the later are relatively cheap amps using ICEPower technology.
PS Audio has an input amp to obtain a higher input impedance on their implementation of the smallest ICE-Power based amp. So "stock" modules have a rather low input impedance.
http://www.psaudio.com/products/trio_a100.asp
One of the worst sound experiences I have ever met at a Hifi fair came from an ICE-power based amp, but that could, -and was probably due to some not too clever setup.
The IcePower modules are discussed a lot on the hifi forums here in Denmark. Often the debates are quite ''heated'' since people either love og hate those amps 😉 One thing that people seems to agreen on though is, that it very, very, very difficult to modify the IcePowers because everything is ''engineered as a whole''.
But I have no experience with such modifications myself so I just mention what I have heard. The only modifications to IcePower modules I have heard of is the Underwoodhifi mods on the BelCanto... To my knowledge everyone else use stock IcePower. But maybe you know more about this subject than I do? Please share....
But I have no experience with such modifications myself so I just mention what I have heard. The only modifications to IcePower modules I have heard of is the Underwoodhifi mods on the BelCanto... To my knowledge everyone else use stock IcePower. But maybe you know more about this subject than I do? Please share....
B&O even customize the modules for you (if you are a well-known company or have a big enough check 🙂 )
http://www.icepower.bang-olufsen.com/en/solutions/
http://www.icepower.bang-olufsen.com/en/solutions/
The golden mean said:
No need for the big check 😉 because IMHO there are better sounding solutions out there, as mentioned above 🙂
Desmo said:
Yeap! It's the Lundahl version. 🙂
I'm hoping to arrange a test of the aforementioned Muranos vs. a monoblock UcD400HG implementation vs. a Tripath TA0104A-based power amp. If I manage to pull it off, I'll post my impressions in this thread.
TheShaman said:
Between those amps I would think that the UcD's sounds the best, but again: It also depends on your listening preferences and the system context.
Good luck, and let us know about your findings...
Cheers,
Morten
I wake up this sleeping thread for 2 reasons:
1) My impressions about Ucd180 (modded) sound: good soundstage, very good bass, not so refined but good at all. A good "allround" amp with plenty of power. This is mine (I mean my dual mono, I also made 2 separate monoblocks, same thing but in separate boxes)
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4121/20071129015ag9.jpg
2) more important: do someone have more news about tghese Murano amps and their prices? Or a site where I can find some more news?
Thanks in advance...
1) My impressions about Ucd180 (modded) sound: good soundstage, very good bass, not so refined but good at all. A good "allround" amp with plenty of power. This is mine (I mean my dual mono, I also made 2 separate monoblocks, same thing but in separate boxes)
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4121/20071129015ag9.jpg
2) more important: do someone have more news about tghese Murano amps and their prices? Or a site where I can find some more news?
Thanks in advance...
soongsc said:
Thanks, but there is nothing I can read, there. I don't even know what language is that one and what currency is stated...
From: http://41hz.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1566
" TA2022 is already better than UCD180. Truepath one big step beyond both. But I only listen to chamber and symphonic music with a 96dB sensitive TL speaker.
I built a pure Class-A ZenV9 just to see if my ears were too used to Tripath sound... well, finally I discovered what sounded at the same level..."
" TA2022 is already better than UCD180. Truepath one big step beyond both. But I only listen to chamber and symphonic music with a 96dB sensitive TL speaker.
I built a pure Class-A ZenV9 just to see if my ears were too used to Tripath sound... well, finally I discovered what sounded at the same level..."
Has anyone done a side by side comparison with the Bel Canto Ref 1000 and the Murano P-500S plus amps? The difference in price is ungodly $2000 for the Bel Canto and about $750 for the murano. I know they are half the wattage, I just haven't had the opportunity to do it myself yet.
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