what's up w/ ICE-AMPS

leftwinger57
leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
edited May 2011 in Electronics
Hi guys ,once again my curiosity has gotten the better of me and I have to question the what I do not know. Now I looked up TH SEYMORE AMP CO.and got the basics on these ICE AMP monos. I get that they produce much less heat and heat robs power and enrgy, but I own an Adcom gfa555 that I play all day loudly and it doesn't get warm evn all the way to the heat sinks. Now I know this is 21st century engineering but can you tell me why I should get an Ice amp if my 24y/o amp provides the same results.
Please if I'm far off base let me know and I will acknowledge this and then if told in a way I can understand then maybe these are the futre instead of vintage gear.
LW
PS---I saw the thread of the new ICE CLUB all being class-D and now what
advantage is there over my amp for $300 for a douce where the Seymoe is $999 for a monoblock
2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
Post edited by leftwinger57 on
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Comments

  • bklynNupe
    bklynNupe Posts: 728
    edited April 2011
    My W4S D-Class has been one of my favorite purchases since a started this hobby not so long ago. I find it warm, detailed and dead quiet. It also has nice synergy with my Lsi9's.
    If you enjoy your Adcom, why switch it out?

    emotiva xpa-2
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2011
    See if you can demo them before committing to buy.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • carwashguy
    carwashguy Posts: 131
    edited April 2011
    I just got a pair of W4S, they sound great. As someone new to the hobby, they interested me because why would you want to have a hundred pound amp when you can get quality sound and power plus no heat from a 12 lb amp. Those Seymour's look great, almost bought them. In the end went with the Wyred 4 Sound due to a better history as an established company. Nobody really seemed to know much about the Seymour's.
    Living Room
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  • aboroth00
    aboroth00 Posts: 1,106
    edited April 2011
    My laptop has ICEpower amps, and it doesn't sound half bad.
    2Ch Tube Audio Convert
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited April 2011
    Face wrote: »
    See if you can demo them before committing to buy.

    I would definitely agree with this. I made a blind purchase on mine, and the results were nothing short of excellent. These amps aren't for everyone, so Face is right on with his post. I have the D-Sonic on my fronts, a Sunfire TGA5200 on the other channels, with a Pio SC-07 handling the processing. In stereo mode the ICEAmps sound spectacular, can get plenty loud without sounding sloppy and remain cool to touch.

    In the end, they really are worth a listen. My favs would be

    wyredforsound
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    D-Sonic
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,250
    edited April 2011
    leftwinger57 wrote: »
    ..., but I own an Adcom gfa555 that I play all day loudly and it doesn't get warm evn all the way to the heat sinks. Now I know this is 21st century engineering but can you tell me why I should get an Ice amp if my 24y/o amp provides the same results.

    If by the same results you mean the heat sink temperature then maybe there isn't any reason to change. On the other hand if you think amp design, along with the sound, has not improved in the last 24 years then we will just have to agree to disagree.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited April 2011
    Thanks Sherard.

    I'm also a big fan of Wyred, that's all I use here.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,985
    edited April 2011
    The tech on the chip based amps is getting better and better, but do demo before hand. I've heard some REALLY good ones, and some really, really bad ones. The ICE stuff seems really solid for the most part.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • Hilbert
    Hilbert Posts: 316
    edited April 2011
    I got a W4S ST 500 a couple of years ago to drive my LSi9s, and they sound great together---since then haven't felt any urgent desire to upgrade anything. Just as well since markets collapsed around that time.

    Over the last few years, several posters here have suggested ice amps work very well with some speakers and very badly with others, so a bit of caution is in order.
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited April 2011
    Yes, I do now get it . I had not noticed the weight difference to some might make a big deal. By my I don't tkink there are any audio boutique stores to demo some mdels.I have the usual BB, 6THave, a use place almost like a pawn shop w/not to good of section and nothing new and a Electronics Expo. I think thay's it for my 50mile radious that my p-o-sht-car will allow me to travel now. So next up is a car from an accident that wasn't my fault and then leftovers if any back into the rack....LW
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited April 2011
    Upgrades are always on the table. But as others have said...listen first. I also have a couple of Adcoms, including the 555 that I use to run my LSI-7s and a NAD, etc. And I'm breaking in a 50w x 2 tube amp (maybe for the SDA-2Bs).

    I've heard a couple of ICE amps and thought they were very good. As for your Adcom not getting hot...neither does mine. It depends on what speakers you run on it. Most 4-8 ohm loads are not going to make the 555 break a sweat--you'll have to go very loud or dip below 4 ohms to make it choke. Just part of the design...toroidal transformer, good storage capacitance, large heat sinks, plenty of breathing room inside, tank-like build. Are there better--sure. But these old Adcoms still hold their own and rarely 'fail'!

    Happy hunting....BTW, do you live in N.J. by any chance.....BB, 6th AVE, 50 mile radius, POS car that's been in an accident--have Jersey written all over them?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited May 2011
    JUST TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW.
    THE ADCOM 555 PUSHES REFOAMED INFINITYSM112s w/ the Onkyo P-301 pre on a good day going way past 2oclock. That's pretty loud once I found out how to get streaming tunes into them, mostly THE GREATFUL DEAD, w blues and jazz thrown in...... LW
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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  • leftwinger57
    leftwinger57 Posts: 2,917
    edited May 2011
    Late reply to chn, yes of course it's central Jersey. I sit that obvious.lol
    2chl- Adcom GFA- 555-Onkyo P-3150v pre/amp- JVC-QL-A200 tt- Denon 1940 ci cdp- Adcom GFS-6 -Modded '87 SDA 2Bs - Dynamat Ext.- BH-5- X-Overs VR-3, RDO-194 tweeters, Larry's Rings, Speakon/Neutrik I/C- Cherry stain tops Advent Maestros,Ohm model E

    H/T- Toshiba au40" flat- Yamaha RX- V665 avr- YSD-11 Dock- I-Pod- Klipsch #400HD Speaker set-

    Bdrm- Nikko 6065 receiver- JBL -G-200s--Pioneer 305 headphones--Sony CE375-5 disc
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