sunnysal Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 The new monoblocks utilize Icepower modules not Tripath, they even mention Icepower by name on the website, something they never did with Tripath. Perhaps we need to check out the Icepower stuff? Regards, Tony http://www.belcantodesign.com/prod_eOneS300.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggerIsBetter Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 Ah man, there can't be a new best thing yet. I have not even gotten the parts together for my ultimate tripath amp yet.... Not so fast, here's some critical feedback on the sound quality http://www.classd.org/oem_products/products/b_o.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 Read that. Doesn't sound promising. While I've often found my ears disagreed with reviewers on thier take on a product, never when the reviewers used language like that. My only experience with class D so far is the TI chipset. I certainly hear nothing like they describe in that ICEpath, nor can I imagine why Bel Canto would adopt it over tubes if it really sounds that bad. Perhaps they got a bad unit? I've never been a big fan of B&O technology. The stuff is pretty, but price-performance wise pretty disappointing. Class D is inherent cheap and will get cheaper, though I am sure that just as there are those who can get $$$ per foot for fancy wire there will be those who can do the same with Class D. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 Think Bose marketing. "We use the same parts as high end B&O rather than that louse tripath stuff found in $20 sonic impact amps, so it must sound good because its is really expensive" A company like ICE may also be able to offer Bel Canto (who I assume is not a big volume producer) more of a discount than Tripath who deal with big volume producers. I am still amazed when I see multi thousand dollar digital amps - expensive = good, inexpensive = bad. I seem to remember teh CArver digital amp in home version for abotu $1800 whiel the pro version is only about $700. Are RCA jacks that much more expensive than XLR's? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 Fully agree, tiger... I paid 127.00 delivered for my 7 lb. Class D receiver for 6.1 100w per. I promply disposed of my Mc2100 as I could not justify a 75lb. 2 channel amp that did not sound as good. It looked neat...but looking about music is like listening about paintings. Of course, I kept my ST-70 as there is just something about that sound and the warm glow of tubes that nothing can replace. I have a fireplace as well... I am sure there will be $10k class D's and those who will pay for them...not me. Years ago when my friends would kid me about the complexity of my audio systems I said I'd gladly settle for a little black box with one knob if it sounded good. We are getting there.While my imagination doesn't stretch far enough to visualize how it might be done, I am certain that someone will figure out how to modulate the air directly someday and the ol' horns will be obsolete as well. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivendell61 Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 Dave, There already are +$10k Class D amps: Jeff Rowland monoblocks are $30k. Open the top and inside are B&O ICE..... Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerwoodKhorns Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 I am selling my $4,000 Denon 5800 receiver to a friend and replacing it with a $250 Panasonic too. Actually, the Denon sounds pretty good but it is really big and heavy and has huge power transformers. My buddy has been bugging me for years so I gave in. The Panasonic shoudl sound good with my Belles. The current model is the '55. I am wondering if they are comming out with a '75 model soon (I'll pay the extra $50). Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 Dave, You got a Panasonic receiver, right? Which model? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivendell61 Posted December 15, 2005 Share Posted December 15, 2005 While bumping this up from the bottom of the page so Dave will see it..... I'll give you what I think is the answer: Panasonic SA-XR10 I believe it is long out of production though...? TAS5012 processor from TI. This would be (as would most of these) a performance step up from the Tripath. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallette Posted December 15, 2005 Share Posted December 15, 2005 I saw it...right before beddybye for another (15 in a row) 0530 workday. Jeez, glad I have a weekend this time! Actually, I've been a bit confused today and thought I'd responded to the query about the model. SA-XR45. I really have no idea what the opinion of the TI chips are out there...but IMHO it's the greatest the greatest thing in amps since "Mary had a little lamb..." I have not heard a single input from anyone else on the forum that has used one of these. I'd like to know if I am deef or not. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunnysal Posted December 26, 2005 Author Share Posted December 26, 2005 BTW earlier versions of the Jeff Rowland amps used Tripath before switching to IcePower....hmmm...tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daddy Dee Posted December 26, 2005 Share Posted December 26, 2005 Thanks Dave and Rivendell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeadMoney Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 I own four Bel Canto amps: (2) REF1000s, a S300 and an eVo4, gen. 2. The REF1000s are an improvement over the eVo4 bridged. First, the bass is more controlled, apparently due to an increase in the damping factor. Second, the clarity of the music is increased slightly, but this is more like going from clear to crystal clear. Third, the sound stage has expanded beyond the boundaries of the speakers. I read the review of the ICEpower modules. The reviewer suggested that the quality deteriorated, i.e., great specs and bad sound. The Bel Canto products are far superior to any solid state amp I have heard. My experience is 180 degrees from what he reported. After the REF1000s burned it, they not only opened the door separating the listening room from the music, they knocked down the wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrWho Posted January 13, 2006 Share Posted January 13, 2006 While my imagination doesn't stretch far enough to visualize how it might be done, I am certain that someone will figure out how to modulate the air directly someday and the ol' horns will be obsolete as well. It's already been done - I'll have to see if I can't find any specs or pictures. It works on the premise of ionizing the air, which then makes the air reactive to electrical forces. I'm not sure if it's still being developed or not...all I know is that it doesn't do loud volumes or low notes very well at all (more of an airy super tweeter kind of thing). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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