Icon Audio HP8/MP 3 - Page 9

Quote:

Originally Posted by project86 
I noticed my HP8 was very sensitive to ground loop issues. I have one spot in the house with a little system set up, and the HP8 would be super noisy there. The noise came when I plugged in RCA cables, even if those weren't attached to anything yet. Adding the Yulong P18 power conditioner fixed the problem in that spot. But in a different room, nothing I tried was able to get rid of the noise. In other rooms it is totally fine. Some amps are more picky than others when it comes to this type of thing. Also some tubes are more sensitive. 

Interesting you should say that. I had ground loop problems with mine too and found it to be very sensitive to mains noise issues generally. I assumed it was a tube amp thing, rather than a HP8 specific issue. I'd also assumed it was partly that I live in an house with old wiring and noisy appliances in the centre of town.

When I had the HP8 running side by side with my v200 both would exhibit the ground loop problem, but the Violectric was far less badly affected. With that amp I could only hear the hum when the volume was turned up well beyond normal listening levels, and then not very loudly. With the HP8 it was clearly noticeable even at normal listening levels. Eventually I reduced the problem by switching from a mains powered DAC to a USB powered alternative (Meridian Dragonfly), then cured it completely by buying the iFi USB power conditioner. This not only cured the noise but dramatically improved the overall sound too - £ for £ the best upgrade I've ever made. I'm regularly astounded by how revealing and musical it is now. I also found cable placement made a surprising difference too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by smial1966 

Tony1110,

 

I have the Violectric V200 and now the Icon Audio HP8. You're welcome to audition both if you can get to Norfolk sometime for a demo. 

 

Cheers,

 

Andy. 

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigy626 

Which one out of the two do you like more with your LCD's?

When I had both I don't remember having a clear preference for either with my LCD2r2 that I owned at the time. However, I eventually decided that I didn't like the LCD full stop, which may have been why neither combination really impressed me. With the HD800 it's a different story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Painterspal 

 

Interesting you should say that. I had ground loop problems with mine too and found it to be very sensitive to mains noise issues generally. I assumed it was a tube amp thing, rather than a HP8 specific issue. I'd also assumed it was partly that I live in an house with old wiring and noisy appliances in the centre of town.

 

When I had the HP8 running side by side with my v200 both would exhibit the ground loop problem, but the Violectric was far less badly affected. With that amp I could only hear the hum when the volume was turned up well beyond normal listening levels, and then not very loudly. With the HP8 it was clearly noticeable even at normal listening levels. Eventually I reduced the problem by switching from a mains powered DAC to a USB powered alternative (Meridian Dragonfly), then cured it completely by buying the iFi USB power conditioner. This not only cured the noise but dramatically improved the overall sound too - £ for £ the best upgrade I've ever made. I'm regularly astounded by how revealing and musical it is now. I also found cable placement made a surprising difference too.

 

 

 

When I had both I don't remember having a clear preference for either with my LCD2r2 that I owned at the time. However, I eventually decided that I didn't like the LCD full stop, which may have been why neither combination really impressed me. With the HD800 it's a different story.

Please expand a bit on the HD800 story. As I own HD800 myself it would be great to get your opinion on the difference between the HP8 and V200. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigy626 

Please expand a bit on the HD800 story. As I own HD800 myself it would be great to get your opinion on the difference between the HP8 and V200. 

I'll go into it in more detail in my review which I'll try and finish in the next few days.

I ended up preferring the Icon to the Violectric with the HD800. The difference isn't night and day; I like the v200 a lot and consider it a very fine amp. It's more an accumulation of small differences that ultimately meant I found that HP8 a more involving listen. One particular difference, which I found crucial to really enjoying the HD800 fully, is that the Icon manages to provide a little more bass/lower mid weight. It does that without noticeably loosing any tightness/grip and without any sense of exaggeration either. But the additional weight makes the Senns seem fuller, and balances with its already wonderful mids and extended treble. A great pairing IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Painterspal 

I'll go into it in more detail in my review which I'll try and finish in the next few days.

 

I ended up preferring the Icon to the Violectric with the HD800. The difference isn't night and day; I like the v200 a lot and consider it a very fine amp. It's more an accumulation of small differences that ultimately meant I found that HP8 a more involving listen. One particular difference, which I found crucial to really enjoying the HD800 fully, is that the Icon manages to provide a little more bass/lower mid weight. It does that without noticeably loosing any tightness/grip and without any sense of exaggeration either. But the additional weight makes the Senns seem fuller, and balances with its already wonderful mids and extended treble. A great pairing IMO.

Will wait for your review. I think I am going to go for the Icon HP8 when funds permit. I like that the fact that its made in Leicester,UK and has received so many positive reviews from the international press. Plus its a tube amp and since I have mostly used SS amps till now would like to go for something different. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Painterspal 

 

Interesting you should say that. I had ground loop problems with mine too and found it to be very sensitive to mains noise issues generally. I assumed it was a tube amp thing, rather than a HP8 specific issue. I'd also assumed it was partly that I live in an house with old wiring and noisy appliances in the centre of town.

 

To some degree it is a tube amp thing. Not all, but most, tend to be more concerned with AC as compared to the average SS counterpart. 

Project86: how did you find the Sylvania metal base 6SN7W in the Icon? I've been trying out a pair of the black plastic based large bottle version and am liking the sound quite a bit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Painterspal 

Project86: how did you find the Sylvania metal base 6SN7W in the Icon? I've been trying out a pair of the black plastic based large bottle version and am liking the sound quite a bit.

It was probably my favorite, though unfortunately among the most expensive. Very nice liquid midrage though - almost addicting. I didn't try those plastic base large bottle ones though.

Most surprising to me was the Northern Electric 6SN7 - normally I say go NOS before going expensive Chinese reissue, but man are these good! Not as liquid in the midrange but the highs and the details are something special. 

I am looking at this amp now vs Woo's new WA7.  This one seems more powerful into low impedance loads.  I'd primarily be using it with Grados, in addition to the Q701, DT880/250, AT AD900x, etc.

Dang.  My WA7 will be here in a few days, and already I'm feeling this might be the better match.  Might have to compare both side by side. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Brown 

I am looking at this amp now vs Woo's new WA7.  This one seems more powerful into low impedance loads.  I'd primarily be using it with Grados, in addition to the Q701, DT880/250, AT AD900x, etc.

 

Dang.  My WA7 will be here in a few days, and already I'm feeling this might be the better match.  Might have to compare both side by side. 

Could be better, or maybe not... I'd say listen to your WA7, get to know it, and if you love it.... then enjoy what you have and don't second guess yourself. That sort of thing causes us a lot of unnecessary grief. Now, if you DON'T love the WA7 and feel it's completely worth the money, that's when you might look elsewhere. And the Icon is a good place to look. 

^^^

You're exactly right.  This what peaked my interest in the Icon:

Icon:  http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/icon-audio-hp8-mk2-tube-headphone-amplifier  =>

Low setting - 451mW at 32 ohm, 720mW at 50 ohm, 667mW at 150 ohm

WA7:  http://kenrockwell.com/audio/woo/wa7.htm#meas  =>

Output Levels: At the ¼" jack , LO-Z setting; 37.5 Ω

Substantially more power output by the Icon.  But we don't know what the measurement conditions are for the Icon though, although I'd guess 1%.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Brown 

 

 

Substantially more power output by the Icon.  But we don't know what the measurement conditions are for the Icon though, although I'd guess 1%.

True, I didn't clarify that. I just appreciate the fact that a person actually measured and got these results, rather than quoting a spec from an opamp datasheet or something, as is usually the case.