Icon Audio HP205D

[StokeNewingtonJohn]

Hi, has anyone tried ZMF Atrium Closeds with the HP205D by any chance? I'm thinking of getting an Icon amp for my ACs as an upgrade for my WA7 Fireflies Mk 2 (which will remain paired with my Bokeh's at work - it's going nowhere), but am interested in how the HP205D improves on on the HP8 Mk 2 signature edition, which lots of people say has great synergy with the ACs. The source will be my Matrix Mini-i Pro 3 streaming FLAC files, Qobuz and Tidal.

 

[geoffalter11]

Hi, has anyone tried ZMF Atrium Closeds with the HP205D by any chance? I'm thinking of getting an Icon amp for my ACs as an upgrade for my WA7 Fireflies Mk 2 (which will remain paired with my Bokeh's at work - it's going nowhere), but am interested in how the HP205D improves on on the HP8 Mk 2 signature edition, which lots of people say has great synergy with the ACs. The source will be my Matrix Mini-i Pro 3 streaming FLAC files, Qobuz and Tidal.

The HP8 Signature does have incredible synergy with the ACs, and with all high impedance ZMFs. Simply wonderful. I would expect that the 205D will be even better, and the 205D is about as good a tube amp as you will find for a price less than a nice car. @ardbeg1975 can speak to how good the 205D sounds, and I can speak to the fact that the 205D has 300mw more power than the HP8, and that the 205D is the HP8 on steroids. I can't speak for Lawson not owning the amp, but the impedance settings are exactly the same telling me that it will just sound better, like nothing else on the market. It is that unique of an amp.

 

[ardbeg1975]

The HP8 Signature does have incredible synergy with the ACs, and with all high impedance ZMFs. Simply wonderful. I would expect that the 205D will be even better, and the 205D is about as good a tube amp as you will find for a price less than a nice car. @ardbeg1975 can speak to how good the 205D sounds, and I can speak to the fact that the 205D has 300mw more power than the HP8, and that the 205D is the HP8 on steroids. I can't speak for Lawson not owning the amp, but the impedance settings are exactly the same telling me that it will just sound better, like nothing else on the market. It is that unique of an amnp.

I can attest that the AO sounds excellent on the 205D on the middle impedance setting. I would reasonably assume the AC would be an equally good pairing.

 

[StokeNewingtonJohn]

I can attest that the AO sounds excellent on the 205D on the middle impedance setting. I would reasonably assume the AC would be an equally good pairing.

Thanks very much, geoffalter11 and ardbeg1975. That’s really helpful.

 

[geoffalter11]

Thanks very much, geoffalter11 and ardbeg1975. That’s really helpful.

Welcome. Go get yourself a true unicorn and one of the best tube amps on the planet.

 

[ChJL]

I don’t think a Sus or Immanis would get enough juice from the Icon

Waiting to receive the Raal transformer stand before I can test a traditional head amp pairing with the ribbons.

I moved the HP205D to my home

So since I've had a demo Immanis some days ago and experienced how it was more demanding (Alex recommends 2-3 W @ 30 Ohm) I still wonder/have doubts...

Have you ever used it with the 205D to date? thanks!

 

[ardbeg1975]

So since I've had a demo Immanis some days ago and experienced how it was more demanding (Alex recommends 2-3 W @ 30 Ohm) I still wonder/have doubts...

Have you ever used it with the 205D to date? thanks!

No. The transformer stand I eventually got from Raal is the 8 ohm model optimized to run off the 4W @ 8 ohms speaker taps on the EC Studio B. Given my experiments with the higher power EC, I agree it is unlikely the Icon could drive it.

 

[ardbeg1975]

But I think it may be able to drive a Sus.

 

[StokeNewingtonJohn]

Welcome. Go get yourself a true unicorn and one of the best tube amps on the planet.

Well, I decided to do just that. Icon had a B stock model that was too attractive to refuse. I'm waiting on the delivery. Meanwhile, I have to say David Shaw was extraordinarily helpful. It's quite something for the maker to answer emailed questions between Christmas and New Years' and then the phone on the first day after the Christmas break. He also went above and beyond to answer my remaining questions.

 

[ardbeg1975]

Well, I decided to do just that. Icon had a B stock model that was too attractive to refuse. I'm waiting on the delivery. Meanwhile, I have to say David Shaw was extraordinarily helpful. It's quite something for the maker to answer emailed questions between Christmas and New Years' and then the phone on the first day after the Christmas break. He also went above and beyond to answer my remaining questions.

Welcome to the small but growing club.

 

[geoffalter11]

Welcome to the small but growing club.

Yes, let us know your impressions. The luck of being in the UK or Europe where you can buy direct versus the US where we don't have these options. We can only go through one broker and have to buy it new and then wait for it to be built and shipped stateside. Much different experience. Enjoy the amp. What tube package did you get?

 

[StokeNewingtonJohn]

Yes, let us know your impressions. The luck of being in the UK or Europe where you can buy direct versus the US where we don't have these options. We can only go through one broker and have to buy it new and then wait for it to be built and shipped stateside. Much different experience. Enjoy the amp. What tube package did you get?

I went for the 205D Psvane tubes. Will report on impressions soon... The thing looks awesome.

 

[geoffalter11]

I went for the 205D Psvane tubes. Will report on impressions soon... The thing looks awesome.

Congrats. That copper plate is sexy, that is for sure... Enjoy!

 

[MP1968]

Are there any thoughts on how well this amp may pair with the Charybdis? Impedance is 43ohms and sensitivity around 105 dB. From the reviews it doesn’t appear to be a hard phone to drive.

I have the Charybdis, and up to now have been thinking of solid state (specifically the Laiv HP2a, or the Bliss). But I’m in the UK so the 205D is worth considering.

Though I’m a little reluctant to get sucked in to valve rolling. I’ve done that before, and it can be expensive.

 

[ardbeg1975]

Are there any thoughts on how well this amp may pair with the Charybdis? Impedance is 43ohms and sensitivity around 105 dB. From the reviews it doesn’t appear to be a hard phone to drive.

I have the Charybdis, and up to now have been thinking of solid state (specifically the Laiv HP2a, or the Bliss). But I’m in the UK so the 205D is worth considering.

Though I’m a little reluctant to get sucked in to valve rolling. I’ve done that before, and it can be expensive.

You may want to contact the builder, David Shaw, at Icon. He is very responsive. The amp is not optimized for very low impedance / high sensitivity headphones but 43 ohms should be fine. I’ve run some cans with 20 ohms impedance but their sensitivity was much lower (~94 db) and they paired well.

Regarding rolling, if you get the Icon, go for the upgraded valve package (Psvane 205Ds etc.) but there is no immediate need to roll from there. The stock complement of valves are well chosen. Now, I’ve rolled a lot of crazy vintage valves into the amp and they make a noticeable difference but that doesn’t undermine the fact that the starting set is quite good.