Icon Audio HP8/MP 3

[JonT]

Anyone know why the SE version went from jensen to mundorf caps? My Icon has jensen caps... Is it worth changing to mundorf's?

I don’t know the reason for certain, but the spec change happened early in the pandemic. Assuming it may have been a supply chain issue.

 

[Pharmaboy]

As driver, I’m mostly using a Brimar CV455 (KB/FB) 12AT7, well-known and rightly recommended tube in this thread. To my ears it brings a very well-balanced sound in the whole FR, detailed and smooth sound, air, and wide/deep soundsatge

The CV455 is an excellent choice for the HP8, in my experience. Id does just about everything right. I've also gotten very good sound with several Mullard 12AT7s. In general, NOS 12AT7s are more available and affordable than the 12AX7s that are spec'd for this amp's input.

I'm acquiring 2 matched pairs of 12AX7s for a different reason (a DAC I'll pick up soon uses them in the output). The HP8 also takes 12AX7s;. I had avoided these higher powered input tubes w/my HP8 until recently, but tried a Fisher (Telefunken) 12AX7 (thank you, Geoff!) with excellent results--so I'll try one of each pair of NOS 12AX7s that come in (RCA blackplates; Brimar greyplates). That should be fun.

 

[Deleeh]

Anyone know why the SE version went from jensen to mundorf caps? My Icon has jensen caps... Is it worth changing to mundorf's?

I don't think Jansen exists anymore, they were bought by Duelund or Jupiter back then.
There is a successor, but I can't remember exactly which of the two manufacturers it was and what the new model is called.
I don't think it's quite as good as the former Jansen.

If you know the value you can go for any cap you like.
It depends on what you are currently missing and where you want to go.
The Audionote copper or Vcap Odam are affordable and good caps, as is a Duelund.

 

[shabta]

I don't think Jansen exists anymore, they were bought by Duelund or Jupiter back then.
There is a successor, but I can't remember exactly which of the two manufacturers it was and what the new model is called.
I don't think it's quite as good as the former Jansen.

If you know the value you can go for any cap you like.
It depends on what you are currently missing and where you want to go.
The Audionote copper or Vcap Odam are affordable and good caps, as is a Duelund.

I am pretty happy with the jansen. It made a bigger difference to the sound, when I replaced the original caps with the jansen, then changing tubes.

 

[Rollnrock]

The CV455 is an excellent choice for the HP8, in my experience. Id does just about everything right. I've also gotten very good sound with several Mullard 12AT7s. In general, NOS 12AT7s are more available and affordable than the 12AX7s that are spec'd for this amp's input.

I'm acquiring 2 matched pairs of 12AX7s for a different reason (a DAC I'll pick up soon uses them in the output). The HP8 also takes 12AX7s;. I had avoided these higher powered input tubes w/my HP8 until recently, but tried a Fisher (Telefunken) 12AX7 (thank you, Geoff!) with excellent results--so I'll try one of each pair of NOS 12AX7s that come in (RCA blackplates; Brimar greyplates). That should be fun.

Thanks! I find it interesting because I am looking for some Mullard 12AT7. I love the sweeter flavor of my RCA-Mullard 12AX7 and, you're right, 12AT7s are easier to find and much cheaper

BTW I have a RCA black plates 12AX7, angled square getter (1950s) that's also very good. Different to the Mullard, with mids and highs very detailed, great bass and wider/deepper soundstage. Curious to know your impressions of your new 12AX7s once you can try them on your HP8

 

[skraggy1981]

Nice! I’ve owned all the ZMFs except for the Calderas. I thought about picking up the Caldera Open at some point, but honestly, I’m just not into planars, so I decided to stick with my dynamic headphones.

The Caldera is incredible, had I gone headphone first and amp second, I probably would have gone with it. Since I already had the HP8, the Atrium was an easy choice in the end, those two just match incredibly well.

Like you, I also have a Stereo 30SE... no tube rolling with that as yet. Would be great how to hear how you go with that.

So far I have only tried three preamp tubes with the Stereo 30: The David Shaw labeled stock tubes (brown base), the Psvane CV181 T MII and the Tung Sol 6SN7GTB. I think both the Psvane and the TS were an upgrade over the stock tubes. Really enjoyed the TS until one got a bit grainy, been running the Psvane ever since without any issues.

 

[lifeson]

Should get mine soon, the signature one, lead time of a couple of weeks. Got a few tubes to try, a Brimar 12AT7 NOS, 12AX7A 7025 RCA and a Mullard ECC83 F91 I had in a guitar amp for many years - excited to try them out.

 

[lifeson]

Initial impression, not broken in, running on medium setting, ZMF Aeolus, sounds similar to my old OTL (XDuo) but a bit more open, still warm but slightly clearer, bass definitely sounds more textured and realistic. Addictive, hard to stop listening now.

 

[JerseyD]

Initial impression, not broken in, running on medium setting, ZMF Aeolus, sounds similar to my old OTL (XDuo) but a bit more open, still warm but slightly clearer, bass definitely sounds more textured and realistic. Addictive, hard to stop listening now.

Spend some time at high impedance setting as well, especially after your tubes are burned in. I go back and forth a bit between the two settings for ZMF dynamics.

 

[vsrrr]

Curious - does anyone here keep their HP8 on their desk near computer monitors and/or their laptop?

I know the HP8 can pick up noise if placed too close to a cell phone, but I'm curious if people have identified any other devices that are best kept away from the HP8?
For example... an iFi Zen Stream connected via WiFi

 

[Pharmaboy]

Curious - does anyone here keep their HP8 on their desk near computer monitors and/or their laptop?

I know the HP8 can pick up noise if placed too close to a cell phone, but I'm curious if people have identified any other devices that are best kept away from the HP8?
For example... an iFi Zen Stream connected via WiFi

I have 2 systems in this home office. I've used the HP8 in both. Both systems are cramped for space, and as it happens, the HP8 is within inches of either a laptop or desktop PC in both system.

No noise. Quiet as the proverbial grave. A small part of why I love this amp....

PS: Should clarify. I do have cordless phones in this office. One is sitting near the HP8 right now. Makes no difference. But I don't have a mobile phone here. Also, the cable modem and WiFi router are usually at least 3-4 feet from the HP8. With it in the side system at the moment, it's more like 8-9 ft from them.

 

[G8torbyte]

Curious - does anyone here keep their HP8 on their desk near computer monitors and/or their laptop?

I know the HP8 can pick up noise if placed too close to a cell phone, but I'm curious if people have identified any other devices that are best kept away from the HP8?
For example... an iFi Zen Stream connected via WiFi

I have my HP8 on my desk near a PC. For me it seems WiFi signals are more of an interference than the PC equipment. When I moved my mobile phone and computer's WiFi antenna further away it did away with the slight static noise that it was picking up.

 

[Steve Wilcox]

I've actually got a couple HP8s. I first picked up an old version (pre copper plate) and was stunned how good it was in my main set up. The only slight downer is that there is a bit of hum. This isn't really a problem except in quiet classical passages. I should add that I only get hum with my ZMFs. It's silent with my Ether 2s.

I recently bought a new version hoping it would be silent. It is.

The old HP8 has been relegated to my home office where it sits in a spaghetti junction of electrical noise - right under a monitor and very near to two laptops and a power line ethernet connector and wi FI repeater. I'd say the hum is a little worse than in my main system but not such a problem as I'm concentrating on work here (or at least I'm supposed to be).

The old HP8 is that good I'm prepared to put up with a little hum and so happy to have a new version which is dead silent. Honestly, this is a fantastic amp with everything I've tried on it, but especially my ZMFs (AO, VC and Aut OG).

 

[Jay Smith]

Good synergy! This amp is still amazing thru years.

 

[JerseyD]

Good synergy! This amp is still amazing thru years.

Have to say, one of my takeaways from CanJam Dallas was how fantastic my HP8 MkII Sig is.
No, Icon Audio was not an exhibitor there, and none of the vendors had any Icon Audio gear. But I did get to listen to my own headphones on some pretty nice amps, some costing many multiples of what the HP8 costs. Granted, I was listening to open-back headphones under fairly noisy show conditions, but even as someone who is susceptible to upgrade-itis, none of these awesome amps had me saying, “That’s the one! Must start saving up to get this!”

Yes, they may have sounded “better” but they left me thinking that my little HP8 gets me a fair way up the mountain for considerably less. Of course, I have also always been a huge bang-for-the-buck kind of guy. Now if my financial circumstances were more plush, might I go for a bigger, better amp? Sure! But when I got home and listened to my own system again after hearing all the great gear at the show, I couldn’t help but smile.