Icon Audio HP8/MP 3

[SoundMuzik67]

Hey folks… was thinking about upgrading the power cable on my HP8/MP 3 signature to an AudioQuest NRG-Y3 Power Cord… anyone have an experience with this or a better recco?
My kit sounds phenomenal as it currently stands… would this make sense as an add or no? Thoughts from the group?
Thanks-

 

[Pharmaboy]

Hey folks… was thinking about upgrading the power cable on my HP8/MP 3 signature to an AudioQuest NRG-Y3 Power Cord… anyone have an experience with this or a better recco?
My kit sounds phenomenal as it currently stands… would this make sense as an add or no? Thoughts from the group?
Thanks-

I have my HP8 on an inexpensive but very nice power cord from Signal Cable the "Magic Power Video Reference," mainly chosen because it's not one of those really thick, inflexible 12 gauge models (it's 14 gauge): http://signalcable.com/videopower.html

I have 4 or 5 of them and routinely use them with this or that amp or DAC. I also use Audio Art Classic PCs, more expensive & massive.

Does any of this affect sound? I honestly never tried to figure that out. I just did it as a matter of routine audio care, figuring it can't hurt and maybe even help. I've also run the HP8 on standard 12 gauge stock PCs and don't recall it sounding any worse.

My ears can more readily hear small sound differences in signal cables (ICs) than PCs.

Punchline IMHO: you won't hurt that phenomenal sound by upgrading the PC, and you just might slightly improve it. But any improvement is likely not as audible as you'd get by rolling really spectacular NOS tubes.

 

[Deleeh]

Hey folks… was thinking about upgrading the power cable on my HP8/MP 3 signature to an AudioQuest NRG-Y3 Power Cord… anyone have an experience with this or a better recco?
My kit sounds phenomenal as it currently stands… would this make sense as an add or no? Thoughts from the group?
Thanks-

Hello,
the Audioquest you suggest tends to sound a little darker and has a slightly warm flavour.
I don't know if it would be the right cable for the HP8.
I would rather look for something else with a more lively sound.
Tube amplifiers react more sensitively to such things.
I did the test once and there was no HP8 amplifier between the Audioquest and the Isotek EVO3 Initium.
As mentioned above, the Audioquest was brighter and more neutral in tone than the Isotek.
In the end I stuck with this one
https://www.mudra-akustik.de/en/products/power-cables/power-cable-standard.html
It had a good balance between Audioquest and Isotek.
The real question is whether everyone personally hears a difference, and if so, whether the cable suits their personal taste.
There is no real recipe for this.
If you can't hear anything, it can be a cable that simply has a good connection and is insulated, and the costs remain low.

 

[SoundMuzik67]

I have my HP8 on an inexpensive but very nice power cord from Signal Cable the "Magic Power Video Reference," mainly chosen because it's not one of those really thick, inflexible 12 gauge models (it's 14 gauge): http://signalcable.com/videopower.html

I have 4 or 5 of them and routinely use them with this or that amp or DAC. I also use Audio Art Classic PCs, more expensive & massive.

Does any of this affect sound? I honestly never tried to figure that out. I just did it as a matter of routine audio care, figuring it can't hurt and maybe even help. I've also run the HP8 on standard 12 gauge stock PCs and don't recall it sounding any worse.

My ears can more readily hear small sound differences in signal cables (ICs) than PCs.

Punchline IMHO: you won't hurt that phenomenal sound by upgrading the PC, and you just might slightly improve it. But any improvement is likely not as audible as you'd get by rolling really spectacular NOS tubes.

Makes total sense. Thank you VERY much… the Magic Power cable sounds like a very solid choice, that’s even if I get an “upgrade cable”
I really don’t think it’s going to make a significant audible difference to be honest and I’m a cable/ burn in kinda guy!!

 

[SoundMuzik67]

Hello,
the Audioquest you suggest tends to sound a little darker and has a slightly warm flavour.
I don't know if it would be the right cable for the HP8.
I would rather look for something else with a more lively sound.
Tube amplifiers react more sensitively to such things.
I did the test once and there was no HP8 amplifier between the Audioquest and the Isotek EVO3 Initium.
As mentioned above, the Audioquest was brighter and more neutral in tone than the Isotek.
In the end I stuck with this one
https://www.mudra-akustik.de/en/products/power-cables/power-cable-standard.html
It had a good balance between Audioquest and Isotek.
The real question is whether everyone personally hears a difference, and if so, whether the cable suits their personal taste.
There is no real recipe for this.
If you can't hear anything, it can be a cable that simply has a good connection and is insulated, and the costs remain low.

Agreed. Still not 100% convinced there’s going to be a difference I can actually hear. I’m still in the Q&A/ research phase…

 

[oldson]

just received one of the Brimar 12at7 recommended several times in this thread.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266354176341
popped it in my HP8 and i am hearing hiss from right channel on M and H output setting, with nothing playing.
volume setting does not change the loudness of this hiss.
will this likely settle or have i got a dud?

btw this is using my 300ohm XTC

 

[JonT]

just received one of the Brimar 12at7 recommended several times in this thread.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266354176341
popped it in my HP8 and i am hearing hiss from right channel on M and H output setting, with nothing playing.
volume setting does not change the loudness of this hiss.
will this likely settle or have i got a dud?

btw this is using my 300ohm XTC

It's a dud.

Another forum member had a dud but Langrex were great at replacing it.

 

[oldson]

It's a dud.

Another forum member had a dud but Langrex were great at replacing it.

oh thats a shame.
with music playing i dont hear it.
sounds nice.
to my ear warmer than the gold lion it replaced.
i will ping Langrex a message and see how they respond.
thanks for the reply Jon

 

[SoundMuzik67]

oh thats a shame.
with music playing i dont hear it.
sounds nice.
to my ear warmer than the gold lion it replaced.
i will ping Langrex a message and see how they respond.
thanks for the reply Jon

deleted

 

[SoundMuzik67]

just received one of the Brimar 12at7 recommended several times in this thread.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266354176341
popped it in my HP8 and i am hearing hiss from right channel on M and H output setting, with nothing playing.
volume setting does not change the loudness of this hiss.
will this likely settle or have i got a dud?

btw this is using my 300ohm XTC

So you plugged the Brimar directly into the amp...no adapter?

 

[Pharmaboy]

So you plugged the Brimar directly into the amp...no adapter?

12AT7s like the CV455 have the same pin structure as 12AX7s and are interchangeable (don't need an adapter). 12AT7s have less gain than 12AX7s, but to some people (me included) this can be a good thing because it gives the user more headroom and more play on the volume pot.

I've been playing around with 12AX7s recently, though. Currently having a big sonic success with an RTF (confusingly marked "ECC87") that a generous Head-Fi friend send me. That tube sounds amazing on the HP8. So maybe there's something special about 12AX7s after all.

 

[SoundMuzik67]

12AT7s like the CV455 have the same pin structure as 12AX7s and are interchangeable (don't need an adapter). 12AT7s have less gain than 12AX7s, but to some people (me included) this can be a good thing because it gives the user more headroom and more play on the volume pot.

I've been playing around with 12AX7s recently, though. Currently having a big sonic success with an RTF (confusingly marked "ECC87") that a generous Head-Fi friend send me. That tube sounds amazing on the HP8. So maybe there's something special about 12AX7s after all.

Nice. I've used the Brimar on my HP8 Signature and it DOES sound fantastic! For a while, I was hesitant to do so, I think at one point another Head-fier said it wouldn't work on that amp...

 

[Pharmaboy]

Nice. I've used the Brimar on my HP8 Signature and it DOES sound fantastic! For a while, I was hesitant to do so, I think at one point another Head-fier said it wouldn't work on that amp...

That Brimar CV455 (12AT7) is just about the best sounding input tube I've ever heard that doesn't cost really big $$. Thanks to the advice of @jonathan c (a man who really knows tubes), I tried a pair in my Woo WA3 OTL, and those tubes transformed the sound. It was a breakthrough.

Then I used one (as well as 3-4 other NOS 12AT7s) in the HP8, and the Brimar probably takes the "best all around sound" prize for an input tube in that amp. It really does everything right.

 

[oldson]

think i read somewhere that rolling the 2 output tubes affects the sound to a lesser extent.
what is the consensus on here?

 

[oldson]

So you plugged the Brimar directly into the amp...no adapter?

you had me worried there for a moment .
but you have reminded me that i need to order a socket saver, for rolling.