D-Sonic Magnum 500M vs Bel Canto Ref1000

[tkam]

Here's a few more pics of the d-sonic's that I took the other night:

[img width=150 height=100 alt=d-sonic 001]http://www.head-case.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=771&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=1a5f64119461c39b8b9069bd17e125bf

[img width=150 height=100 alt=d-sonic 002]http://www.head-case.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=776&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=1a5f64119461c39b8b9069bd17e125bf

[img width=150 height=100 alt=d-sonic 003]http://www.head-case.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=780&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=1a5f64119461c39b8b9069bd17e125bf

[img width=150 height=100 alt=d-sonic 004]http://www.head-case.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=784&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=1a5f64119461c39b8b9069bd17e125bf

[img width=100 height=150 alt=d-sonic 005]http://www.head-case.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=788&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=1a5f64119461c39b8b9069bd17e125bf

[img width=150 height=100 alt=d-sonic 006]http://www.head-case.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=792&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=1a5f64119461c39b8b9069bd17e125bf

[img width=150 height=100 alt=d-sonic 007]http://www.head-case.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=796&g2_serialNumber=2&g2_GALLERYSID=1a5f64119461c39b8b9069bd17e125bf

[n_maher]

Todd, am I seeing correctly that the D-sonic allows both balanced and single-ended inputs?

[tkam]

Yes that's correct.

[n_maher]

Hmmm, that's interesting since they generally offer a dedicated balanced version of the modules. More research required but I wonder if the amp is really only taking half the balanced signal and still operating essentially as a single ended amp? Of the other way around when you use the single ended inputs...

[laxx]

Yea, I was looking at the site and you can have either. There's a switch on the back to choose which to use.

[tkam]

Nate, check out page 20 of the datasheet for the 1000ASP modules that I've attached. It talks about the inputs a little bit.

icepower1000aspdata.pdf

[philodox]

That's it, I'm going to start bugging Tyll for stuff. Hell, I got him a shirt when he came up here... he owes me! [joking of course, after all he did COME up here for our benefit]

[n_maher]

Nate, check out page 20 of the datasheet for the 1000ASP modules that I've attached. It talks about the inputs a little bit.

Ahh I see now, the ASP and ASX2 modules are a bit different in the way they are setup.

[postjack]

are there any real advantages of the $2000 monoblocks over the $1500 stereo? is it a $500 advantage?

[tkam]

Not sure really, but I have the 3-channel version now anyways .

[diebenkorn]

why no icepower headphone amps?

[grawk]

Because ice power modules aren't well suited to high impedance.

[Dusty Chalk]

are there any real advantages of the $2000 monoblocks over the $1500 stereo? is it a $500 advantage?

Yes. You get an extra IEC jack, and the peace of mind associated with using that word, "monoblock". I like that word, "monoblock" -- my speaker amp is "dual monoblock" (which is like stereo, but is also like monoblocks in the same chassis). I'd pay the extra $500 for it...if I were in the market.

Also, crosstalk can be dynamically altered by moving one amp further away from the other, and becomes a function almost in its entirety of the preamp and source.

[tyrion]

I've been trying out a Cary CAA 1 digital amp. Anyone have any idea how they compare to the D-Sonic amps?

[postjack]

aren't the d-sonics all analog?

[tkam]

I've been trying out a Cary CAA 1 digital amp. Anyone have any idea how they compare to the D-Sonic amps?

Could you take some close-up internal shots of one of the amp boards?

[tyrion]

Here is what I have at the moment:

[grawk]

Looks like icepower with a custom power supply board and a custom input board.

[tyrion]

The amp is supposed to retail for $2000, up from $1500 about a year ago. I can get one 9/10 for probably under $900.

[grawk]

I'd be surprised if it sounded significantly different from the NHT Power 2, which can be had for $500.

[tkam]

Mike, what pre-amp are you using?

[tyrion]

Mike, what pre-amp are you using?

At the moment I'm using a Modwright SWL 9.0 SE (non tube regulated). I also have my Berendsen preamp but the Cary makes a funky noise with it. Not a hum, not sure what it is. With the Modwright, it has a low level hum which I am guessing might be eliminated with a cheater plug but I haven't tried.

[tkam]

One of the downsides of the ice power based amps is that they have a pretty low input impedance. So for tube pre-amps using 6sn7 or 12ax7 families of tubes can struggle to drive them properly. Your fine with the modwright though it has no problems driving loads that low.

[postjack]

One of the downsides of the ice power based amps is that they have a pretty low input impedance. So for tube pre-amps using 6sn7 or 12ax7 families of tubes can struggle to drive them properly. Your fine with the modwright though it has no problems driving loads that low.

any idea how the ice modules would respond to a passive pre like the luminous axiom?

[postjack]

Anyone ever hear the Wyred 4 Sound stuff? They use the exact same ICE modules as the D-Sonics, with a sprinkling of more boutique parts. I admit to being a bit turned off by them, because A) it seems like whenever W4S is mentioned on a forum, someone in the company registers and starts posting selly-gobble-de-gook all over the place, and the name is stupid. Also their amps are more expensive then the D-Sonic stuff. The top of line line 1000 watt stereo runs $500 more then the D-Sonic.