Icon Audio phono stage through a power amp

[colinB]

Just read the HFW review on the Icon Audio ps1 special edition. I was looking forward to this as i have half modified the amp to SE by upgrading the valves as they suggested and may at some point go the whole hog and change the caps to Jenson paper oils.
What i didnt know was that the amp can go straight into a power amp. The Icon has a volume pot on it. The reviewer states it sounds much better direct to a power amp.
I have always always used an integrated and have no experience of this.
Is this an obvious way to go?
I wanted at some point to get a more powerful amp, something like a cambridge audio 840 or the AVI neutron sub/amp but this is a new path to consider maybe.
I think he used a Quad 909.
Any comments would be gratefully appreciated.

[Mike]

Is this an obvious way to go?

Maybe... I'd guess it could depend on the output impedance of the phono stage and the input impedance of the power amp.

Leaving out unnecessary 'stages' is rarely a bad thing though. :)

[colinB]

Excuse my ignorance Mike , but do the impedence values have to closely match for best results?

[Ali Tait]

Rule of thumb is a low impedance out (from say a cd player or other source) into a high impedance load of your pre/power/integrated amp.

There are better caps around than Jensens BTW.

What don't you like about the sound you are getting with the integrated?

[colinB]

My system sounds good apart from the fact vocals seem to come from the right channel as im experiencing just know. Very annoying but thats another story.

I guess what it is , Ashley told me when i bought my speakers they would sound better with a more powerful amp so im always thinking im missing something or have some imbalance somewhere. Im always checking e bay for a second hand AVI lab series or something more beefy. I dont have much of a clue to be honest im a total amature when it comes to audio. But i cant hear any distortion or tonal imbalance or nasty boom, shrieky treble nothing like that. Sounds very natural and unforced sound to be honest.

[Ali Tait]

What's your speakers?

[colinB]

AVI Neutron 5s powered by a Rotel 1062.

[Ali Tait]

So your running the Icon into the rotel at the moment?

[colinB]

Yeah through the auxillary input.

[Ali Tait]

What do you have the volume pot on the rotel at?

[colinB]

At the moment 8 oclock, during the day about 9 oclock

[Ali Tait]

So you use the rotel to control volume rather than the Icon?

[colinB]

Yeah , the Icon manual instructs to put it to 3 oclock.

[Ali Tait]

Try putting the Rotel to about three quarters and using the Icon to control vol.

[colinB]

Just to make sure i understand , i put the rotel at 3 oclock , its not going to explode is it!

[Ali Tait]

Nope.Turn the icon right down first!

[colinB]

Ooh. It sounds different. I think it sounds more relaxed and easier.

[Ali Tait]

;) Try the rotel at full volume.

[colinB]

It makes sense now but it still scares the crap out of me. Enjoying it though. Thanks for that.
Tommorow im going to play about with the imaging, pull the speakers right out of the corners and see if i can get balance. I know for sure the speakers are fine because i swapped them around. God this sounds great, a lot clearer.
By the way , whats wrong with the jensen mod they suggest, apart from the fact they are meant to leak and cost a bomb. Im an old rosyth spark so figured i could do it my self but the caps would cost £150 from hi fi collective

[Ali Tait]

Nothing wrong with them per se,but I've been told they can be on the harsh side.What values do you require?

[colinB]

Two o.1uf and two 1 uf. Thinking about it thats what they said in the review. Dont do the mod if you dont want a lot of livey energy in your system.

[Ali Tait]

Buy the Clarity Cap ESA's.They're very good.And cheap.

[colinB]

Found them . Theyre higher voltage but thats fine right? ( i was a crap sparky)
Holy shit ive got a new stereo! That little dj decks not bad you know

[Ali Tait]

Yes that's fine.Go for them,they're very good IMO.

[colinB]

Thanks Ali, i knew their was a good reason i couldnt sleep tonight

[Ali Tait]

:)

[Mike]

Blimey!..... is that the time? :stalks:

[Ali Tait]

Get yourself to bed young man!

[Mike]

Yeah, maybe I should. :)

Night all! :zzz:

[Ali Tait]

:goodnight: