Icon Audio Brand?

[Chivas]

Hi

This is to follow up on my query on the HP8 headphone amp. I noticed that Icon Audio also sells a pretty decent looking pre-amp the LA4 at £800 and I've been concidering replacing my CA Azur 840E with a valve pre-amp for a while now - very much have the same ambition as Jazzbones http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8365

This will feed my CA Azur 840W power amp which I will keep a while longer, driving the Kef Reference 203/2's.

Back to the subject, I am not that familiar with the brand - it seems like the gear is designed here (in the UK), made in the East and tested and finished in the UK. They also seem pleasant guys to deal with. Does anybody have an opinion on the brand, what are they famous for and are they reliable? Any info/opinion on the LA4 pre-amp and HP8 mkII headphone amp will also be appreciated.

Cheers
Chivas

[Puffin]

I bought a valve pre from Icon Audio a few years ago (see pic) It was £350 which was a bit more than they were going for on ebay, but Icon made sure they could cope with 240v. It is a great looker and a really good sound for the money. They don't seem to list them anymore.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i239/saxonsex/Minging.jpg

[quadsugdenman]

Hi Chivas

I use an Icon Audio LA4 MK1 preamp with a very recently aquired pair of IA MB90 monoblocks. I also use Croft pre/power amps in my study. Both sound wonderful but in different ways. The IA LA4 I have also changed the std EH 6sn7 valves for some old Ken Rad and GE NOS. This has improved the already impressive 'presence' and valve like sound to an incredibly realistic dynamic sound.

I can recommend IA as their personal service is excellent. Give them a try. ;)

PS I still use my Quad 33/303/405/909 for listening to my tuner and DVD etc so I have not deserted 'the name':lolsign:

[Chivas]

Hi guys, thanks for the reply.

Garry, I am particularly interested in how it compares to the Croft as this is the alternative I am seriously considering - at this stage I prefer the IA purely based on more sex appeal and the wonders glowing valves will do for the ambience of my room :eyebrows: (yes I know, looks are of secondary importance, but the Crofts do look a little dull)

Unfortunately the Pure Sound pre's are a little out of my budget, £2.5k and £5k for the L10 and L300 respectively.

Cheers
Chivas

[quadsugdenman]

Hi Chivas

DO NOT GO BY LOOKS. Yes the La4's look sexy, LISTEN to both. You have Croft dealers in London. I have a very old Croft SMA pre amp updated by Glenn himself this time last year, it looks, er well, like a Croft! Nonetheless the detail that the Croft separates out is frightening. The Croft power amp is a MOSFET valve hybrid but can drive my Quad EL57's and anything else you want to throw at it.
Arrange with Adrian to get to listen to the LA4 in Leicester if you can get there. I would hate to choose between the two that is why I am lucky enough to have both. I will NEVER part with the Croft as Glenn has spent a lot of time updating it, and that is the beauty of Glenn's designs they can be updated by the man himself.
In short LISTEN to both - forget looks!!!
Happy Christmas

Garry;)

[hifi_dave]

Crofts look 'dull' because the casework is functional. Where other companies spend a good deal of the cost on fancy casework to attract prospective purchasers, Croft amps sell on their sound quality and great value for money.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

What is this??

http://www.iconaudio.co.uk/MP3.html

I have read the description fully first I thought it was a headphone amp, then an integrated amp with headphone socket .... But what's all the stuff about


The MP3 is very versatile. It may connected to your hi fi in several ways:

1, In a normal hi fi system you would connect to the “record out” of your amplifier. This will then be directly connected to the “source” that you have selected.

2, If your amplifier does not have a suitable output, splitter leads may be used.

3, With “Pre and power” systems a connection may be made between the two units.

4, As a stand alone unit you can directly connect to any CD/MP3 phono pre-amp.

[hifi_dave]

Surely, it's a headphone amplifier ? The description is a bit on the vague side but that's what it is.

You would connect it to the 'tape rec' socket of your amp or the 'pre out' socket of a pre or integrated or direct to the 'output' sockets of a CD player or phono stage.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

It also says you can connect it to speakers though


• Comprehensive manual supplied
• Full instructions for valve change included
• All hand wired point to point
• No printed circuit board to ‘colour’ sound
• Japanese Blue ALPS volume pot.
• Class A, all Triode driver circuit
• 2 x EL 84
• 2x ECC83 first stage valve
• 2x 5w RMS continuous per channel max
• Signal to noise level -90db
• Freq response better than 20hz-20kHz +0 –0.2db
• Total harmonic distortion typically less than 0.2% 1khz
• Suitable for 4 to 10 Ω loudspeakers
• Suitable for 4-60 Ω headphones
• Japanese steel EI transformers with low oxygen copper
• Slim profile design
• High quality 2W metal film, & wire-wound resistors
• Blue LED mains indicator
• Polypropylene audio capacitors
• Silver TEFLON audio cable
• Custom hand wound output transformers
• Ceramic valve holders for minimum leakage
• Gold plated Input & speaker terminals
• One line input
• 350mv input sensitivity.
• 230/240volts 36 watts.
• C E, ROHS and WEEE compliant where applicable.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

.... Oh I get it now .... The first three points are about it as a headphone amp and the last is about it as either ... Sorry ignore me ... You can see why I would be confused though???

It sort of sounds like it could be used as a buffer too in the description I think ...

[Ali Tait]

Chivas, looking at the money you are considering spending, I know someone who could build you a very good valve pre. Some here have heard and/or own kit built by Nick. His stuff is superb IMO. Let me know if you're interested and I'll put you in touch. I have no agenda and nothing to gain, Nick is just a friend.

[Ali Tait]

Here's a thread about a phono stage Nick built for a forum member-

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8312

And also here-

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8167

[Chivas]

Thanks Ali

I may very well be interested. Do you know if he has a demo version available to try in my own system?

I won't be buying for another couple of months though.

The short list at the moment is the IA LA4 mk II, the Croft and possibly Nick's

[Chivas]

Hi Chivas

DO NOT GO BY LOOKS. In short LISTEN to both - forget looks!!!
Happy Christmas

Garry;)


Hi Garry, I agree, looks will never be the deciding factor, I will never buy a pretty product over a good sounding one and will hardly pay extra for looks, but it is part of the charm and wouldn't it be nice if a good sounding piece of equipment also looks good at no extra cost - which is the impression I'm getting with the IA. I love the look of glowing valves!

Where is the best place to audition the Croft - Walrus? I'm a little reluctant to go back there, although they were helpful enough and did what they had to, I got the impression that Les wasn't too interested in me when he heard that I own a Technics and didn't seem to particulary enjoy the experience of demonstrating carts between £500 - £1000 to me. He even mentioned that normally they won't demo a cart under £1k - I don't know, it may be just me, but if someone is willing to pay me a grand, I will be too happy to help. I experienced exactly the opposite with Len Gregory - he demo'd his carts on his own system in his home to me on a bank holiday. He took out some of his favourite personal recordings and we chatted for about two hours! Needless to say I ended up buying his cartridge!

[Ali Tait]

Thanks Ali

I may very well be interested. Do you know if he has a demo version available to try in my own system?

I won't be buying for another couple of months though.

The short list at the moment is the IA LA4 mk II, the Croft and possibly Nick's

Not that I know of,though I may be wrong. I'll PM his email to you. Why not have a chat. Nick's a great chap, and very approachable.