Icon Audio Stereo 20 PP

[Butuz]

Mmm I've got a soft spot for Icon Audio lovely looking stuff at good prices. Maybe one day I will own one! I really fancy trying the LA4 pre.

Butuz

[Haselsh1]

What's the front end valve Shaun?

Ali the front end is taken care of by 12AX7's and 12AY7's, I think. I guess the 12AX7 is the driver yes, and the 12AY7's are the splitters...????

[Gromit]

You won't be disappointed with the KEL though!

+1

I owned a KEL84 a few years ago (admittedly a modded one with a smattering fo Black Gates, NOS Philips EL84's) and it was a total gem of an amp. Sweet, endearingly musical and just so darn listenable. Used with some Audio Note AX2's (91db/1w) it gelled beautifully.

I'd have another one if I had some spare cash/more efficient speakers.

[Ali Tait]

Ali the front end is taken care of by 12AX7's and 12AY7's, I think. I guess the 12AX7 is the driver yes, and the 12AY7's are the splitters...????

Dunno, not seen the circuit. It may be worth trying different valves here too, as I've often found changing the front end valves can change the sound more than changing the power valves.

[southall-1998]

Haselsh1,

I've never heard the Icon Audio Stereo 20 PP. It sure looks very nice.

Is this amp based on the Leak Stereo 20? I wonder if the the Icon 20 PP sounds very similar to the Leak?

Regards.

[Haselsh1]

Shane, it is indeed based upon the Leak Stereo 20 amplifier.

The Icon Audio uses a full class A front end with EL84's running in Class A/B biased towards Class A. It has automatic bias so there is no awkward setting up of valves and it looks really nice but is a little small when compared to their more expensive amplifiers.

The sound is everything you would expect from a valve amplifier. My only real problem is that I am using loudspeakers with an efficiency of just 86db/W/m. It is a very good job I never listen to very loud music.

[Haselsh1]

For those that are more technically minded; the amplifier is hard wired throughout, having no circuit board. It uses a single 12AX7 valve and two AU7 valves in the front end and four EL84 power valves. Sensitivity is 250mv for full output which is 15 Wpc. It uses Nichicron/Rubicon caps and metal film and wire wound resistors. The volume pot is the now typical ALPS 'Blue' type. The overall design is one of very low feedback.

[Haselsh1]

Here's a view of the amplifier without all of the rather silly plastic adornment. I've taken the photo late in the day so that, at least you can see the valve glow. I continue to be seriously impressed with this little amplifier and love the fact it brings so much to my very modest hi-fi system. I have now ordered a Musical Fidelity V-LPS phono stage just because I've got one at the right price. This is my way of getting things going after the collapse of my business late last year. Over the next few years of working, who knows what'll happen to my hi-fi. My wish to have an EL34 based amplifier could at last become a reality. You never know, they may even be monoblocks.

[southall-1998]

Haselsh1,

I see you can plug headphones to this amp. Have you tried any headphones with it yet?

Kind Regards.

[Haselsh1]

Haselsh1,

I see you can plug headphones to this amp. Have you tried any headphones with it yet?

Kind Regards.

As yet, I don't possess any headphones at all but it is something I shall be looking into in the not too distant future.