valve amplification
Hi there, I love valves! However I would be very careful dealing with Icon Audio. I used to own an Icon Stereo 50 for about 8 months and it was nothing but trouble. It actually went back to Icon when it suddenly stopped working in the right channel and was returned (4 weeks later) with no explanation and still (as I found out from a valve tech friend) with the underlying problem which caused the breakdown in the first place. The problem was something called PARASITIC OSCILLATION (right channel) and according to my valve tech friend was due to a flawed design which would have entailed a very expensive 'rebuild' to put right. I found Icon Audio (incl David Shaw) to be rude, arrogant and unwilling to answer basic questions. In fact in nearly 40 years of being a hifi enthusiast the very worst hifi company I've ever had the misfortune to deal with.
As a result I ended up selling this at a loss and instead I've now got a Croft Series 7 (valve/mosfet hybrid) power amp with Audionote M-Zero R valve preamp combo. This works very well and I'm glad to say that both Audionote UK and particularly Croft Acoustics (Hi Glenn!
) are excellent to deal with and always willing to answer queries.
Hi there, as regards other cases. Deco Audio (who do modifications of valve equipment for a price) WERE going to fix this amp for me (but in the end I decided to sell because of the cost of the rebuild and I just couldn't bring myself to continue using an Icon Audio product, after all valves amps DO need servicing from time to time and if you've got an uncooperative manufacturer or one that you have little faith in this becomes a problem). They told me that they stopped stocking Icon Audio products because of " the arrogant attitude of Icon Audio" and weren't surprised by their attitude. So in answer to your question: No I don't personally know of other cases but it seems that some of the hifi dealers have had bad experiences with them. Ming Da, Yaqin and Bewitch (all Chinese) are (so I've heard) all excellent btw.
Hi there, as regards other cases. Deco Audio (who do modifications of valve equipment for a price) WERE going to fix this amp for me (but in the end I decided to sell because of the cost of the rebuild and I just couldn't bring myself to continue using an Icon Audio product, after all valves amps DO need servicing from time to time and if you've got an uncooperative manufacturer or one that you have little faith in this becomes a problem). They told me that they stopped stocking Icon Audio products because of " the arrogant attitude of Icon Audio" and weren't surprised by their attitude. So in answer to your question: No I don't personally know of other cases but it seems that some of the hifi dealers have had bad experiences with them. Ming Da, Yaqin and Bewitch (all Chinese) are (so I've heard) all excellent btw.
Thx for the clarification.
Cno
Hairy, baring in mind the Icon 50 is no longer with us. Was this during Icons fledgling days ?.
I came quite close to considering an Icon Audio Stereo 20 PP a couple of times recently for the basis of a second system.
Thanks for dispelling that idea.
Any other 15 - 20 wpc, affordable, valve integrateds out there worth considering? (For small room use at moderate volumes.)
Chebby. I would like to think that Icon have upped the ante since its early days and have my thoughts regarding Hairys experience with them, but thats by the by. Could you expand a bit on 'affordable' .
Im guessing 600 tops ?
@Chebby ... Can't think of a new affordable <£300 valve amp ... so here are some cheaper hybrids ...
Ernestolo Carot One
15W hybrid ... labelled as built in Italy but me thinks it's a dressed up clone.
Mistral DT307A 25W Hybrid
@Chebby ... Can't think of a new affordable <£300 valve amp ... so here are some cheaper hybrids ...
Ernestolo Carot One
15W hybrid ... labelled as built in Italy but me thinks it's a dressed up clone.
Mistral DT307A 25W Hybrid
is it mainly for smaller rooms, smaller speakers etc?
Hi there, the Icon Stereo 50 was purchased January 2011. I find it interesting
that they seem to have 'superceded' this model.
Blimey i thought went into the 'dis con' bin way before that. Nowt better to do today so im off for a bit of digging.
@Chebby ... Can't think of a new affordable <£300 valve amp ... so here are some cheaper hybrids ...
Ernestolo Carot One
15W hybrid ... labelled as built in Italy but me thinks it's a dressed up clone.
Mistral DT307A 25W Hybrid
is it mainly for smaller rooms, smaller speakers etc?
A better alternative for about the same money would be the Puresound A10 or the ever popular Ariand FV34B (if you can get one!). The Puresound is only 10 watts of Class A valves but with efficient speakers (90 db and up) it will sound like more like 40 watts of transistor power. Whoops sorry! I see you meant <300 these will be nearer £500.
the mistral looks interesting is it mainly for smaller rooms, smaller speakers etc?
Serious piece of kit is that gb, hey you can even plumb your ipod into it 
. Tongue firmly wedged in cheek.
280 quids worth of serious kit 
Have i missed something , where did Tino get 300 notes or less from ?.
- Login to post comments
Hi there, I love valves! However I would be very careful dealing with Icon Audio. I used to own an Icon Stereo 50 for about 8 months and it was nothing but trouble. It actually went back to Icon when it suddenly stopped working in the right channel and was returned (4 weeks later) with no explanation and still (as I found out from a valve tech friend) with the underlying problem which caused the breakdown in the first place. The problem was something called PARASITIC OSCILLATION (right channel) and according to my valve tech friend was due to a flawed design which would have entailed a very expensive 'rebuild' to put right. I found Icon Audio (incl David Shaw) to be rude, arrogant and unwilling to answer basic questions. In fact in nearly 40 years of being a hifi enthusiast the very worst hifi company I've ever had the misfortune to deal with.
As a result I ended up selling this at a loss and instead I've now got a Croft Series 7 (valve/mosfet hybrid) power amp with Audionote M-Zero R valve preamp combo. This works very well and I'm glad to say that both Audionote UK and particularly Croft Acoustics (Hi Glenn!
) are excellent to deal with and always willing to answer queries.
I'm sorry to hear that, as these stories are never good to hear.
Have you heard of any other cases, or were you just unlucky....which happens from time to time. Please understand that I'm not in any way trying to play down what happened to you.
"Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again." André Gide