Thanks for this review, Paul. I've been seeing this unusual amp (looking like an item from Dr. Frankenstein's closet) in a catalog for several years, yet there are no reviews anywhere. (I'm still enjoying my Woo Fireflies amp currently.)
An enjoyable and informative review. I've nothing against tube or valve headphone amps, I own a couple myself. But one thing worth noting for those that aren't familiar with them is tubes don't maintain their performance forever, not even close to forever. They will have to be replaced from time to time to maintain peak performance. It looks Icon Audio sells replacement 205Ds for 475 pounds each. Of course you could opt for NOS 205Ds that might go for four or five times that. But you're right, sometimes money is only one factor in the audiophile calculation. (I'm sure their are cheaper sources of the tubes).
Hi Paul, great review as always!! It would be awesome if you could do a review of the Icon Audio phono stage PS3 MKII, there's some good articles on magazines but sadly no review on youtube so far. Kind Regards!
I use the PS3 on a regular basis and can highly recommend it. While I don't have a full review I have included it as part of my Patreon HiFi Tour and I talk it there.
Hi Paul nice to see items that I would class as exotic , and tubes definitely fall into that category . The company in question has quite a repertoire of equipment , and most of which is sadly out of reach of yours truly . But I like to think when I see genuine quality I recognise it , and a company that is based in this country what’s not to like . May they go from strength to strength , and finally Paul thank you for all you do to keep simple souls like me so brilliantly informed . Best wishes and kind regards as always 😀👍👍👍
So which will sound better, Paul, my HP8 Mk II with my Utopias or the HP 205D with your Sennheiser HD 650s? I like the valve rectified power unit - it reminds me of a Quad II. One thing you didn't mention is whether the Bluetooth stage is upgradeable in the future because all digital stuff has built in obsolescence. Great review though Paul - I bet you own one....
I'm not wholly sure that any answer I give you would be a fair answer because you're basically asking me to compare one HiFi system with a completely different HiFi system :) That is, there's no common ground, no level playing field for a considered comparison. All I can suggest is that I would advise to give yourself the best source as possible and work down from there. Hence, the amplifier section is further up the source chain. Bottom line? I would look to upgrade the HP8 to hear more from your headphones.
Everything can change the sound it just so happens that the valves are easy replaced by the user. In the video, I talked about a host of other tweaks too, which will also affect the sound.
ECC88s. A note from the designer, "This valve has exactly the right gain, works very well with the 205D and has excellent sonics. I had considered using a DHT for this purpose, but this would have no doubt required interstage transformers which would add another level of complexity and cost which I decided to leave for another day. "
The valves do not appear to be keyed. How do you install them properly? Unless the pins are not a proper equal sided rectangle and I didnt notice from the video
Will it prevent the letter “aitch” from sounding like “haitch”? 😂 Seriously, though, as an icon Audio user, I think you’ve picked out all the strengths and the one weakness that I experience. David Shaw seems not to find balanced inputs and outputs of any great benefit in his designs.
I love headphones because I live in a flat and I have neighbours upstairs, this review is absolutely wonderful and thank you for giving my to buy list another item :/ I have many different pairs headphones but the ones I use mostly are Grado GS2000e,unfortunately the cable and in particular the extension cable is so over engineered, it is quite thick and very heavy, it's the most annoying aspect of the headphones and spoils using them, I would change the cable but I don't know what to, any suggestions would be much appreciated.
If you're having cable issues, I would have work with Scotland's Atlas Cables who are happy to work with you to mod any headphone cable: www.atlascables.com
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I'm still using my PS1 MK2 MC, decided on the capacitor upgrade and couldn't be happier. Great gear, Icon needs more reviews, I salute you.
Ive the same Phono. how did you find the upgrades. Where they expensive?
Thanks for this review, Paul. I've been seeing this unusual amp (looking like an item from Dr. Frankenstein's closet) in a catalog for several years, yet there are no reviews anywhere. (I'm still enjoying my Woo Fireflies amp currently.)
An enjoyable and informative review. I've nothing against tube or valve headphone amps, I own a couple myself. But one thing worth noting for those that aren't familiar with them is tubes don't maintain their performance forever, not even close to forever. They will have to be replaced from time to time to maintain peak performance. It looks Icon Audio sells replacement 205Ds for 475 pounds each. Of course you could opt for NOS 205Ds that might go for four or five times that. But you're right, sometimes money is only one factor in the audiophile calculation. (I'm sure their are cheaper sources of the tubes).
Hi Paul, great review as always!! It would be awesome if you could do a review of the Icon Audio phono stage PS3 MKII, there's some good articles on magazines but sadly no review on youtube so far. Kind Regards!
I use the PS3 on a regular basis and can highly recommend it. While I don't have a full review I have included it as part of my Patreon HiFi Tour and I talk it there.
Hi Paul nice to see items that I would class as exotic , and tubes definitely fall into that category . The company in question has quite a repertoire of equipment , and most of which is sadly out of reach of yours truly . But I like to think when I see genuine quality I recognise it , and a company that is based in this country what’s not to like . May they go from strength to strength , and finally Paul thank you for all you do to keep simple souls like me so brilliantly informed . Best wishes and kind regards as always 😀👍👍👍
So which will sound better, Paul, my HP8 Mk II with my Utopias or the HP 205D with your Sennheiser HD 650s? I like the valve rectified power unit - it reminds me of a Quad II. One thing you didn't mention is whether the Bluetooth stage is upgradeable in the future because all digital stuff has built in obsolescence. Great review though Paul - I bet you own one....
I'm not wholly sure that any answer I give you would be a fair answer because you're basically asking me to compare one HiFi system with a completely different HiFi system :) That is, there's no common ground, no level playing field for a considered comparison. All I can suggest is that I would advise to give yourself the best source as possible and work down from there. Hence, the amplifier section is further up the source chain. Bottom line? I would look to upgrade the HP8 to hear more from your headphones.
Does it send and receive LDAC?
Genuine question. If valves can change the sound, what are you actually buying when you buy a valve amp?
Everything can change the sound it just so happens that the valves are easy replaced by the user. In the video, I talked about a host of other tweaks too, which will also affect the sound.
wonder why it didn't get a deeply groovy rating?
Hi.. I must have missed it, but what are the Input/Driver valves? Those have a huge influence on the sound.. Thanks.
ECC88s. A note from the designer, "This valve has exactly the right gain, works very well with the 205D and has excellent sonics. I had considered using a DHT for this purpose, but this would have no doubt required interstage transformers which would add another level of complexity and cost which I decided to leave for another day. "
The valves do not appear to be keyed. How do you install them properly? Unless the pins are not a proper equal sided rectangle and I didnt notice from the video
Yes, they are keyed or the pins can only be inserted in one way.
2 of the pins are thicker so there's only one way the valve can be inserted.
Will it prevent the letter “aitch” from sounding like “haitch”? 😂 Seriously, though, as an icon Audio user, I think you’ve picked out all the strengths and the one weakness that I experience. David Shaw seems not to find balanced inputs and outputs of any great benefit in his designs.
PHWOAR!
Steady, Warren.
I love headphones because I live in a flat and I have neighbours upstairs, this review is absolutely wonderful and thank you for giving my to buy list another item :/ I have many different pairs headphones but the ones I use mostly are Grado GS2000e,unfortunately the cable and in particular the extension cable is so over engineered, it is quite thick and very heavy, it's the most annoying aspect of the headphones and spoils using them, I would change the cable but I don't know what to, any suggestions would be much appreciated.
If you're having cable issues, I would have work with Scotland's Atlas Cables who are happy to work with you to mod any headphone cable: www.atlascables.com
@@TheAudiophileMan Thank you Paul, I'll take a look now :)