The 12 part series was amazing. I didn't know you had it all together. I love my 450w Mono-blocks Mr. Smits! Thank you so much!

The Video was so interesting even without actual " Video" that this is the longest video I have watched with full attention from start to finish

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

Glad that was useful. Such comments inspiring for next stories for my listeners.

Really insightful information here. I am not tech but enjoy learning more and Guntars videos are very helpful. I am currently enjoying one of his DIY kits and cannot believe how good it is!

Guntars, I loved your research and analysis, and really loved the clear and structured presentation of your findings. I learned a lot today. Thanks so much!

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear. Your comment is inspiring.

Great video, I have learned a lot. I spent a lot of time building my system based on videos like yours. Great job!

Great job .

Amazing video thanks

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Very good video

Lol.... I completely forgot about my comment! Thanks for making this video!

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

Any time!

A very interesting video. You're very convincing in your arguments. As I'm looking at my next system (with speakers and amps) the amp I like most right now is the Lyngdorf TDAI 1120. But it has a lower power rating. For some speakers that's fine but kef r3 metas require power. So your monoblocks would be very nice. Red is a colour with low Wife Acceptance Factor, however. White, silver, gold or black would all be much better.

@guntarssmits2104

17 күн бұрын

Time has passed and there is a new hero Icepower 1200As2. I have a video bout it and a build kit for DIYs. It is a true end-game amplifier.kzread.info/dash/bejne/rIen25Zqhc_XdpM.html

Really enjoyed your presentation!

Hi Guntars, very cool review, thanks a lot fo that. I'm a doublebass player from switzerland and I'm experimenting for years to build a portable lightweight and powerfull bass amplification system. (amplifier and speakers) I did similar research like you and have a lot of experiences with the 125ASX2 board. I'm planing a little portable PA for smaller gigs and I'm using the 125ASX2 as a 2 channel amp. My question to you: can I buy a INA1650 preamp-module from you in 2-channel version? kindly Mirco ;0)

Great video. I have been researching such a project and you answered many questions. I would like to understand the preamplifier you describe. Can you say more about how it is connected to the amp module and also perhaps provide a link to your products on eBay as the prior links have expired. Thank you.

@guntarssmits2104

2 жыл бұрын

There is link to assembling instructions kzread.info/dash/bejne/o4l615qjlsLJqKw.html I have sold almost all my stock. Only 4 pieces left. If you are interested in VH500 kits write me to gsmits@tcrastrs.lv

Incredibly informative and very well put together video, a real lesson. Thank you very much. Have you gone into production of these ?

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear that my video brought value, Thanks.

@ashlynholme1402

3 жыл бұрын

Have you gone into production?

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

@@ashlynholme1402 Yes, I do have products placed in eBay. Search for "ICEpower125ASX2, 500W integrated amplifier DIY kit, balanced preamplifier, new"

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

Selling as a kit www.ebay.com/itm/114579864558, you just need to purchase ICEpower board and put everything together.

@milanahmad1685

2 жыл бұрын

instablaster...

Wow thank you for this informative video! I’m trying to make a 9 channel home theater amp using the ICEpower (3)200asc and (6)200ac. What do you think?

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

It will be outstanding 9 amp. system. Among best of the best. Requirements for movie theatre are significantly lower that for hi fi, So you will have 5 star system.

@XudenGroupLLC

3 жыл бұрын

What are using for a power supply? Will this be all in one chassis?

Hi Guntars & thanks for the channel ... someone who has a background to talk about the topics is rare in the youtube! Anyhow, enjoying you content about class D amplification and currently in dilema to replace my peachtree audio nova 220se with pre-amp+(ice,/purify) based amp. However as I don`t have a toolset nor I haven`t found measurements if my current nova 220se integrated amp I`m not to make a qualified decision. Have you measured the nova 220se or measured similar design (with same Ice components)? thanks

@guntarssmits2104

2 жыл бұрын

Hi, Thank you for the inspiring comment. Nova 220 is a great amplifier and uses 2 ICEpower125ASX2 boards for output stage set in bridged connection. It will be hard to beat such architecture. Amp has a lot of headroom having 500W per channel. You are at 9 points from 10 with this design. Probably you know that the last 5% of quality will triple your project costs. The human hearing THD threshold is 0.1%, Typical speaker THD is about 1% for budget and 0.1% for high end. THD is not the main parameter influencing sound quality. It is far more about amplifier capability to deal with instant loudspeaker acceleration capability to reproduce tiny details. This is where a high-quality bridged solution has an advantage. There is the term “Quadro balanced amplifier” which simply means precise bridged output stage. It will be hard to beat Nova 220 with Purifi design. You will spend significant money but will gain just some bits. If you want to improve your sound reproduction quality you should think about project how to make your speaker system active. That means active crossover and direct speaker connection to the amplifier output. A lot of details are missing in the passive crossover. Even a good one.

@mzmz9355

2 жыл бұрын

@@guntarssmits2104 Thanks Guntars for your swift response! You know I had my doubts since I couldn't quantify the performance of my set(din't find measurements online nor I knew someone who coul measure mine directly)...so thought that I could achieve considerable audio improvement with upgrading to equipment that doesn't have 10 years (speaking of both amp section and DAC also). Subjectively, I'm satisfied with my current setup (nova 220se + big waveguide speakers based on Mr.Geddes's design). And yes, the Geddes design considers active x-over...I'm aiming there at some point of time.

All i need in a simple series to make my own HIFI amplifier.

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

There are large number of videos in KZread how to build audio amplifier. Could you be more precise abut kind of amplifier you are looking for.

@jay1st1st

3 жыл бұрын

@@guntarssmits2104 Well, i was already looking at the class D Ice modules. I'm planning to use a tube preamp, followed by a Minidsp 4x10HD for active Xover into 3 Ice modules, one for each L+R speaker plus 2 subs.

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

@@jay1st1st Great project indeed. Maybe you should consider 4 Ice modules when driving 3-way speakers. Woofer needs far more power than midrange and tweeter. With 4 modules you will have set 500+100+100 in stereo mode. You will separate the woofer power supply from midrange and tweeter boards as well. One more thing - if you take professional crossover you may drive ICEpower boards directly from their inputs due to balanced architecture. For example, the t.racks DSP 206 cost is about 200EUR. I have one prototype chassis for a similar project in eBay. It is made for 4 ICE boards capacity and has connectors attached. That can suite for experiments. www.ebay.com/itm/114619901180

@jay1st1st

3 жыл бұрын

@@guntarssmits2104 tnx a lot, i'm still in the design stage, as it takes time and money, i still have to finish my speakers and do the measurements for the active xover with the Umik1 microphone and REW.

@jay1st1st

3 жыл бұрын

@@guntarssmits2104 nice idea for the 4 ICE boards, but i'll go with passive cooling and stick to my MiniDSP ( i know how to use it) as i need a silent sytem for HIFI use. But i might order some balanced preamp boards if you sell them

Isn't the First Watt the most important one? 🙂

Could you show the power supply you designed. I can't find it in any of your videos.

@guntarssmits2104

2 жыл бұрын

Power supply is integrated in to IEpower125ASX2 board.

When a kid turns a volume knob to a right edge, I propose to get back to a discussion about a max amplifier power needed )) And the only way to avoid this is to use a digital or relay based volume control, which is inactive when is turned off. PS Now there are number of offerings with 125ASX on China market. And I personally wonder how do you keep price for a whole amplifier below a single Ice OEM module price.

@guntarssmits2104

7 ай бұрын

Technology is developing and modern audio systems have an architecture Cloud, Audio streaming service provider, network streamer, smartphone management system, and no knobs in front of Streamer. With such architecture, there is no kids’ problem and your music access library exceeds 60M music recordings with infinite options for building your personalized music track lists. And I am confident that with AI adoption you will have many music track suggestions that meet your taste.

@sc0or

7 ай бұрын

@@guntarssmits2104 Streaming? No way )) I prefer to select a year of release and a label by myself. In 90% cases “improved remaster” (streaming services offer) is a compressed (a low dynamic range) trash with plastic instruments. I agree about 500W for a home, but with a little kid this could cause expensive loudspeakers death

@guntarssmits2104

7 ай бұрын

@@sc0or Streaming is the future. I have a video about Psychoacoustics where a professional musician from the UK did tests with uncompressed and compressed music. You may be surprised about the outcome. Studio mastering is the main recording quality influencer. Any way. Our generation is coming to an end and the new generation is taking place. More and more of my customers are coming from future generations at the age of 30-35. They are different and we need to offer formats that they prefer. At some point about 10 years ago I also sold out all my vinyl and CD collection reducing space needed for music equipment and moved to streaming. That opens a new world out of my personal collection with instant access to any track and artist. The key to audio quality is speakers. The rest of the equipment is shrinking in size, rising in quality, and has a better user experience. The new generation will define the Audio equipment market. Somehow I need to follow trends😊

@guntarssmits2104

7 ай бұрын

500W short-term undistorted audio is not dangerous for a 40W RMS speaker. I am making experiments using 100W RMS-rated small shelve speakers (6-inch woofer with about 60W RMS in specs and 20W tweeter) and sometimes crazy things happen. So far, no damage. 500W is just less than 2 times louder than 100W. I have another video on my channel were explains power, sound pressure, and human loudness perception relationship. Boards such as ICEpower 1200AS2 have built-in soft clipping circuits as well. 100W Amps in class AB world are mainstream due to heat dispatch problems and efficiency which are making high quality power crazy expensive moving more powerful amplifiers in premium price segment. Today we do not have such a problem anymore.

@sc0or

7 ай бұрын

@@guntarssmits2104 Indeed.

The audiophile superhearing disapear when they dont see :)

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, we do have powerful sound processor in our brain managed by our consciousness. :)

do you sell this amps with the features described? let me know

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

I am selling them as DIY kits www.ebay.com/itm/114579864558. You just need to purchase board and put together by yourselves.

I couldn't tell the difference between a NAD C298 and a Bryston 4b3 in a head to head test.I couldn't believe it , I like Bryston but why should I pay triple the price for the same sound ?

@guntarssmits2104

4 ай бұрын

Human hearing resolution is relatively limited. Both companies NAD and Brayston are gurus in amplifier design. Some parameters may differ in measurements, but due to limited hearing resolution, we can not hear them. Things that you hear are power, absolute noise, weakness of power supply, etc. A powerful and low noise amplifier is difficult to make, but it matters only in cases when your speakers have high sensitivity, low sensitivity speakers just need power. Strictly talking for home usage floor standings we need about 500W minimum clean power to reproduce all music types and scenarios. Clean 500W power means about 600-800W amplifier. And you may find out that there is limited offering when we are looking for price point, power, and quality.

@danielesbordone1871

3 ай бұрын

@@guntarssmits2104 A good choice for the amp you're talking about could be the Michi S5 , it has 500 watts (8ohm) , 800 watts (4ohm) 60kg of weight and low THD (0.008%). At 6,500 euro , it's not a gift but similar amps like the Bryston 14b3 costs 17,000 euro and the McIntosh mc462 costs 16,500 euro. The Michi seems like a very good option.

@guntarssmits2104

3 ай бұрын

Or Icepower 1200AS2 board for 430 EUR in retail providing 600W stereo to 4 and 8 Ohms with 0.005%THD @@danielesbordone1871

Personally I rectify the input power from the wall to drive the final stage. The only reason I still use a switch mode supply is for the preamps and control system. I built a decent DSP for the ones I make.

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

The last 5 % of audio quality is sophisticate an expensive solution. Thank you for sharing your experience,

Cik tāds gatavs produkts maksā?

@guntarssmits2104

3 жыл бұрын

250 EUR par monobloku ar oriģinālo rūpnīcas otrās paaudzes bloku. Pārdodu ar mēneša atgiešanas laiku. Garantijas 2 gadi Ja pērk uz kompāniju, tad +PVN ( to uzņēmumi dabū atpakaļ) Zemāk ir epasts, ko man atrakstīja pēdējais klients Kurš paņēma to pret depozītu uz skaņas mīļotāju sanākšanas konkursu, kur visi testēja savus pastiprinātājus ar labu akustiku. Sveiks Guntar, Liels paldies par pastiprinātāju! Vakar nedaudz paklausijāmies un pirmie iespaidi ir lieliski. Skanējums ir precīzs un dzidrs - tieši tas, ko jūs minējāt, lielā jaudas rezerve ir it sevisķi jūtama basos, ko pastiprinātājs spēj lieliski izkontrolēt, tie nav izsmērēti un ir krietni labāk dzirdami pie līdzīga kopējā skaļuma. Tas viss protams, sajūtu līmenī, bet skaidrs, ka pastiprinātāju vēlos paturēt, jo tas skan vienkārši brīnišķīgi! :) Nospriedām, ka vajadzētu salīdzināt pastiprinātājus 1:1 tos ātri pārslēdzot un torot visu pārējo sistēmu nemainīgu. Izskatās, ka tur būtu nepieciešama kāda releju sistēma. Pirms ņemamies to paši taisīt vai meklēt kaut kur citur vēlējos apvaicāties - varbūt varat ieteikt kā to vislabāk darīt un varbūt jums jau ir kāda šāda demonstrācijas iekārtiņa šādiem nolūkiem? Skaļuma līmeņa ieregulēšanai mikrofons arī ir sagatavots, tā kā ja atrisināsim jautājumu ar pastiprinātāju pārslēgšanos, tad noteikti nelielu reportāžu no testiem jums atsūtīšu, varbūt noderēs reklāmas nolūkiem. :)

Class D amplifiers are commodity items. They have nothing in common with specialty items like high end class A/AB amplifiers. One will become obsolete in 3 to 5 years and will fail in ~10 years. The other is a heirloom.

How on earth this is a 500W amp? 450W 1%THD+N @ 4Ω, BTL (yikes)....is 65W on its best! "The ICEpower125ASX2 module is designed for music reproduction, which means that the output power of the amplifier will never be continuous. Research has shown that the RMS level of any music signal does not normally exceed 1/8th of the peak value and the power supply is therefore designed for large short-term power handling and lower continuous power handling. If the average output power of the ICEpower125ASX2 exceeds 65W @ 4W (SE-mode with both channels driven) or 70W @ 4W (BTL-mode) for a long time at 25°C ambient temperature, the module will reach its maximum allowable temperature and the temperature protection will be activated "

@guntarssmits2104

Жыл бұрын

The audio amplifier is all about instant power capability. You are right that for a long time sinewave, it will overheat, but all components and power supply rail voltage is capable of 450W for about 60 seconds. Heat dispatch is not able to dissipate heat for sinewave. But it is perfectly capable of 450W music power which is 1/8 of the continuous sine wave. This board is built with in-depth knowledge about the audio spectrum and specifics. I have tested and it sounds in a bridged connection amazing and drives large low-sensitivity speakers without a problem.

@HipocratesAG

Жыл бұрын

Thank you Guntars. To be honest, that ''music power" calculation looks like those ''PMPO watts" (Peak Music Power Output) used in the 90's and not an industry standard, That said the other measurements seems to be on point and more align with industry standards (AES, ANSI)... I have to thank you for the INA recommendation, keep up the good work.

Really? kzread.info/dash/bejne/aGylxKerlZTLerw.html sounds lame AF.

outdated, the new hypex is better

@guntarssmits2104

2 ай бұрын

By drilling down into the topic you may find that human earing has relatively low resolution. THD max resolution is 0.25%, amplifiers can easily make 0.005%, and Amplitude resolution is 0.25dB at midrange around 3kHz and 3dB at 50Hz and 16kHz. Damping factor max value 50 (amplifiers can do 700 and more). The basic parameter specifications improvements do not make sense. But such things as quadro balanced (bridged), power supply instant power capability, thermal design, etc become critical parameters when we are talking about amplifier quality. And the right direction to audibly improve your system is using active crossover and active speaker systems. Most of Chipamp's active systems sound better than most advanced Icepower Hypex or Purifi most expensive amplifiers with passive crossover speaker systems. By architecture, Quado balanced design, power supply instant power capability, audio quality, output power, and telemetry built-in Icepower 1200AS2 is the best amplifier board today. It is available for the DIY community from EU-proven retailer Soundimport.