Some of you may know about my home renovation project. The chaos of the last five to six weeks is pretty much under control, especially since I fired the contractor 👍
So, last night, with great anticipation, I got my system up and running again. The system consists of two new components........ an Icepower 1200as amp and Border Patrol SE dac. I’m also trying Gary’s carbon fiber ic’s and his carbon fiber digital. Although it would have been interesting to put back the McCormack amp and just listen to the new Border Patrol dac and then change to the Ice amp,
I have too much going on and the process can get a bit tedious. I already got a flavor of that anyway before I started the home improvement project.
The new BP dac is wonderfully organic and beautifully resolving and I’m quite happy with it....thanks, Emil!
Now that Ice amp is a revelation! I’ve never heard Piano that well reproduced. It’s also lightning fast.
Music has a gorgeous texture and a very real presentation. It’s a substantial step up from my beloved McCormack.
After having said this, I don’t like the amp.....because the left channel doesn’t work 😭
When hooking up the left speaker ....last night at 1:00 am..... I noticed both left channel terminals were loose. It was easy removing the top plate and I hand tightened them. Problem resolved, or so I thought. I switched the LS 50s and that the speakers are fine. I then changed out Gary’s ic’s and that didn’t get the left channel to work either. Since it was 1:30 am, I just said screw it and listened to the right channel and it was very, very nice. It’s the best right channel presentation I’ve ever had 😳
Audio can be so annoying sometimes. It took me nearly 40 minutes last night to set up Roon core and the incredibly buggy Auralic Mini streamer to wifi. Then to have the left channel issue was so disappointing.
I’m hardly good at troubleshooting and have lots of touch up work to do as to painting. But maybe I can work on it later today. I’m pretty sure the Ice has auto sensing on off circuitry, so maybe that’s involved. Maybe Rich or Tom can comment on that.