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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2012 2:21:21 GMT
I just got a new catalog, here in the States, and there are Icon Audio products in it....cool.
Is anyone familiar with Icon Audio's triode headphone amplifier, the HP 8 Mk II?
My tube headphone amplifiers are my favorites, hands down. But, we don't see/hear Icon here in the States. Curious....J
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 8, 2013 20:40:30 GMT
thought i read somewhere that it was identical or a copy of a much cheaper chinese offering. long time ago though so cant remember which forum it was.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Jan 8, 2013 21:01:07 GMT
A copy of a Chinese amp? That's a first It's the way things are going though All that's left for us in the Western world is heroin addiction, unemployment and alcoholism..... that won't last long though (so enjoy your addiction whilst you can) the next thing you know you'll be working in a sweatshop 24/7/365 with a China man cracking a whip over your back..... it "will" come to pass, just a matter of time.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2013 21:40:09 GMT
Wouldn't surprise me. They had their version of the Ming Da 66 at a rather fanciful price in comparison to the Chinese original.
If I remember right the only real difference was the Icon version had low wattage loudspeaker output as well.
I would only consider it if you are a bit of a valve sound lover, otherwise you will probably only enjoy it short term, get bored of it and then flog it off, just like I did with my Ming Da 66!
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 8, 2013 21:41:35 GMT
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 8, 2013 21:43:08 GMT
and of course the new icon being from over here will be expensive
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2013 21:48:44 GMT
That's the bugger! In the first(icon vers) and second(ming da) links. My Ming Da only cost me £150 plus some better valves. I managed to get all my money back when I flogged it because of the later price hike
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 8, 2013 21:51:00 GMT
"A copy of a Chinese amp? That's a first" i did not mean that to sound as though i think its a bad thing!
if i get a job in a sweat shop i my lose a few pounds ( from the belly!!)
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 8, 2013 21:52:30 GMT
That's the bugger! In the first(icon vers) and second(ming da) links. My Ming Da only cost me £150 plus some better valves. I managed to get all my money back when I flogged it because of the later price hike cant help thinking something from Wooaudio would better suit the OP?!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2013 11:08:53 GMT
thought i read somewhere that it was identical or a copy of a much cheaper chinese offering. long time ago though so cant remember which forum it was. I'm pretty sure a top amp designer like David Shaw would be pretty pissed off that people would think he just copies a cheap Chinese amp. Try thinking about it the other way round. In fact try thinking about it.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 9, 2013 14:11:51 GMT
From memory, the Ming Da hit the scene first. The Icon then appeared with, I'm reasonably sure, claims of being heavily upgraded from the Chinese original. Upgrades that I looked inside my own Ming Da to spot the differences. All I could see was the lack of the 2W/C speaker output. Component type, layout etc. all seemed the same. If I've dreamt that, then apologies to Mr. Shaw. Otherwise, Icon certainly wouldn't be the first manufacturer to bring in a model that would otherwise be prohibitively expensive to design from the ground up, at the time, to augment the range. While then working on a MKII replacement
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pagan
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Post by pagan on Jan 10, 2013 6:38:30 GMT
Icon Audio It's stated on their "about us" page, that they are designed in the UK, well yeh! www.iconaudio.com/about/I also like this statement "Should you have questions you are welcome to contact us in English or Chinese, and we will be glad to answer your questions." Last line on same page..
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2013 11:01:19 GMT
And..... That new MKII looked remarkably the same as the MKI with a change to the top half of the chassis. So I read on; "Broadly similar to our HP8 our new (MP 3) is a mini hi fi amplifier using the same chassis" they say here. All three Icon amps are described as triode class A. I'm thinking mainly cosmetic change? ..........MING DA..................ICON 8/MP3...................ICON 8 MKII
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pagan
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Post by pagan on Jan 10, 2013 12:41:45 GMT
cj If you do a further search on David Shaw & audio in HiFi magazines you'll see he started/owns the Chinese factory where they make them, looks like the "Icon Audio" brand is just a marketing idea, for better Western publicity. ie Toyota and the Lexus brand.
Besides he can sell the "Icon Brand" at much higher profit margins. Yeh UK designed, I like that part..................
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Post by Deleted on Jan 10, 2013 14:20:44 GMT
Quite correct, you beat me to it I was having a little search around and found the same. e.g. hifi World roughly 3rd screen down. I have found whispers there may be an OEM link between Shaw's factory and Meixing (Ming Da) factory to explain earlier look alikes. Which takes me back to the Ming Da make 'em, Icon mod 'em theory.
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pagan
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Post by pagan on Jan 11, 2013 13:00:14 GMT
cj Shaw factory is the Ming Da Factory in China.. This might be a new way of Chinese business for some commercial products... Owner sets up a branch company in another country. This gives them "designed/made" in "England/USA/etc" credibility. Why do this? ?? Looks to me as a "quick buck" scenario mentality. Doesn't do company credibility much good though. Company "names" takes time, a lot of work, consistency and honesty. Just my thoughts...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2013 14:50:55 GMT
Aha! I didn't look for very long and couldn't find confirmation that the factory was for both companies. So the UK name is just for the rip off then, why I am not surprised
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 11, 2013 18:59:07 GMT
good ol' blighty shi.s out again!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2013 1:35:11 GMT
Not for the first time I stand corrected. (And in this case pretty disapointed) I emailed Icon Audio 3 or 4 days ago asking them exactly what the situation was concerning this amp. Sad to say, I have had no reply and don't expect one anytime soon It seems what Allan says here is perfectly true . . .
Jeff
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